i like my shafts dirty

I like it a lil dirty. Err, umm, I mean, what are we talking about, again?


Eric
 
ridewiththewind said:
Typically, blued shafts are a result of improper chalking technique, and not keeping one's hands clean during play. Keeping one's hands clean will help alleviate the stickiness of the shaft.
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I completely agree with this statement. I let a guy I know play a couple of racks with a sneaky I've owned for a number of years, and when it came back I was blown away by just how sticky it was from tip to buttcap. I have never done a thing to it except for a quick wipedown with my hand towel before it goes back in the case. It took my 20 minutes to get all the muck off, as I also will not use so much as a scotchbrite on my shafts. CLEAN is a requirement though, and in order to maintain that, it only takes a minute of pre-thinking. If I am drinking a beer or water, I will NOT pick it up with my bridge hand. I also have a towel in my case should the need arise to wipe my hands off. When applying chalk, I use only what I need, which keeps excessive amounts of stray chalk off the shaft. I have cues which I have owned upwards of 15 years, and by using those three simple guidelines, have never had a shaft "professionally" cleaned, and none of my shafts have much if at all when it comes to blueing.

I also do not use any conditioning products, but if I ever find out what Mr. E. Crisp uses on his buttery smooth shafts, I may start...

Dave
 
deadhead said:
I completely agree with this statement. I let a guy I know play a couple of racks with a sneaky I've owned for a number of years, and when it came back I was blown away by just how sticky it was from tip to buttcap. I have never done a thing to it except for a quick wipedown with my hand towel before it goes back in the case. It took my 20 minutes to get all the muck off, as I also will not use so much as a scotchbrite on my shafts. CLEAN is a requirement though, and in order to maintain that, it only takes a minute of pre-thinking. If I am drinking a beer or water, I will NOT pick it up with my bridge hand. I also have a towel in my case should the need arise to wipe my hands off. When applying chalk, I use only what I need, which keeps excessive amounts of stray chalk off the shaft. I have cues which I have owned upwards of 15 years, and by using those three simple guidelines, have never had a shaft "professionally" cleaned, and none of my shafts have much if at all when it comes to blueing.

I also do not use any conditioning products, but if I ever find out what Mr. E. Crisp uses on his buttery smooth shafts, I may start...

Dave
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All excellent points! Even when picking up a glass of soda, I am conscious to do so with my grip hand...because of the condensation on the glass.

Personally, I could care less if one likes their shafts blued or not...it's their cue to care for as they wish. But they need to realize that when it comes time to sell, whether to upgrade or just try a different cue, many buyers are immediately turned off by a cue listed as mint, near mint, or excellent condition that has a blued shaft. We have all seen it over in the Wanted/For Sale section.

Ask anyone who has seen or received one of my cues...they have always had clean, ding-free shafts. I prefer to keep them clean, and dings just drive me nutz. I clean them perhaps every 3-4 months, and it takes me all of 10 minutes to do so. Makes me happy to pull a buttery smooth shaft out of my case. Also, on the rare occasion I do sell, I usually lose very little, if any, money on my cues simply because one look says that they have been lovingly cared for. In the 6 years I have been a member of AZ, I have sold a whopping 4 cues here...and all out of need, not because I wanted to. Every customer has been delighted with the cue they received.

The query was posted, and I responded...and with my reasons. I do not expect everyone to agree with me, but to say that I was insulting just rubs me the wrong way, because most members here know that that is far from the case.

Lisa
 
ridewiththewind said:
All excellent points! Even when picking up a glass of soda, I am conscious to do so with my grip hand...because of the condensation on the glass.

Personally, I could care less if one likes their shafts blued or not...it's their cue to care for as they wish. But they need to realize that when it comes time to sell, whether to upgrade or just try a different cue, many buyers are immediately turned off by a cue listed as mint, near mint, or excellent condition that has a blued shaft. We have all seen it over in the Wanted/For Sale section.

Ask anyone who has seen or received one of my cues...they have always had clean, ding-free shafts. I prefer to keep them clean, and dings just drive me nutz. I clean them perhaps every 3-4 months, and it takes me all of 10 minutes to do so. Makes me happy to pull a buttery smooth shaft out of my case. Also, on the rare occasion I do sell, I usually lose very little, if any, money on my cues simply because one look says that they have been lovingly cared for. In the 6 years I have been a member of AZ, I have sold a whopping 4 cues here...and all out of need, not because I wanted to. Every customer has been delighted with the cue they received.

The query was posted, and I responded...and with my reasons. I do not expect everyone to agree with me, but to say that I was insulting just rubs me the wrong way, because most members here know that that is far from the case.

Lisa
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These days losing money on cues is just something that happens. the economy is bad.

it's a personal thing. i like my shafts blued. i've always liked the look of shafts that're broken in. it's a personal reminder of how much time i spend playing. to be honest i've never run into anyone with snow white shafts that could play.
i've sold plenty of cues but i doubt i lost any money because the shafts were blued. it only takes a minute to clean them.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
These days losing money on cues is just something that happens. the economy is bad.

it's a personal thing. i like my shafts blued. i've always liked the look of shafts that're broken in. it's a personal reminder of how much time i spend playing. to be honest i've never run into anyone with snow white shafts that could play.
i've sold plenty of cues but i doubt i lost any money because the shafts were blued. it only takes a minute to clean them.
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Ohhh...my shafts aren't snow white...I paid extra to get the dark honey-colored, high ring count, beautiful tonal quality, older growth ones. :grin:

Like I stated before...smurf shafts are fine for some, just not for me. :sorry:

Lisa
 
if you like your shaft to be dirty within one night, then I'm your guy.

