New member & new 1/2 scale build

[tate10]

First off I would like to say hello to everyone. My name is Tate and I am from NE Ohio. I stumbled on some of your guys videos on youtube and thought these scaled down mini lanes are really cool. I have been thinking about the big ball bowlers from the late 50's and 60's for a while but never made the move since you do not actually hit the pins on most of them and I was not sure if hitting the string pins would be good either, so this seemed like the perfect option. I built a 16ft shuffleboard table last year that came out pretty good so I was confident that I could take on this project. I have been working on it for about a week now. I had to build it in 3 removeable sections because I am building it at work and will need to transport it home. I played with openscore software and I must say what a great job you did with that. Here are some pics of what I have so far. Thanks again for all your videos and information posted, it has been a great help.

[theultimateandy]

Welcome aboard Tate. It looks like you have a pretty solid setup there, and portable as well. What did you end up using for lane panels? At first I thought it was plywood, but at a closer glance it looks like pine wood boards. What did you end up using for the gutters? Great job, can't wait to see some videos of you bowling on it.

[tate10]

Thank you for the compliment. It has been fun building so far but a long way to go. Good call on the pine boards, the lane is glued pine and the gutters are mdf. Hopefully videos are soon to come and definitely more pictures.

[Rep]

Wow! Looking good tate! And welcome to bowltech!

[ctcohn]

Great job Tate! Welcome to Bowltech.

[tate10]

Thank you for the kind welcome. I am hoping to make it semi automatic. The plan is once the pins are loaded you hit a button that engages to actuators timed differently. One to lower the pinsetter and the other to release the pins at the bottom. The actuators are pretty expensive so I probably won't order those till after xmas. There is still plenty to do until then. I still have the ball return and front masking to work on and of course lots of bowling. Im kind of shooting from hip so all ideas are welcomed. Thanks Tate

[Stevejt66]

Great job!!! Great to see another lane being born!!!!! Yes, please keep us all posted with videos! Can't wait to see how the actuators work!

[tate10]

Some updated pictures. Got the kick panels put in and the some of the ball return done. The front of the pinsetter was also put on. Ever since it has been playable the work has gone down to about half. The actuators for the pinsetter have been ordered and should be here next week.

[Rep]

Great job! Looks awesome for sure!

[theultimateandy]

Some updated pictures. Got the kick panels put in and the some of the ball return done. The front of the pinsetter was also put on. Ever since it has been playable the work has gone down to about half. The actuators for the pinsetter have been ordered and should be here next week.

I can't tell you how many times I have fired myself because of the countless hours of bowling instead of working on my lane (considered "goofing off" by the employer side of me!) Great job on the lane so far, I am liking the deck shield!

[ModelTech]

Tate, I am impressed! How lucky you are to have the room for it! I love your pinsetter design! Ya gonna have a sweep too?

Doug

[tate10]

ModelTech, Thanks. I wish I had more room. I only had enough room to make it 18' long. I am building it at work where we have all the room I need. Thats why I made it mobile because I will be taking it apart soon to take home. A sweep would be awesome in the future but ads a hole new dynamic to design. I want to get it done and in my basement so the family can play on it then I will probably look at sweep options. I am uploaded some videos of it in action. One video shows the openscore dialed in.

Tate

[tate10]

Here are a couple videos.

[Rep]

Awesome stuff, I REALLY like the lane! Left ya a comment over at YT on the video as well. VERY nice!

[theultimateandy]

Yes, that is a very nice lawn. I would be so afraid of launching a ball into that nice motorcycle behind the lane.