How to Engrave Bowling Balls

Engraving a bowling ball adds identification and gives it ownership. A bowler who takes his sport seriously will buy his own bowling ball and engrave his name on it. Most rookie bowlers borrow bowling balls from the bowling alley. If you see a bowling ball with a name engraved on it, then you know you are dealing with a serious bowler.
Engraving a bowling ball isn't difficult. Most of the time they are ordered from a company and engraved by a professional, but there isn't any reason why, with the proper tools and a little knowledge, you can't engrave the ball yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Pantograph routing machine
• Cutting bit
• Bit wrench
• Clamps
• Traceable pattern

Instructions

1. Insert a cutting bit into the head of a pantograph routing machine. Secure the bit with a wrench.

2. Clamp your selected pattern beneath the tracing element of the routing machine. The pattern can be letters or a design.

3. Secure the bowling ball, centered, under the router head. Clamp it in place to prevent movement.

4. Turn on the router and lower the tracing element onto your bowling ball. Lower the cutting bit by pulling the lever and guide the tracer over the pattern.

5. Allow the router to cut into the ball, creating proper identification and personalization.

Tips & Warnings

• Never force your router bit. Gently guide it along. Set the router bit to the desired depth so the engraving isn't too deep.