Some progress

[MUTTS]

27 feet long with 5 sections. The first four are 6 feet six inches and then there is the pin deck.

Next Ill install the laminate surface....then the curtain and then I need to copy your pinsetters. Questions forthcoming. Hopefully the link to the photo works.

T

[theultimateandy]

That looks cool so far, but I think I have a kink in my neck now trying to study the pic.

[tate10]

Looking good. I wish I had the room for that kind of length.

[TwinFountainLane]

^^ Thats what she said.

[TwinFountainLane]

Very nice progress!

[Stevejt66]

Wow, you have a gymnasium to set that up in? What kind of house do you have???

[tate10]

^^ Thats what she said.

HAHA, Thanks for the good laugh.

That indoor gym looks sweet. More pics please!

[MUTTS]

Laminate applied. Pin deck laminate will be replaced by pin deck section from murrey bowling. Hopefully it shipped today. Gutters and staining this weekend. Sideboard/kickplates or whatever you want to call them as well. Have some of the material for a pin deck. Found 2 1/2 inch diameter pvc at an electrical distributor. Lowes/home depot only had 2inch (too small) or 3 inch (too wide for my taste). Found a great black rubber mat at bed/bath store for $15--very thick. Its coming along. Measured it as 27 feet 2 inches to head pin.

[theultimateandy]

Looking really good so far. Have you snuck in a few frames while working on it? I would really be temped to do so. You pretty much need the 2 1/2" pvc for a pin deck, nothing else really works that great.

[MUTTS]

Of course Ive snuck in a few frames....when I could pry the balls away from the kids. Ball really moves nicely-I got the ones from epco that are 1/4" larger than the linds. Going to order a linds ball as well for my youngest since its lighter.

The few frames are what convinced me to get the murrey deck-the edges of the laminate (where I cut them to size) dont do well with the pins crashing down. Cant believe how nicely the balls sound and roll scross the laminate floor. The ball traveling across the sections is not an issue. Ive put leveling legs in eack corner of each section for adjustment.

T

[Stevejt66]

Great job!!!! Keep the pics coming, and if you can take a video of some practice shots..!!

[MUTTS]

Well Im done painting and staining. Put a foul line, dots and arrows on with a sharpie. Dots will wear quickly as they are close to wear the ball is released. Should be easy to redo. Installed my Murray pin deck--fantastic add on. Side panels/kick panels are up. Unfortunately I havent taken any photos. Need to finish the pin setter...built one but didnt like it so did a redo yesterday which is much better. Now need to build the contraption to raise/lower it so Im studying some of your videos. Kids will love to load the pins and set them.

After dinner today we set the lane up for the first time all painted/stained/etc. 28 feet to the headpin. The modularity is nice. As you saw from my earlier photo, I have a barn with a gym floor so we want to set up the lane and then get it out of there when done so that the kids can shoot hoops, play dodgeball etc. Theres no way I could do a 28 foot lane in my basement-just not big enough. Takes about 15 minutes to set up/take down. Think we are going to want to find a place to move it outside and do a little bowling/bbq.

My 7yo and I bowled the first official games. He shot 81, myself 109. Its hard as heck to score. Nothing like a spare followed by a gutter ball. Im sure we'll get better. Ball really moves across the laminate surface. I was so pleased to see pin reaction just like on a real alley. Messenger pins, pins spinning off the deck and just missing taking out the 7. Solid 7 or 10s. My son buried the pocket and left an 8-10 split. Must have been just a hair off. Great to see! Sucks setting pins by hand but we will get that done. Wife bowled about 7 frames before we took it down. She really enjoyed it to so it will definitely get some use.

For now, Im going to use the gutters as my ball return. The need to move the lane around makes building a real return a bit of a pain. Ill certainly keep it as an option. Thanks to all of you for your help and answering my pvt messages. Need to get the setter finished and then Ill throw some video up on youtube.

[TwinFountainLane]

Congratulations!!! Hope you will be up for joining the league for the spring season! Glad you guys got some good bowling in today, solid first game scores for a lane that long! Well done, looking forward to the pic's and videos!

[Stevejt66]

Anyone have any progress on building their lanes or take more videos or pictures to share??

[TwinFountainLane]

Yeah, hopefully we will get some more progress reports! Good luck to those still in the process. I was waiting for warmer weather to finish the stain on some of my lane, to include the ball return. Also my wife picked up some really nice bowling fabric which i plan to use on the masking unit which is not yet complete. Almost completely done, and just enjoying the league and rolling with my kids!