bowling alley material

[dittle fart around]

Found some bowling alley lanes on Craigslist and scooped up a chunk with the markers intact. Great for bench tops or whatever. I'm going the whatever route. My son has an awkward dining table location and need an 18 inch by 40 inch piece. He's getting the markers, like this for his table.

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View media item 30308
I'm a glue'n and screw'n a piece of plywood to the back side to stabilize the lamination. That way the diagonal cut for the markers should keep the chunks together.

The guy I bought the material from has a 40 lane bowling alley he's stripping. He's only a couple of lanes into it so far. There should be plenty to go around. Here's his Craigslist add.

 

[MonteMike79]

That stuff is tough, I have some I'm going to make into a bar top. My dad has a section for a work bench.

 

[dittle fart around]

Sorry, didn't think about my location. Says Washington on the signature line, but I've moved to Napa, north bay area, San Francisco'ish.

The bowling alley is in Castro Valley, kinda south east bay area.

 

[KEH]

Went to the Napa valley August before last, interesting place, the irrigated grape vinyard land sells for insane prices, liked Sonama a little better. I'm in SC and the Napa weather suited me a lot better than San Francisco, which was the main tour destination. Back to the op, I have heard that the lane material has a lot of nails in it holding it together. Be careful sawing it. Makes beautiful workbench-table projects. Haven't run across any here but I'm looking.

KEH

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

There's decrepit old bowling alley in a town near me that has been closed for about 10 years, and I've been keeping an eye on it to see if they'd ever get around to stripping out the lanes when the place gets renovated. Apparently, I haven't been driving by frequently enough, I went by a few weeks ago and found a field of bare gravel where the place used to stand

 

[ken w.]

I aquired 3 8' sections of bowling alley a few years ago for $15.00 each when they tore down an alley near me. I also got boxes of pins that I took out to my gun club. You wouldn't believe hoy durable a bowling pin is.We took one section of alley and made a bar top out of it.It looks awesome.

 

[Zeppe807]

I remembered your post from a while back, and I too am from the bay area. I just found this add, and wondered if it is where you got yours?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mat/4203195330.html

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Bowling alley lane material for sale.All material is in good condition but limited quantites. It is 2 - 2 1/4 thick and 42" wide . Prices are: 100 for a 42"x48", 160 for a 42"x96" Plain pine section,the plain sections are pine with a strip of maple down each side. 200 for a 2"x42"x96" marker section, The markers where touched up before the closure of the bowling alley but are still nice rare finds in over all good condition.
These are going fast, the pine are starting to move at a fast pace aswell!
******** I have (2) marker sections left *********and no more, they where all touched up on the triangles but are still really nice peices. 42" x96" 200 each. Also, I have Maple!!!!! Currently available are (1) 42"x168" @ 550.00 . (4) 42x6' @ 250.00 each (4) 42"x8' @ 300.00 each.
Please feel free to email with any questions or call 510-886-3081.
If i cant answer, please leave a message with your name,phone number and the best time to call you back.

Thank you,Daniel

------End Quote------

They seem expensive, and I wonder if it would be worth it or not.


I think if I were to buy some I would have to find just the right deal (almost free).


Joe Zeppe

Edit: just noticed the same photo. Must be the same, I hate it when I answer my own question so easily...

 

[dittle fart around]

I remembered your post from a while back, and I too am from the bay area. I just found this add, and wondered if it is where you got yours?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mat/4203195330.html

------add-------


image 1image 2image 3image 4image 5image 6


Bowling alley lane material for sale.All material is in good condition but limited quantites. It is 2 - 2 1/4 thick and 42" wide . Prices are: 100 for a 42"x48", 160 for a 42"x96" Plain pine section,the plain sections are pine with a strip of maple down each side. 200 for a 2"x42"x96" marker section, The markers where touched up before the closure of the bowling alley but are still nice rare finds in over all good condition.
These are going fast, the pine are starting to move at a fast pace aswell!
******** I have (2) marker sections left *********and no more, they where all touched up on the triangles but are still really nice peices. 42" x96" 200 each. Also, I have Maple!!!!! Currently available are (1) 42"x168" @ 550.00 . (4) 42x6' @ 250.00 each (4) 42"x8' @ 300.00 each.
Please feel free to email with any questions or call 510-886-3081.
If i cant answer, please leave a message with your name,phone number and the best time to call you back.

Thank you,Daniel

------End Quote------

They seem expensive, and I wonder if it would be worth it or not.


I think if I were to buy some I would have to find just the right deal (almost free).


Joe Zeppe

Edit: just noticed the same photo. Must be the same, I hate it when I answer my own question so easily...

Yea that's the guy. Still a lot cheaper than butcher block the same size.
Good luck waiting for the "All most free" deal.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Nice score...Too bad they didn't throw in a few bowling alley ladies.....

 

[Zeppe807]

Yea that's the guy. Still a lot cheaper than butcher block the same size.
Good luck waiting for the "All most free" deal.

Crazy patience sometimes. I don't NEED one yet, but I like keeping my eyes open.

Yeah, I was thinking that compared to the butcher block it would be a great deal.

I think the use of the markers on a table would make an awesome product. Do you have any photos?

 

[nationalminer84]

I have old lanes in my shop as the workbench/bartop in the back room https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/1003320_10201350555503427_1689749100_n.jpg