Refinishing stained cue. Risk of sanding removing the stain?

J

JohnsonJ

Member
So I just picked up a used Mezz sneaky pete, where half of the butt is brown stained maple. I am wanting to refinish the whole butt, but I am worried about the stain getting removed whilst sanding it down.

I am wondering if anyone could tell me how deep do stains usually penetrate into the wood? I was thinking of sanding down the whole diameter of the butt by about 0.5 mm (0.02 in) to get the dents out. Would this risk completely removing the stain, or would it be close to negligible?

Of course I will also add a drop of water here and there beforehand, to try and get the dented butt grains to pop back out, so as to sand the butt down as little as possible.

I was thinking of starting with P500 grit sandpaper (360 in US numbers?).
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
SSDiver2112 said:
Pretty simple process for the shaft, but you have to take it slow and be patient. Much of the thicker outer layer could be picked at with a razor blade and peeled off. Once I got it as even as possible I sanded the rest off and re finished.

I did not do the butt. For the amount of work it would be I would charge the same as McDermott and wouldn’t guarantee the stained part would stay the same. For now he is just using it as is.
Click to expand...
Just an Fyi
The McD logo isn't ingraved anymore.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
SSDiver2112 said:
I have seen severe cracking of the finish before with some of the older McDermott cues. A guy brought me one recently. I contacted McDermott on the off chance they might warranty it but no.
About $290 for them to do it. I told him I would redo the shaft and it would still be a playable cue. Just not as pretty.

View attachment 771300



View attachment 771301
Click to expand...
Very nice! 👍
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
SSDiver2112 said:
Pretty simple process for the shaft, but you have to take it slow and be patient. Much of the thicker outer layer could be picked at with a razor blade and peeled off. Once I got it as even as possible I sanded the rest off and re finished.

I did not do the butt. For the amount of work it would be I would charge the same as McDermott and wouldn’t guarantee the stained part would stay the same. For now he is just using it as is.
Click to expand...
You were honest with your customer. That practice will serve you well.
👍
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Michael Webb said:
If you have experience,
That
Is only answer!
All to often, people are ROPED into trying to help someone, when they don't have the experience yet in doing something they're not ready for.
REALITY!
Click to expand...

How does one gain experience without doing something they aren't ready for?

Doing it on a customer cue is risky. Doing it on one's own cue is expensive--you have to purchase the cue.

The best option is to prepare and practice as much as possible, but at some point one must take a leap. Explain the situation to the customer, explain the risks, if they agree to accept the risks, go for it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DeeDeeCues said:
How does one gain experience without doing something they aren't ready for?

Doing it on a customer cue is risky. Doing it on one's own cue is expensive--you have to purchase the cue.

The best option is to prepare and practice as much as possible, but at some point one must take a leap. Explain the situation to the customer, explain the risks, if they agree to accept the risks, go for it.
Click to expand...
Everything you just posted.
There are Cue makers.
Yayyyyy, GREAT!
You know what you know to build your Cues.

Cue mechanic,
You have to know and learn so much more.
Because you have to learn and try to understand what others did.
Not everyone who builds Cues, should repair Cues.
It SUCKS TO post it
But it really is true.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Michael Webb said:
Everything you just posted.
There are Cue makers.
Yayyyyy, GREAT!
You know what you know to build your Cues.

Cue mechanic,
You have to know and learn so much more.
Because you have to learn and try to understand what others did.
Not everyone who builds Cues, should repair Cues.
It SUCKS TO post it
But it really is true.
Click to expand...

That is completely on point, sir.

I think that it depends on how a cue maker came to be a cue maker. If a guy bought the lathe, videos, and book and decided that he is a cue maker, then he probably didn't learn much beyond what the lathe allows, and the books/videos tell.

If a person came to make cues through studying cues, knowing fine woodworking, understanding tools and machines, making his own jigs, adapting tools, trying a bunch of different construction methods, constantly working, then they may know more about construction methods and their benefits/problems than a cue mechanic.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DeeDeeCues said:
That is completely on point, sir.

I think that it depends on how a cue maker came to be a cue maker. If a guy bought the lathe, videos, and book and decided that he is a cue maker, then he probably didn't learn much beyond what the lathe allows, and the books/videos tell.

If a person came to make cues through studying cues, knowing fine woodworking, understanding tools and machines, making his own jigs, adapting tools, trying a bunch of different construction methods, constantly working, then they may know more about construction methods and their benefits/problems than a cue mechanic.
Click to expand...
Isn't that the real definition of
Cue maker/mechanic?
When people hear Cue maker,
They automatically THINK that person knows about everyone's Cue.
Not true,
I see the stories, so don't you.
I've repaired some of those from the stories.
And SOME,
I've said,
Man, i just don't know if I want to play with this project!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top