Removing Laquer From A Shaft

[Maverick54]

Any one advise the best way of tackling this job, sanding then wire wool or using chemicals to remove the lacquer?

[culraven]

Just been doing this to a cue I found this morning.
Take as much as you dare off with a course sand paper 80-120
Then I've found some great sponge sanding pads in the £1 shop, probably around 240 and work a treat.
Then work your way through the grades, finishing with 0000 wire wool.

[stejohn]

Sanding is the best way, start around 240grit working through grits upto 1000 plus. If it's ash wire wool can pull the grain out. Coat or 2 of oil and buff it up.

[Maverick54]

Thanks guys. Its only a cheap old cue so I cant do to much damage

[Maverick54]

Well the sanding went much easier than I thought and I now have a very smooth finish.

I've now had the mad idea of staining the shaft a dark Jacobean oak colour before oiling. Daft as it sounds or not?

[stejohn]

I wouldn't myself, but of course it's your shaft

[Dave Walton]

Well the sanding went much easier than I thought and I now have a very smooth finish.

I've now had the mad idea of staining the shaft a dark Jacobean oak colour before oiling. Daft as it sounds or not?

I wouldn't leave it dyed, but if you rub the dye on before oiling then sand back lightly it will enhance the colour of the grain nicely, or you can add dye to your oil to give it the dark aged look

[j6uk]

iv one the on many old an new cues and i used all the methods above, but the best an quickes way is a razor blade, stripper, 0 wire wool

[Master Blaster]

iv one the on many old an new cues and i used all the methods above, but the best an quickes way is a razor blade, stripper, 0 wire wool

yep, sanding can remove wood, so I like your idea of a blade. Mav, have you tried the Aurora finishing method?

[stejohn]

yep, sanding can remove wood, so I like your idea of a blade. Mav, have you tried the Aurora finishing method?

Lol so could using a blade��

[Maverick54]

Decided to leave it natural in the end and just rubbed a bit of Raw linseed oil in it. Really pleased with the results.

Having the shaft stained in a dark oak did appeal to me but I was wasn't sure wether it might hide the grain pattern or not (don't think it would) If it did go wrong tho it would take a lot of sanding to remove the stain after it had penetrated the wood.

[mythman69]

A razor blade on a cue ??? Geez, I am not sure I would be game to try that.

Maybe I should get an old bent cue and give it a try because I have a few old cues that I would like to give a renovation too so they can live again.

[stejohn]

Don't see the need for a blade myself. With sanding you can shape the paper to near round to take the shape of the shaft somewhat to keep it round.
If you need to take more the obviously start with a plane etc.

[culraven]

I've used a blade before on heavily varnished butts, scrapes and kind of chips off quite easily, but don't think I'd trust myself on the shaft.

[j6uk]

youd have to be just as experienced and even moren carful to do it with sand paper
if you i it with a razor blade you could try with the side edge of the blade first.. it takes me 5min the 10 to get all the streeks an stuff out of the grains