How can someone remove discoloration in billiard balls?

Question

hello, I own a billiard shop and have some ugly discolored billiard balls. I was wondering if i could repolish them so they would not look so ancient. the white looks like yellow and the players often mistake it for the yellow ball.

please help

Answer 1

It might just be time for a new set.  Billiard balls do not have an infinite life.  The beating they take will cause them to wear out slowly over time.  If they're so old that they're yellow, (something I've only seen on VERY VERY old balls, that predate the resins used today) soaking them in anything could damage them further, especially bleach which can be somewhat corrosive.  Of course, if it's only that people are smoking around them, and it's just the cigarette smoke getting on them, any kind of ball cleaner should work just fine.  Here in NJ, most of the billiard halls I frequent, have a mechanical ball polisher, to keep them bright and shiny.  They're price but they use them pretty often, and most of the halls will do them for other people, for a price.

Answer 2

Soak it in bleach. Should do the trick.

Answer 3

Aramith Products has a billiard ball restorer kit.  I think that this is a good solution for you.  The kit runs for about $20.  I am not sure if soaking in bleach will work.  Any plastic polish should do the trick, but I would stick with the Aramith Restorer since it is specifically made for billiard balls.