My 25 Cent Chalk Holder...

[Bob 14:1]

I've never used the six sided Predator chalk, but I wonder if the bottom is a series of overlapping folds due to the six sides?

Even on square Master, when I looked at the bottom test washer after 72 hours, I used a magnifying piece and it was clear that the paper was "baggy" and that the washer was firmly attached to the paper, but the paper wrapping was clearly flexing away from the chalk itself.

My tests also included cementing to the bare chalk itself. I surprisingly found out that the cement did not adhere perceptibly better to the actual chalk itself.

If you rough up a smaller washer with 80 grit paper, then clean both the washer and the chalk wrapper exactly where the washer is going to be placed, I think it'll be a very cold day before you see anything separating from anything.

Just got some Magic chalk today. I even masked off the exact area of the washer, cleaned it thoroughly, then sparingly used the E600 to attach it. It makes a really nice presentation without any of the cement showing.

Tape may work equally as well, and this isn't important at all, but my personal opinion is that the tape looks like a shoemaker job. BTW, shot five racks of straight today, and this Magic is totally the bomb! It's hard to believe something as mundane as chalk, could be such a drastic improvement over the other brands. Barely any cast
off on the cloth at all. I'm really stoked over this stuff. Must contain Kryptonite or somethin'...

P.S. Any way we can resize the taped chalk photo? It's all I can do find the posting box.

 

[wigglybridge]

i just superglued a #10 washer to a piece of Predator chalk last night. seems to work great so far.

it appears to me that the *bottom* paper on the Predator chalk is overlain by the side wrap. i superglued to the bottom, and i'm not expecting it to come loose. time will tell.

 

[JoeyA]

Thanks,

That may work fine, but damn, removing the bottom from the chalk isn't that simple even with an exact knife which I have used to do just that. Then the epoxy, then the drying.... Can't some chalk maker just slip a washer under the paper before sealing it?

JoeyA

Remove the paper from the bottom of the chalk and cover it with epoxy when you put on the washer. It seals the bottom of the chalk and you will never have the washer come off..

 

[bwally]

That may work fine, but damn, removing the bottom from the chalk isn't that simple even with an exact knife which I have used to do just that. Then the epoxy, then the drying.... Can't some chalk maker just slip a washer under the paper before sealing it?

JoeyA

Renfro did it on his Great White Chalk..

I do about 3-4 pieces at a time. Doesn't take that long and it probably will be years before I go through 4 pieces of chalk. :thumbup:

 

[Bob 14:1]

That may work fine, but damn, removing the bottom from the chalk isn't that simple even with an exact knife which I have used to do just that. Then the epoxy, then the drying.... Can't some chalk maker just slip a washer under the paper before sealing it?

JoeyA

When my chalk gets a divot in it, I trim away the upper paper and chalk with a foam block of medium coarse abrasive such as this. It cuts right thru the paper and gives a beautifully sharp edge. Probably less than one minute to completely shave off the bottom paper on any chalk. From memory, it's in the sandpaper isle, and under $2, and it's washable and lasts forever. Can also be cut to size with a sharp knife or even scissors. Got mine at Lowes.

This may be premature, But I think JoeyA, WB and I, with all our combined intelligence and good looks, might well be sitting on a potential gold mine here!!!

 

[Bob 14:1]

i just superglued a #10 washer to a piece of Predator chalk last night. seems to work great so far.

it appears to me that the *bottom* paper on the Predator chalk is overlain by the side wrap. i superglued to the bottom, and i'm not expecting it to come loose. time will tell.

See post #25. You in???

 

[wigglybridge]

i think the beauty of this approach is there's no "in".

another discovery tonight: if you use magnets of different diameter, they're Much easier to separate, and putting the larger one in your pocket makes the whole deal easier and better. they don't even have to be very different in size, just a little helps.

 

[JoeyA]

Bob,
You told everybody how to make a $.25 magnetic chalk holder. How we gonna make any real money? Besides now everyone knows how to do it.

