Making your cue smoother

[keith auld]

Hi Wity - I have something that I use and have done for many years, it's a special sealer that fills not only the ash grain but also any blemishes in ebony. Once you've applied it and then sanded it back everything is filled and you end up with a surface like glass. I'll try to put some in with your cue that's coming to you via courier tomorrow or Thursday on an overnight service. When you get it give my a call and I'll explain how to use it. It'll solve all your problems!!

[totlxtc]

Hi Wity - I have something that I use and have done for many years, it's a special sealer that fills not only the ash grain but also any blemishes in ebony. Once you've applied it and then sanded it back everything is filled and you end up with a surface like glass. I'll try to put some in with your cue that's coming to you via courier tomorrow or Thursday on an overnight service. When you get it give my a call and I'll explain how to use it. It'll solve all your problems!!

Can i get some off you too please Keith. The missus is complaining about having 2 drawers in the kitchen for just cue refurb stuff. And you never know, these things come in handy. PM me if you need payment

[keith auld]

Hi totlxtc - This is something I had specially made for me in America - a friend of mine who fits custom kitchens tried it and got such a good finish on his veneered surfaces he's also trying to get me to get it in larger quantities - see what I can do for you - let me have an address - if I can spare some, then I'll send you a small amount and you can try it, but as I said to Wity, you'll have to phone me so I can talk you through it - it's very easy to apply and very good. Over the course of time I've always tried to get newer products to give a better than standard finish - I thought I had with a special lacquer finish, but unfortunately it didn't stand the test of continual use and started to flake off, and when put on really thick, just came back to the same properties of a mass produced cue with a sticky finish, so I kicked that idea into touch and went back to just offering the standard sealer, oil and polish finish that I know has worked over the past 30 years.
Then out of the blue I was contacted by one of the big American cue manufacturers who supply cues throughout the world and all have a fantastic natural finish - similar to De Roo and O'Min finishes but better. I've been using it for sometime and it's really good, and more to the point keeps the natural feel of the cue.

[Wity]

Ah brilliant Keith, cheers.

I might end up yet as a cue restorer lol. Nah not really I've come to the decision I'll not buy another cue till I've sold one thus keeping my rack full and having a living sorta collection. Thing is if I unknowingly buy a poor looking sod like this as I did off ebay having the know how to get it back someways to a good finish which is not just sand oil and wax will hopefully mean I'll get to play with many a cue in time and lose little on reselling if any.

[Wity]

BTW, I cant afford to lose money on cues anymore, this ones gonna cost me a new setee. Like the saft sod I am I spilt the ebony spirt stain over it.

Thankfully i'm still breathing, her indoors would have killed me if we hadn't have got divorced yrs ago.

[totlxtc]

Hi totlxtc - This is something I had specially made for me in America - a friend of mine who fits custom kitchens tried it and got such a good finish on his veneered surfaces he's also trying to get me to get it in larger quantities - see what I can do for you - let me have an address - if I can spare some, then I'll send you a small amount and you can try it, but as I said to Wity, you'll have to phone me so I can talk you through it - it's very easy to apply and very good. Over the course of time I've always tried to get newer products to give a better than standard finish - I thought I had with a special lacquer finish, but unfortunately it didn't stand the test of continual use and started to flake off, and when put on really thick, just came back to the same properties of a mass produced cue with a sticky finish, so I kicked that idea into touch and went back to just offering the standard sealer, oil and polish finish that I know has worked over the past 30 years.
Then out of the blue I was contacted by one of the big American cue manufacturers who supply cues throughout the world and all have a fantastic natural finish - similar to De Roo and O'Min finishes but better. I've been using it for sometime and it's really good, and more to the point keeps the natural feel of the cue.

Thanks Keith. Well if you only have a little then let Wity have it as the poor guy needs it more than I do

PS: Im so glad your a man who sticks to a natural finish rather than laquer or varnish. I do suffer from Wax and Oil snobbery

[bongo]

I don't think anybody has posted saying this yet but Mike Wooldridge sells Cue Oil, www.handmadecues.com.

[poolqjunkie]

I think if you wipe some epoxy on the wood, and then wipe it off almost right away before it dries so only a very thin layer is left, it should helps to seal the wood once this thin layer of epoxy dries up?
I have tried to fill up some dents with super glue before, and it is not that difficult. It is almost impossible to tell if you can dye it to the color of the wood.
You dont really need any fancy tool to do it. If you have an accelerator so the super glue can set quicker, it works even better cos the glue wont fog up as easily.

[Mellow Yellow]

I think if you wipe some epoxy on the wood, and then wipe it off almost right away before it dries so only a very thin layer is left, it should helps to seal the wood once this thin layer of epoxy dries up?
I have tried to fill up some dents with super glue before, and it is not that difficult. It is almost impossible to tell if you can dye it to the color of the wood.
You dont really need any fancy tool to do it. If you have an accelerator so the super glue can set quicker, it works even better cos the glue wont fog up as easily.

I would not recomend this with all the chemicals that are in super glue, you don't know what might happen to the cue!

[MikeWooldridge]

both of poolqjunkie's tips are good.

however, epoxy is very messy to work and always seems to end up on something it shouldn't, whereas superglue is rather excellent at sticking fingers together, making it more a danger to the user rather than the wood itself.

[Wity]

I'd considered superglue mixed with some dye or paint but then thought there could be a better alternative and was going to try asking at a woodworkers forum. Keith then mentioned his stuff so I'm just waiting on that. Should be here today sometime.

Why wouldnt the grain filler do it though? That puzzles me.

[MikeWooldridge]

puzzles me too, but i don't know the answer cos i've never used branded grain fillers in my life.

[poolqjunkie]

both of poolqjunkie's tips are good.

however, epoxy is very messy to work and always seems to end up on something it shouldn't, whereas superglue is rather excellent at sticking fingers together, making it more a danger to the user rather than the wood itself.

Yes, it could get quite messy. I use a Super Solvent when the glue gets on things it should not. The Super Solvent can dissolve the super glue very quickly when your fingers and such are glued together unintentionally.

This solvent is made by Golden West located in California, USA. It is specially made for dissolving cyanoacryate (spelling not sure?) glue aka super glue. However it does not work once it has been mixed with an accelerator. It usually comes in a 2fl oz bottle.

The super glue does not really have any harmful effect on the wood. If it is ebony, you can just color the small touch up area after the glue is set and sanded with a black sharpie. Nothing too complex. You can do it without any fancy equipment--all you need is really some water, sand paper, and super glue.

Sometimes, this finish gets "foggy" but if it is accelerated, I have founded that to be quite a nice and easy way to touch up minor dents and such. This method is used quite often in American pool cues, some cues are even finished entirely with super glue (many layers though).

[MikeWooldridge]

The super glue does not really have any harmful effect on the wood. If it is ebony, you can just color the small touch up area after the glue is set and sanded with a black sharpie.

what's a black sharpie?

This method is used quite often in American pool cues, some cues are even finished entirely with super glue (many layers though).

yes i know. and an excellent finish it can be too.

[totlxtc]

Sharpie i believe is a marker pen. More popular in the states