[Robert Cahill]

Several years ago I saw a carving of a caricature face on a bowling pin. A couple days ago I was given a bowling pin and was wondering if anyone has carved one. If so is power required or what should I expect. I really don't expect to play with it until after the first of the year but thought I would try and get what info I could and perhaps some pictures.

[tvance124]

Robert,

The bowling pins I got a few years ago are made of oak, painted and coated with a thin layer of plastic. I was making carving mallets out of them when I found they are also hollow in the very center. I cut the plastic off the bottom and found the hollow space. BTW, I have never carved one.

[Robert Cahill]

Terry,
Thanks for the response .Never thought of making a mallet of it

[santacarver]

I make all my carving mallets from old bowling pins. They have to be the old ones, though. I managed to find some that were solid maple and not hollow in the middle. Some are, but if you get lucky, you can find the solid ones. It only cost me $5.00 for a dozen of them, and the bowling alley was glad to get rid of their old ones. I put them on my lathe and turn them into mallets of various weights and sizes. The plastic coating somes off easy with lathe tools. I have also made Nutcrackers from them, but that's quite the process.

[Kenny_S]

carved several with a .45 but not with a knife. The old ones we shot up were oak and solid.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Well here's one lol

[Robert Cahill]

loved it hi ho. The picture I saw had a face carved in the wood with a look of terror on it. Yours is just as comical.

I don't have a lath so I may have to find some other use I have considered using a dremel and may go that route it would be my first time using power .