cue finishing

[Kevin Williams]

I have just finished making my own cue . Is there anybody out there who can advise me of the best finish to use?

[DeanH]

Well done, did you find it difficult or a surprise in who it went?
Can you post any pictures?

Raw Linseed Oil is the usual treatment for cues but others have used various oils and waxes.
For example, Mike Wooldridge (handmadecues.com) sells his own "special" oil of his own recipe - frog-legs, etc. all I am sure

Do a quick search on this forum as there have been several threads about oiling vs wax, treaments, etc.
All the best and looking forward to seeing a picture of your "baby".
DeanH

[nrage]

Do a search of the forum for posts by "trevs1" (Trevor White) containing the word "finishing".

[kllchem]

I have a custom built cue, the butt and a portion of the shaft is finished with automotive clear coat, the cueing portion of the shaft (shaft is clear Canadian Maple) is unfinished and builder waxed with auto wax. I've used this cue for 5 years (approx. 1000 hours per year) and have had excellent performance. I clean every 2 or 3 weeks with Cuetec cleaner and it is smooth as silk.

[unclevit]

I have a custom built cue, the butt and a portion of the shaft is finished with automotive clear coat, the cueing portion of the shaft (shaft is clear Canadian Maple) is unfinished and builder waxed with auto wax. I've used this cue for 5 years (approx. 1000 hours per year) and have had excellent performance. I clean every 2 or 3 weeks with Cuetec cleaner and it is smooth as silk.

Thousand hours would take me some 10 years. That's why I never get any better

Butt finishing process is similar to mine. But I start with clear shellac #8 . At least 10 layers throughout many hours. By hand with large cotton balls (we changed to new cotton balls every 2-3 layers). Need to work very slowly before you get gross finish on the wood. At the end, we use a few drops of car wax mixed with our special formula oil, for mirror-looking shine. Won't stick in your cue hand. Have seen other cuemakers using different method, but mine is still working nicely these days :snooker: