Linseed Oil Or Varnish ?

[ADR147]

like nelsonite?

[CueAntW147]

Some really interesting posts on this thread, in particular by Keith, i think what is clear is there are various methods and ways of finishing cues and probably more important that whatever method you choose is ok as long as its done well.
I also think some methods of finishing are not possible by all of us due to the type of specialist equipment needed etc and these methods are best left to an expert.
It is also true we all have different tastes as to how we like our own cues finished which is just down to personal preference.
I personally like an oil finish, which is maybe easier to attempt from scratch or simply to top up every so often by the average person who doesn't have access to specialist tools etc.
As with most things its trial & error and to experiment to see what you like & what you don't using the resources you have available, it also depends on what the existing finish is as what method is best to use.
If your confident have a go yourself see how you get on, but if not i think especially with some methods in particular its best left to the experts.....

[keith auld]

this is a great post and puts everything in a nutshell

[edd147]

I'd like to apologize to Keith as I only went on the experience of the "normal" lacquer which like on say the peradon cues is sticky and has to be taken of to be able to have a desent game. I didn't realise that you could get the same smooth feel as with oil, so without actually trying one of your cues you're right - I can't really judge.

[checkSide]

I must say my Father just got one of Keith's cues recently, and the finish is superb.

It makes the cue look very nice.

At first we encouraged him to sand the lacquer off, but he refused after discussing it with Keith. A month on the cue is still looks and feels excellent. It hasn't got sticky at all.

On a different note Keith built the cue as a replica of a cue he made for my Father around 15 years ago. The balance and feel is almost identical to the original.

I am standing up for Keith!

[CueAntW147]

this is a great post and puts everything in a nutshell

thanks Keith..i forgot to mention alot of credit should go to you ( not just on this thread ) for sharing your knowledge and taking the trouble to explain things in the detail you do, which i'm sure is appreciated by all......

[keith auld]

thnks checkside - glad your dad likes the cue - for information purposes this was made as a 1 piece ash shaft with 4 ebony splices, 4 tulipwood splices and matching small tulipwood extension - cut at 3/4 point above the splices - grain matched and jointed and finished with our new finishing process that has been mentioned in this thread

[Semih_Sayginer]

ive told keith this on more than one occasion by PM, but thought id post on here that his posts are always very informative and usually put in such a way as to give anyone as much help as possible and leaving open a choice of what to do. not that others dont, but IMO he not only a great cuemaker, but a great "poster" too

[ADR147]

what is the name of the product you use keith? i have tried the nelsonite but think i over did it!

[keith auld]

thanks Sem

[keith auld]

it's a mixture of benzotriazol and polyoxyethylenes

[ADR147]

is it your own mixture or a product - i used to use something similar to coat remote control cars.

[trevs1]

Here's a new one to add to this thread.

I knew a guy some years ago who really liked his cue to be sticky, yes, sticky.

His method of finishng was to coat his cue with a mixture of warm water with dissolved sugar and coffee, made into a paste, which he then applied to his cue.....insane.

I don't recommend anyone else try that one.

Oh, by the way, sounds like an interesting finish you use there Keith, sounds effective.

[ADR147]

trevor the thought of that is turning my stomach

[keith auld]

it's a product that I get in barrell form and it was specially made for me when we had to do a particular finishing job on a commisioned table that we had to make for one of the palaces - I don't want to go into why I had to find an alternative to standard lacquer, it's too long and convaluted (send me your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy of the furniture leaflet showing amongst other things the table in question we send out - I've already sent 1 to Trevor and 1 to Mike, upon request). It was through curiosity that I used it on a cue and although it was initially unsuitable, it seemed to change characteristics when a cutting paste was applied. When doing these things it's a bit like gambling, you've got to be prepared to go in prepared to write off the stake even though you always think you're going to win, most times you don't but when you do the taste is even sweeter.
I took a flier in asking the manufacturers to produce something that would give a finish similar to a car spray but use it on high quality book matched veneers - I got lucky !!!
The constituent base I gave you earlier was taken off the barrell - which is gobbledigook to me ! - the one thing is that it must be sprayed on and must be in a ventilated area with extractors and filters, the smell is lethal !! but it's dry in under 2 minutes which eliminates any runs - I'll have a word with the makers tomorrow and if they do anything that is remotely similar in aerosol can form for the car industry, then I'll get some and give it a try and if it works then I'll post a message for you and all the other interested parties; if in the meantime you come across anything that mat be similar let me know - I'm always ready to learn something new and not scared to experiment