Shaft sealers and impact on shaft

Newton

Newton

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
After a very busy period in my life I though I should actually treat my self and
do something for my own private playing cue. Doing tips and installs to a bunch
of others, my private shafts had turned fairly dirty and all 3 needed some new
tips.

Well, doing all the tricks in the book on all 3 shafts I felt good and took the shafts
down to the pool hall last night and I could not pot sqat diddly doo.... I was
missing several balls I normally just knock in without even consideration.

So I started thinking :

1: One shaft had my stock tip installed -Tiger Everest, the two others had some new
tips I wanted to check out. Even with the stock Everest installed I felt uncomfortable,
was not hitting correct - and I missed things I should not miss.
So I took the shafts back and have now changed 2 out of 3 tips and would do
a new test run hopefully tonight. If the same thing happen - then

2: Shaft sealer - I have been using shaft sealer after I clean up the customers
cues and bussy as I have been - never done this on my own shafts.
I guess I have fallen in the same story as the cobbler, which has the worst pair of shoes :)

It struck me that could it be that the shaft sealer - which is liquid - has changed the shafts
properties? One brand seems to use "strong alcohol" and vaporize quickly
so I feel that the sealer should not get sucked that deep in the wood.
The other brand has a unknown mixture which seems more milky and this was
the one used on my own shafts. It dries quick - but - hmmm - not sure if it has
any different properties then brand 1.

Playing with a laminated shaft (OB2) I have also been wondering if the sealers
using acetone could damage the glue bonds in the lamination :scratchhead:

I have a untouched shaft which I would compare to when I get the time to
hit a couple with all of them.

Any thoughts ?

K
 
I spoke to the inventor & owner of OB shafts. He recommeneds using alcohol on a MAGIC EARASER, for cleaning & sealing the shaft after a light sanding with 1000 grit sandpaper...JER
 
Just my opinion but tips, will get harder with use and age.
They do this so gradually that you do not notice any change.
Thin and well packed down tips that are ready fro replacement will feel nothing like the same tip when new.
Some tips are worse about this than others.
High dollar laminated tips (moori, kamui) should do this the least.

Give new tips a few days at the table to "break-in" and you will be back to poting balls like your old self.
 
Kent,

Don't worry about the glue breaking down because of the cleaners. Once our glues are set, they are set!

Let me know how it comes out!
 
RBC said:
Kent,

Don't worry about the glue breaking down because of the cleaners. Once our glues are set, they are set!

Let me know how it comes out!
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late reply, been on the road again..

I ended up playing the Norwegian 10 Ball championship with a old demo shaft I had lying with the stock tip. After a couple of matches I migrated to one of the cleaned ones and was pretty comfy with it.

The reason I was concerned was that one sealer I used had a distinct Aceton smell to it-which I was worried could weaken the glue bonds. But I guess I'm doing as usual-worry to much.
No wonder those gray hairs has arrived :-)

Kent
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top