Non wood bowls

[lurker]

Whilst turners are always on the look out for old bowls (the sort you play bowls with!), has anyone tried turning the hard plastic versions?
They are marked hens lite but I think that's just a brand name

I have been given 6 but not sure if they are worth bothering with.
I was hoping they might turn like nylon

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Mallets maybe?

 

[lurker]

Mallets maybe?

Yes
But will the stuff turn?
I suspect it splinters

 

[NazNomad]

What colour are they? The black Henselite bowls are made from a different material to the coloured ones.

Chuck one up and see what it does... remember the YouTube. :-D

 

[lurker]

I may well try one
I assumed the bias was still done with lead or some other weight but now know that malarkey was stopped long ago.
Assume they are just a solid lump of "plastic" also assume this is a none starter as I have seen no other mention of using them.
I have 12 which I'm assured have no value so nothing to loose

Most are black but 4 are green

 

[Spindle]

Hi

I'm guessing a sharp scraper will work - stop applying before the tool gets hot enough to affect the stock.

Face and respiratory protection a must.

Stop if fumes are produced.

Regards Mick

 

[SPSlick]

I bought a set of 4 of these at an auction for about £12. When I found they were hensalite I stuck them on ebay and made about £40. They seem to be still in demand.

 

[Frank S]

I have tried turning one of these composite bowls and they are very very hard. the material takes the edge off any wood turning tool, and the only way I made an impression on it was to use a stellite tipped tool borrowed from a mate with an engineering shop. By the way, the bias is put on the bowl by shaping the sphere and not with a lead insert.
Frank.

 

[lurker]

Thanks Frank you confirm my assumptions
Will try to get rid of them on the bay as bowls, it not as though I'm short of wood. :lol:

 

[Racers]

Lurker
I have some LV ones, you are welcome to have one.
They make very good mallets.

Pete

 

[Sheptonphil]

Our local house clearance shop has several sets. Is there a sure way of telling which are wood and which are composite?

Phil

 

[lurker]

Lurker
I have some LV ones, you are welcome to have one.
They make very good mallets.

Pete

Yes please Pete have been hunting all over for a lv one

 

[Dave Brookes]

The Toolpost has some LV bowls on sale to raise money for Oxfam.

Dave