The process below is described by Fred Smith of Ann Arbor.
Rejuvenating Paddle Ball Balls Safety… keep pine sol away from children and pets!
This process removes the O2 from the oxidized rubber
Needed items: Masson or Ball canning jars. One pint ( for one ball/ Quart for 3 balls.) Do not use empty old mayo , peanut butter etc. jars. Mason and Ball canning jars have a wide mouth jar, a thin lid and a twist down metal band/rim.Electric mason jar vacuum sealer. There are several options on Amazon that will work. Price is usually under 30$. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=electric+mason+jar+vacuum+sealer&crid=15CD7SML8RBGA&sprefix=electric+mason+%2Caps%2C150&ref=nb_sb_ss_mvt-t11-ranker_1_15If you search Amazon for “canning jar vacuum sealers” you have many options.Pine sol (any grocery store).
You should complete the remaining instructions in the kitchen sink to maintain peace in the household.Place one ball in your pint jar. Pour pine sol in until it is half full. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to press on the ball and try to fill the ball with some pine sol. Keep filling up the jar until it’s about an inch from the top. Place a small piece of wood to submerge your ball into the pine sol. Leave a half inch between the liquid and the lid. You should have a jar with a ball and piece of wood to submerge under the lid at this point. Do not put the metal ring on the jar at this point…. Just the lid Place your lid on top of the jar and use the electric jar vacuum device to remove the air and create a vacuum. This process takes about 60 seconds, and you now have created a negative pressure in the jar. You should be able to see very small bubbles being emitted from the ball.I have processed 3 balls at the same time using a quart jar …. It’s a a little tight but still works. I think it’s best to start doing one ball at a time to start.
I have found that it works best to keep the jar closed between 24 and 48 hrs.’… longer and the rubber starts to degrade. After 24-48 hrs. remove the lid and rinse off the ball. Find the small hole in the ball and compress the ball to empty the trapped pine sol in the ball. When it is empty, rinse out the inside of the ball with warm water for several cycles to remove all the liquid.Shake the ball a few more times to get any liquid that is in the ball out.Place the ball in a warm place for a few days, … heat register or any warm place in your home to evaporate any residual liquid from the ballYou are done at this point, and the ball should be close to new!
Thank you Fred!
