Black grain

[Dave Walton]

You darken the grain purely for aesthetics. Every cue maker will have their own way but like its been said its done while filling the grain.

I thought you would have to get actual grain filler though not just multi purpose wood filler?

[jim evans]

i use sand sealer grain filler and ebony dye doe's a great job

[Dave Walton]

I use boot polish, rub it into the grain then wipe off the excess lightly sand and then a few coats of natural sanding sealer then sand it back to bare wood leaving the sealer in the grain then oil finish. Waiting to get a bollocking from the cue makers for doing it wrong now lol

[culraven]

So when did this become the norm, and what would have been the more traditional method of old?

[sydneygeorge]

Brilliant thread Guys !!!

[jim evans]

So by using a lighter filler you could have a cue with less visible chevrons?
Can anyone reccomend a lighter filler, am about to renovate a cue which doesn't have the best grain, certainly not worth highlighting?

you can buy a white powder grain filler of ebay mix with sand sealer into a fine past rub in let it dry sand down

[JasonOwen]

You can mix ebony dust with a natural grain filler but it wants to be a solvent based one and then thinned down so it gets into the grain.
Its not just an aesthetic thing, it all helps prep the shaft to achieve the smoothness and quality of finish.

[Dave Walton]

You can mix ebony dust with a natural grain filler but it wants to be a solvent based one and then thinned down so it gets into the grain.
Its not just an aesthetic thing, it all helps prep the shaft to achieve the smoothness and quality of finish.

I mean the colour is asphetic, filling the grain isn't, the dark grain looks nice, white filler would look awful.

[jim evans]

it dont come out white when sanded and oiled it comes out natural like the ash

[trevs1]

I use boot polish, rub it into the grain then wipe off the excess lightly sand and then a few coats of natural sanding sealer then sand it back to bare wood leaving the sealer in the grain then oil finish. Waiting to get a bollocking from the cue makers for doing it wrong now lol

Perhaps not ideal to use wax under a sealer Dave. Wax is never very happy to have surface type finishes applied over them, and generally will prevent the correct bonding action of a sealer.

[flame]

the stuff is called scumble by a few of the makers i know. it's an oil based grain filler. http://www.frenchpolishes.com/acatal..._Scumbles.html

scumble in it's original meaning was to colour or age a wooden article, maybe recently it as taken a different slant,if so then ok, i prefer to mix powdered wood filler with the desired dye(earth pigment) and meths,application isn't set in stone, experimentation is the key.

[Dave Walton]

I use boot polish, rub it into the grain then wipe off the excess lightly sand and then a few coats of natural sanding sealer then sand it back to bare wood leaving the sealer in the grain then oil finish. Waiting to get a bollocking from the cue makers for doing it wrong now lol

Perhaps not ideal to use wax under a sealer Dave. Wax is never very happy to have surface type finishes applied over them, and generally will prevent the correct bonding action of a sealer.

think I'm gonna have to do some experimentation with actually grain filler and wood dye. thanks for the advice Trevor

[Dave Walton]

Question for the cue makers. Would pre mixed multi purpose wood filler mixed with dark wood dye and sanding sealer work?

[flame]

Question for the cue makers. Would pre mixed multi purpose wood filler mixed with dark wood dye and sanding sealer work?

the filler you mention wouldn't work,(totally different use)it needs to have a good key to adhere properly,plus it is to brittle and not smooth enough,

[Dave Walton]

Question for the cue makers. Would pre mixed multi purpose wood filler mixed with dark wood dye and sanding sealer work?

the filler you mention wouldn't work,(totally different use)it needs to have a good key to adhere properly,plus it is to brittle and not smooth enough,

Cheers Flame. Ill get some proper grain filler