I do like that foam block abrasive and it is one thing I haven't tried.


JoeyA

When my chalk gets a divot in it, I trim away the upper paper and chalk with a foam block of medium coarse abrasive such as this. It cuts right thru the paper and gives a beautifully sharp edge. Probably less than one minute to completely shave off the bottom paper on any chalk. From memory, it's in the sandpaper isle, and under $2, and it's washable and lasts forever. Can also be cut to size with a sharp knife or even scissors. Got mine at Lowes.

This may be premature, But I think JoeyA, WB and I, with all our combined intelligence and good looks, might well be sitting on a potential gold mine here!!!

 

[Bob 14:1]

i think the beauty of this approach is there's no "in".

another discovery tonight: if you use magnets of different diameter, they're Much easier to separate, and putting the larger one in your pocket makes the whole deal easier and better. they don't even have to be very different in size, just a little helps.

Yeah, I think you're right on the money. It takes two men and a horse to separate my same size magnets!

Were you lucky enough to find a working magnet in your kitchen junk drawer, or did you source one at Lowes, Depot, etc.? Just curious in the event I ever lose one of mine.

Shoot me a link if you bought yours someplace locally accessible to me; i.e. Depot, Lowes, etc.

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[Bob 14:1]

Bob,
You told everybody how to make a $.25 magnetic chalk holder. How we gonna make any real money? Besides now everyone knows how to do it.

I do like that foam block abrasive and it is one thing I haven't tried.


JoeyA

Well, yeah, I never thought about that. Well, we all three still have our chick magnetic looks though.

I think my recommendation of medium/coarse was a bit too much. On my last project finishing wood, I used medium and fine, then extra fine perhaps. Medium is probably good, but you can judge just by handling the block.

When I trim my chalk down, and then get it to where I want it, I gently take the block and swipe it paper first and into towards the chalk, and it takes the paper burrs right off. Gives a really nice professional look. They used to get clogged with wood sanding, so at the end of the day I just rinsed and squeezed 'em in the kitchen sink to clean them off.

Even if you don't use 'em for your chalk, they're really handy to have on hand.

 

[nine o nine]

I used magnets from my hard drive and the computer doesn't work anymore. I had to type this on my computer at work. Mitch

 

[JoeyA]

Since you did the Lazarus move on this old thread, I thought I would share an update on my magnetic chalk holder.

LifeProof cell phone cases sometimes come with a belt clip to hold your phone to your belt. I attached a 3/4" x 3/4"x 1/8" (rectangular) rare earth magnet with epoxy to the belt clip.

After trying many different combinations of attaching a washer to my chalk, I have settled in on using 1/8 x 3/4 Hillman Fastener Steel Fender washers, H#290001, to my chalk using a simple small glue gun that uses the glue sticks for crafts. I found that being precise with applying a good layer of glue on the bottom of the chalk and pressing the washer into the glue as the glue is cooling and then using the glue gun to smooth any burrs while filling in any holes that might be needed to be filled in. I like to have glue not only on the bottom of the washer facing the chalk but the sides of the washer as well. I don't coat the top of the washer with glue but smooth out the little bump of glue that comes out of the hole of the washer.

By using this method, MOST of my chalk hold on to the washer until I no longer want to use it. I use Master Chalk since I chalk on practically every shot and that it is inexpensive as I go through it rather quickly. When the chalk becomes worn below 1/4" I generally just leave it behind in the pool room for someone else to use.

I glue a dozen at a time and that generally lasts me about 2 months.

My young pool playing pal, Danny Smith shared some of his Molinari chalk with me and why he uses it and I have to say the Molinari chalk goes on very smooth. I have about 100 pieces of Masters chalk to go through before I try any other chalk.

JoeyA

I used magnets from my hard drive and the computer doesn't work anymore. I had to type this on my computer at work. Mitch

 

[flyrv9]

Interesting idea. I've just been using the stick that goes in your pocket type chalk holders. I would look for magnets at a store like Office Max or Hobby Lobby. Or Amazon.