Thanks for buying a Boulerbell! Here are some tips we’ve put together that will ensure your kettlebell outlasts your ability to lift it.
Brand new kettlebell curing
After receiving its final coat of paint, a Boulderbell is safe to handle within a few hours but the coating will not achieve full hardness for 7 days. Go easy on the kettlebell for the first week if it is brand new to avoid scratching the finish. If you can easily scrape or dent the finish with your fingernail, then it is not fully cured.
Do’s and Don’ts:
Do:
- Swing it, clean it, Turkish get-up it; use it like any other kettlebell and trust that the handle is very securely attached to the rock!
- Call or email us if you have any questions, suggestions or requests. As a new company, it’s critical that we hear your feedback whether positive or negative.
Don’t:
- Drop the kettlebell on a hard surface. The impact could cause the rock to chip, or in extreme cases could cause a large fracture. Dropping the kettlebell on grass, dirt or a rubber mat is OK as long as you don’t…
- Impact the wooden kettlebell handle. This will happen if you drop it on its handle, drop it and let it roll, or drive around with it loose in the trunk.
- Leave the kettlebell in the sun all day every day; in the (very) long run, this may cause the handle finish to yellow. See note on refinishing the handle below.
- Leave the kettlebell out in the rain. We seal the handle-rock junction to help prevent water from entering, but it’s best not to take any chances.
- Let the kettlebell get wet and then freeze.
Rock coating and polishing
- Some Boulderbells come with a clear coat on the rock itself (not just the handle). This makes the rock look pretty, but it will wear off eventually if the surfaces get rubbed a bunch. Our advice is to accept this as a natural part of Boulderbell Old Age, but you can freshen it up with polyurethane (similar to “refinishing the handle” below) if you like.
- Like all kettlebells, if you do a lot of exercises where the kettlebell rests on your forearm or bicep, it will be rough on your skin at first. Usually this becomes a nonissue with good lifting technique (and maybe a little skin toughening). Since a Boudlerbell has a nonuniform shape, you may find one orientation works better than another. If it’s a persistent problem for you, consider adding several coats of polyurethane to the problem surfaces to make them smoother and less abrasive. Finally, if the shape of your kettlebell is just not well suited to the exercises you want to do, check out our other kettlebells – we might be able to swap yours out for your desired shape.
Refinishing the handle
Should your wooden handle need refinishing, you can ask Boulderbells for a quick touch-up – we will do it for free if we have time, or we may ask for a small fee. Or, do it yourself by (1) sanding the old finish with 220 grit sandpaper, (2) applying a coat of polyurethane paint, and (3) repeating steps 1 and 2 until you’ve applied at least 3 coats. Ask us whether we used water- or oil-based polyurethane on your kettlebell so that you can use the same type (early Boulderbells used oil, but we are moving to water-based because it has less noxious fumes). Water and oil based polyurethane are equally durable. An easier option is to remove the old finish and soak with mineral oil or tung oil to achieve a nice looking but slightly grippier finish. Oils will need to be reapplied periodically.
Cheers – we hope you enjoy your Boulderbell!