Oh and yes, my shafts are never clean, ever. then I just got used to that, Not that I like or dislike, just used to all the chalk/dirt in my shafts, I actually don't know what it is about my hands, I just know for fact that I sweat alot, specially my hands... could this be the reason? Here's an example that happened just today. I got a brand new shaft ok? Got into a game of nine ball, after that match my shaft is all dirty, if I show it to you, you would probably call me a lier if I tell you that its a one day usage. It's all chalk/oil/dirt. even its color getting different, darker.

Thats me, I charge $3 to dirt up your shaft in one match. it'll be so dirty ;)
 
asbani said:
if you like your shaft to be dirty within one night, then I'm your guy.

Oh and yes, my shafts are never clean, ever. then I just got used to that, Not that I like or dislike, just used to all the chalk/dirt in my shafts, I actually don't know what it is about my hands, I just know for fact that I sweat alot, specially my hands... could this be the reason? Here's an example that happened just today. I got a brand new shaft ok? Got into a game of nine ball, after that match my shaft is all dirty, if I show it to you, you would probably call me a lier if I tell you that its a one day usage. It's all chalk/oil/dirt. even its color getting different, darker.

Thats me, I charge $3 to dirt up your shaft in one match. it'll be so dirty ;)
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Holy Chalk-stain, Batman! I would venture to guess that not only are you over-chalking, but using a poor chalking technique. By grinding the tip into the chalk you are causing a curtain of blue rain to descend upon your shaft. Combine that with unwashed hands, and that'll do it in a hurry.
 
My hands also sweat when I am playing certain matches, and if left unchecked will cause my shaft to stick, always at the worst time, completely destroying what little stroke I have... Kinda bugs me.
But that is why I carry a hand towel, and occasionally use the conical hand chalk on my bridge hand. Sometimes I work a little of that chalk on the shaft when I get too much, but it bugs me and I have to wipe it off, but for a minute, my shafts really are "snow" white!! ;)
D
 
ridewiththewind said:
Holy Chalk-stain, Batman! I would venture to guess that not only are you over-chalking, but using a poor chalking technique. By grinding the tip into the chalk you are causing a curtain of blue rain to descend upon your shaft. Combine that with unwashed hands, and that'll do it in a hurry.
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poor chalking technique? as long as the chalk gets on the tip it's good. it's all about function
 
ridewiththewind said:
Wow...and this is exactly how these threads turn into flamefests. I never called anyone a pool scum, or even alluded to it. A previous poster had stated that, in their opinion, a blued shaft might well be indicative of the amount of work they had put into their game, and thus be perhaps a signal of talent. My response was that I did not feel that that was necessarily so...there are talented players with dirty shafts and talented players with clean shafts. The opposite is also true. That was the point I was trying to make.

Typically, blued shafts are a result of improper chalking technique, and not keeping one's hands clean during play. Keeping one's hands clean will help alleviate the stickiness of the shaft. If you are spinning on a lathe every time you are tying to remove the bluing, then you are reducing the shaft's diameter over time, as the bluing stains down into the wood grain pretty deep.
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Sorry, I didn't mean anything bad by it at all. It just seemed like you were talking down to the OP. My cues look absolutely brand new in every way EXCEPT the shafts. I don't let them get smurf blue, but I just hate the feel of a brand-new sanded shaft. I just seal it with leather, cardboard, or a dollar bill and hit it with some 800 grit if it feels sticky. Different strokes for different folks.
 
Idaho said:
Sorry, I didn't mean anything bad by it at all. It just seemed like you were talking down to the OP. My cues look absolutely brand new in every way EXCEPT the shafts. I don't let them get smurf blue, but I just hate the feel of a brand-new sanded shaft. I just seal it with leather, cardboard, or a dollar bill and hit it with some 800 grit if it feels sticky. Different strokes for different folks.
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i'm filing down chalk and rubbing it into my shaft as we speak! i'll never sell this cue though. it's the first cue i bought when i really decide to try to get good at this game. i'll sell blood and semen (not mixed together) for money before i sell it!
 
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LOL, I don't think my chalking technique is off, but I also play on a lot of dirty tables (my bridge hand is solid blue by the end of a set). I just think it's different strokes for different folks. Every time I put one of my shafts on my buddies lathe to put a tip on or trim one he gets pissed because I don't clean it.
 
I'll give ya that...some tables' felt is just flat out nasty. Another reason I wash my hands...even tho' I'm lucky that my local place I play maintains their tables and balls quite nicely...and they're a tavern!! :eek: Nicest tables in the valley.
 
I completely agree with Poolplayer...I cant play with a clean white shaft.

heres how sick I am...I add water to a chalk cube to make a blue paste, then I press it into new shafts to get them "ready". It's just a tascarella...;)
 
xianmacx said:
I completely agree with Poolplayer...I cant play with a clean white shaft.

heres how sick I am...I add water to a chalk cube to make a blue paste, then I press it into new shafts to get them "ready". It's just a tascarella...;)
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been doing the same thng all week. mines no low brow tascarella though. it's a mezz!!!!!!!!:eek:
lol

any pictures of your cue in the gallery?
 
xianmacx said:
I completely agree with Poolplayer...I cant play with a clean white shaft.

heres how sick I am...I add water to a chalk cube to make a blue paste, then I press it into new shafts to get them "ready". It's just a tascarella...;)
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I don't purposly make my shafts dirty...but I do think that the oil buildup that creates that nice shine also protects your shaft...IMO

I also think it plays more consistent over the long haul...Once I get a shaft the way I like it...I do nothing more than use a piece of leather on it every once in a while.

When I get a brand new shaft I actually put some baby oil on my fingers and rub the oil into the shaft....I then take a peice of leather to it...then I go back with a dry cloth and wipe it off.....It puts that initial coat of oil on the shaft the helps seal the pores of the shaft...IMO
 
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