Guardian on Pindecks

[Adam_Davis]

Our center's lanes are getting really thin. The owner's are planning to put down guardian, since the lanes can not be cut anymore. The pindecks are cut down to the long bolt that holds them together, and the nails. I mam trying to convince the owners that these decks are shot. They're not as solid as I think they should be for good carry (we have ALOT of corner pins left on decent pocket hits. Owners think Guardian will fix this, but I know it is only to protect the surface of the lane, not strenghten it. Our re-surfacer (Ben Nanamaker, Very good if you are in the south) said the pin decks were so far gone, that he could hardley cut them the last time, and could not cut them again.

Am I right here?
Do we need NEW pindecks, or can guardian fix them? [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img]

Think I've about got them sold on the idea, but want to make sure I'm right.

Thanks!!
Adam D.

[ March 06, 2001: Message edited by: BrunsAce ]

[GPS]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

Adam, you are correct. Guardians purpose is mostly cosmetic and partly to cut down on the wear and tear that todays ball traffic causes patticully in the head area. If you plan on staying in the bowling bussiness put in new decks either wood or synthetic. While you are at it check out flat gutters and kick backs. Good luck.

[KL Kevin]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

I replaced all our wood decks in here when the "rod holes" started to show (the countersink for the nuts/washers on the threaded rod is the thinnest part of the pindeck).

Much better pin action, not to mention that the balls track truer, because if you're showing rod holes, most likely the wood around the 2-3-4-5-6 areas is showing exaggerated graininess ... has the same effect on ball roll as track marks in the ball ... it can't drive on air.

Bottom line, you can't stop a hemorrhage with a band-aid [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img] and that's what guardian really is ...

Only down side to synthetic decks is that OOR's will most likely go up, but with synths, when you have to replace the lane, jacking the decks up to the new height is easy.

Kevin

[billman]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

Gotta go with the guys on this one. We changed out our wood decks and it is like heaven!! No more pin spots popping out, great pin action and alot less ball damage. Go for it!!!

billman [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[8270king]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

We have guardian on symthetic decks. This eliminated our problems with oor's on the synthetic decks. We still have wood lanes.

Now let me tell u the downside of synthetic decks:

1. Our edgeboards immediately started falling off. Brunswick sent in a tech to reinstall them. They still keep falling off.

2. They are only as good as the installer. Our installer ran the jack screws up too high and they were not in solid. I have been taking them out and resecuring them one at a time.

My solution - sand them again one more time and put the decks in when you go with synthetic or replace them with wood decks.

king

[andy-m]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

Had guardian on decks 8 years ago. Had it installed on July...had it removed in January. Lousy pin action and problems....'nuff said.

[BowlEquip]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

Thanks, Andy! I was about to ask how guardian held up after a couple years. We have 28 year-old Sharpless pin decks and have already replaced the dished out 1-2-3 spots. Now they and the others are dished. And the OOR's!!!!
Getting new decks in two years and want to cut the OOR's down temporarily 'til then. Your guardian was the regular thin stuff. I wonder if the new optional 7-mil stuff is any better.

[bobdog]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

There is another option, you can do what I had to do about 14 years ago. When the bolts began to show through the decks, we cut them out and used lane stock to cross patch them. Boy was that fun!!!
I have to agree with the rest of the guys, replace the pindecks with one of the synthetic decks on the market, and while they are at it, put overlays on the lanes too!!! It saves so much time and money in labor and maintenance costs, it is worth it over the long haul!!

[Drillmn300]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

If you haven't done so already just go bowl a few games on the saran wrap and it will say it all. As others have mentioned it's just a bandaid and does not cure the problem. It can be costly but when the lanes go it's time to purchase new equipment period. We still have a few sands left and are already thinking about what we will put down in it's place but would not even think about a temporary fix. Talk to someone about synthetics and figure out what you will save in the future by not sanding and the amount you can raise linage for installing the new lanes and believe me once again just like the wood lanes the bowlers will pay for it.

Drill

[Adam_Davis]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

Thanks for the input guys..I think I've got them convinced...except for one thing...

I printed this out and showed it to them, and now their worried about edge boards falling off..(Thanks King) [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shocked.gif[/img]

The decks we are likely going with are Bruns AnvilLane..N E good?? [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img]

[Ed Fox]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

Slick as ICE.....but then again with todays lane conditions they all are!!

[img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] ED [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[BowlEquip]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

Ed: Have you ever seen such beautiful skating as that performed by bowling pins? They ought to be in the Olympics. LOL

[Adam_Davis]

Re: Guardian on Pindecks

YAY!!! Were gonna get new decks!!! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

They are 3 yr old Bruns AnvilLane decks.

I read somewhere on here that someone had used compacted gravel under their deck and flat gutters. Does anyone know how this was done? I think it'd work good, and this would be the time to do it.