How to smooth shaft.

[Charles Hartfield]

I have four one piece house cues that are not smooth anymore on the shaft portion. I tried the product below several times with no difference. I don’t have a lathe or know any cue makers in my area. Do you have any product/products you recommend to smooth the shaft portion with? Thank you. Charles

 

[DeeDeeCues]

I have four one piece house cues that are not smooth anymore on the shaft portion. I tried the product below several times with no difference. I don’t have a lathe or know any cue makers in my area. Do you have any product/products you recommend to smooth the shaft portion with? Thank you. Charles View attachment 663122

Start with 600 grit sandpaper, follow with 800, 1000, 1500. Burnish with a brown paper grocery bag.

 

[measureman]

They probably need good cleaning to get hand oil and other crap off them.
Wipe them down with some Alcohol and follow up with magic eraser then use the shaft slicker you have.

 

[Coos Cues]

Start with 600 grit sandpaper, follow with 800, 1000, 1500. Burnish with a brown paper grocery bag.

Add a liberal amount of minwax paste wax or something comparable to the 1500 step prior to burnishing and you get a "wet sanded" finish slick as ice and durable. Try it you'll like it.

 

[DeeDeeCues]

Add a liberal amount of minwax paste wax or something comparable to the 1500 step prior to burnishing and you get a "wet sanded" finish slick as ice and durable. Try it you'll like it.

I agree that is a great method.

 

[Coos Cues]

I agree that is a great method.

Plus as a bonus you can work right on down to and over the finish line by the joint of shafts without worry of hurting the finish. down there with the wax step.

 

[DeeDeeCues]

Plus as a bonus you can work right on down to and over the finish line by the joint of shafts without worry of hurting the finish. down there with the wax step.

I'll add that you want to get some heat in the burnishing stage which melts the wax into the pores.

 

[Dan White]

I've come to believe a perfectly slick shaft is overrated. Good enough is good enough. I read somewhere here that Efren didn't want his shaft cleaned because it would remove the magic.

 

[slim123]

I've come to believe a perfectly slick shaft is overrated. Good enough is good enough. I read somewhere here that Efren didn't want his shaft cleaned because it would remove the magic.

alot of cue repair men sand on shafts , im thinking that's what efferen is thinking, he doesn't trust his shaft to come back the same diameter

a dirty shaft has no magic it sticks to your hands and is a distraction

 

[Dan White]

alot of cue repair men sand on shafts , im thinking that's what efferen is thinking, he doesn't trust his shaft to come back the same diameter

a dirty shaft has no magic it sticks to your hands and is a distraction

I guess what I'm saying is that it is unnecessary to go to great lengths to make your cue slide like a skating rink. Use a damp cloth, wipe it dry and burnish with a leather pad. Reburnish as needed with the leather. IMO, this makes the shaft perfectly fine for a long time with minimal attention.

 

[Zerksies]

I use sandpaper up to 3000 grit seems to work for me

 

[Rodney]

alot of cue repair men sand on shafts , im thinking that's what efferen is thinking, he doesn't trust his shaft to come back the same diameter

a dirty shaft has no magic it sticks to your hands and is a distraction

I actually prefer them dirty. On my playing shaft you can’t see bare wood for the entire length! If it gets sticky I just wipe it with a damp paper towel and immediately dry it. Works great.

 

[WilleeCue]

If you measure a shaft's diameter and then lightly sand it with 600 grit (or higher) sand paper what do you think the shaft will now measure? More than one thousands or less than one thousandths smaller. Could you feel the difference? I suppose over time with many sanding the diameter would change enough to really notice. I have see the results of someone doing excessive sanding on their shaft and it is not pretty.
A good cue tech should be able to clean and polish a cue shaft and cause no noticeable difference in its profile.

 

[DeeDeeCues]

If you measure a shaft's diameter and then lightly sand it with 600 grit (or higher) sand paper what do you think the shaft will now measure? More than one thousands or less than one thousandths smaller. Could you feel the difference? I suppose over time with many sanding the diameter would change enough to really notice. I have see the results of someone doing excessive sanding on their shaft and it is not pretty.
A good cue tech should be able to clean and polish a cue shaft and cause no noticeable difference in its profile.

For a playing cue, I consider the shaft to beat wear item. It should last many years, but eventually it probably could use replacement.

I've used the method I started for years without wearing out a shaft. 600 grit doesn't take much off, and itt shouldn't need to be used often. Keep your hands dry and clean and your shaft will stay the same.