Getting Your Diamonds Dry

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Member

• Feb 20, 2009

• #1

What have you found to be the best system for soaking up the water on your diamonds? We have always used the old standard Diamond Dry and a lot of brooms, but was wondering if there is a better product out there. Also, has anyone used any of the squeegee systems out there? Would like to get the best bang for my buck - trying to maintain 12 fields for rec ball, school ball, and tournaments during our lovely Ohio spring and summer weather.

 

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Member

• Feb 20, 2009

• #2

Shamwow? sorry couldn't resist, The best thing I've seen are community fields do is make sure there in good shape before the rain (well drained, edges cut down) the more work you put in them before the rain the easier when it rains. then we just use the diamond dry. never tried the squeegee things

 

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Member

• Feb 21, 2009

• #3

Good maintainance of the fields, drying compound,brooms and some manpower is the best way to do it: Unless.....You have a budget that allows the rental of a helicopter! This works great, Ive seen it done a few times.

 

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Member

• Feb 25, 2009

• #4

Sounds wacky, but I've seen this done...Collect as many cushions from old couches as you can, tear off the fabric, and what you wind up with is a pile of giant foam sponges!

Throw a couple in a puddle and the water gets soaked up. You'll still probably need to do some raking and use a little diamond dry, but not as much as if the water was still standing in one spot.

Come to think of it, this idea is pretty close to the ShamWow thing!

 

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Member

• Feb 26, 2009

• #5

I know alot of budgets don't allow for this but if you can start tarping the fields. It does really make a difference.

 

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Member

• Feb 26, 2009

• #6

There's actually a sponge roller that works great, but wears out quickly.

But I love the idea of old cushions as a giant Shamwow!:yahoo:

 

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Member

• Feb 26, 2009

• #7

Last year we used a zero clearance submersible pump then dry field dressing or diamond dry. Pumped the water into the parking lot and it didn't come back! lol

 

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Member

• Feb 26, 2009

• #8

If we had been smart we could have gotten an ear mark on the spending bill. I hear Obama has some extra helicopters that they can hover over the softball field to help out us poor OFC members, now that most of us have been laid off or taken cuts!

 

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Member

• Mar 1, 2009

• #9

If you have five diamonds and lay them out on the table, you can rake chip and not dirt at the 13u Ohio Stingrays Texas Hold'em Tournament March 7th @ the Baltimore VFW hall. Door will open @ 4:00pm play starts at 5:00pm. Cash table will start at 6:00pm.
If you like softball and poker, then this is the place to be. Join us!

 

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Member

• Mar 1, 2009

• #10

it is a little illegal but i have seen fields lit on fire before was quite interesting and worked very well although i dont suggest it by any means

 

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Member

• Mar 1, 2009

• #11

Bounty paper towels, lots of them

With this administration, it might be doable to add "ear marks" after the bill has been signed.

 

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Member

• Mar 1, 2009

• #12

Aerating the surface (raking and let the wind do its thing) before applying any drying agent will save you a lot of money. If you can get a load of brick dust before the season starts and then mix some in when you are raking will be cheaper than spending money on a drying agent (plus you have added an impromtu playground for the little kids that come to any games).

Saw dust is another option. There is usually a lot just outside the Industrial Arts room (free). It smells like you are playing in a hampster cage, but at least you are playing.

 

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Member

• Mar 2, 2009

• #13

Evil Dad said:

I know alot of budgets don't allow for this but if you can start tarping the fields. It does really make a difference.

Click to expand...

Your absolutely correct there! It is expensive but after losing a tournament due to rain we as an organization purchased 4 tarps for our complex and it definately paid off. You do have to have alot of help getting them on and off but being able to play after severe rains is a terrific feeling!