Uses for Old Bowling Balls

When a once-avid bowler loses interest or can no longer bowl due to medical reasons, his bowling ball can end up in a dusty corner as a weighty reminder of a once-loved hobby. Instead of letting an old bowling ball go to waste, rejuvenate it by transforming it into a thing of beauty in your home or yard. An unused ball can become a decorative focal point in the garden or living room using paint, a saw or a simple pedestal.

  1. Gazing Ball

    • Spray paint transforms a bowling ball into a gazing ball.

      Set a bowling ball on a pedestal to create a thrifty garden gazing ball. To disguise the gazing ball's original purpose, cover it in metallic paint. Wipe the ball down with a vinegar-soaked cloth to strip the wax from the surface. Cover the finger holes with putty. Sand the surface with medium- to fine-grit sandpaper. Prime the bowling ball with spray paint primer. Once dry, follow with several coats of metallic paint.

    Rock Wall

    • Mix bricks or rocks with bowling balls for a unique rock wall.

      For an eclectic ornamental rock wall, gather bricks, rocks and a collection of bowling balls. Make your first layer of bricks or rocks. After the first layer is mortared and level, add several bowling balls among the additional rocks or bricks. Due to the temperature changes, bowling balls may develop cracks over time, but this creates character. To make the wall a bit more uniform, make the wall several brick-widths deep so that just the tip of the bowling ball will show when mortared.

    Decor

    • HGTV's Trash to Treasure suggests that partial bowling balls can make substantial bookends or candle holders. With practice, you can cut bowling balls into halves or slices with a band saw to make small decorative items. Modern bowling balls contain a foam core, making them more stable to cut than a hollow ball. Use a variety of quarter round pieces as bookends. Make a candle holder for a large pillar candle with half a bowling ball and a plate. Place a painted curtain ring between the two to stabilize the ball.

    Donate

    • Donate the ball to the next generation of bowlers.

      Even if the bowling ball has exceeded its useful life for you, it could still bring joy to others. Ask organizations that build community recreation facilities if they are collecting sports equipment. Perhaps an adult involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters would like to bowl with her Little Sister. If you can't find an organization with a bowling program, donate it to a thrift store that generates funds for a charity you support.