By John-Paul Ernst So you’ve just finished playing Pétanque in the wet and have arrived home, ready to dry out and enjoy the spoils of a sucessful day. Meanwhile your boules are sitting in a damp bag with a damp cloth, covered in a fine film of mud in the boot of the car. Having invested good money in the sport of Pétanque, the last thing you need is rusty and dirty boules, and depending on the brand and type of boules you have, more or less care is required.But there will definitely be a need for care. Here are some simple ways to be kinder to your boules, along with a list of some equipment you should have at hand. * Material: Pétanque boules are available in two types of material, “acier au carbone” and “inox”. Boule made of carbon (steel) will readily develop surface rust and display a light to dark brown colour regardless of how carefully it's looked after. Whereas an inox (stainless steel) boule may only require a regular wipe with a clean dry cloth. *Hardness: Across the board, boules are available in materials that are very hard, hard, semi-soft, soft and very soft. The likelihood of a boule developing sharp or at least uncomfortable nicks on the surface is dependent on the regular piste surface and the hardness of the boule. *Patterns: Boules have been inscribed in approximately 42 different patterns at various groove depths, along with some interesting claims as to their purpose. One thing that they will do is collect dirt particles, especially when new. These can be difficult to remove but the effort should be made because they can contain naturally-occurring iron deposits that will rust, leaving rust stains and dirt in your carry bag. *Regular Care: Regardless of what the weather has been like or if the piste was damp or dry, take less than ten minutes to look over your boules in preparation for the next fun-filled day of Pétanque. Remove the grit caught in the grooves and lettering with a small screw driver along with any sharp nicks by using a small flat metal file, like that used on spark plugs or jewellery. Surface rust and other surface deposits can be removed with a small sheet of 320 grade (grit) wet & dry abrasive paper. If you wish to reapply any colour in the grooves, first give the boules a wipe with a cloth and brush the related grooves clean. Before storing the boules away and after any colouring has dried, apply a light spray of WD40 or RP7 onto a cloth and systematically wipe each boule, using a small brush to work the solution into the grooves if required. Finally, don’t spoil your efforts by then placing the boules back into a damp bag along with a damp cloth. Keep you carry bag dry at all times or ensure that it and your cleaning cloth is thoroughly dry before using again. |