Anyone seen this before

M

masonh

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i was finish sanding a shaft last week and got it ready and slick,then i felt a little rough spot so i started sanding some more and then these 3 little scratches or checks started showing up/i couldn't sand them away.this was an excellent shaft(i thought).they are tiny but you can see them b/c the 800 grit i was using will leave black on certain things.i have trouble getting close ups with my camera but check it out.i was wondering if anyone else had experienced this before.there was also a little nick next to the scratches and they all seemd to get bigger as i sanded.at 13mm they were invisible and this pic is at 12.8mm.

IMG_0283.jpg
 
Don't you hate it when stuff like that happens. It is kinda like Murphy's Law - It never shows up until you have already invested your time and materials in it.
 
Unfortunately it looks as though it has suffered damage long before you received this piece of wood. Things happen....when felling a tree, the forces of it slamming to the ground will at time cause internal stress cracks that may not show until the wrong time. It could have landed on a rock or across another tree already laying down or just landed on unlevel ground and twisted itself when it slammed to the ground.
These are just a few things that happen in the logging process part of getting good quality wood to our door steps.
Soak some liquid cyno on it and keep it yourself for a banger shaft.
Like you need another......right?
 
These are called internal checks. They occur from time to time in hard woods that have been kiln dried. It usually occurs when trying to kiln dry thicker boards. This is the reason that many of the exotic hardwoods are not kiln dried in thicker pieces. Although Maple usually is not that susceptible to these type cracks, anything is possible.

Dick
 
thanks guys.i was kind of afraid they were cracks.i guess it's a good thing it happened when it did instead of blowing up on a customer breaking with it oe something.

it does suck b/c it was a nice shaft 17-18 rpi and dead straight,evenly spaced,good weight,and i had a nice yellow micarta ferrule on it and a perfectly trimmed tip.
 
Huh, internal checks/cracks,

Don't believe I've ran accross that yet either with the exception of a glue blowout, glad I heard It though, so that I'll know what It is when I run accross It. I recently got a lot of dowels that varied from 15 to 22 gpi, and a couple were split on the ends, I think It happened during shipping though, because the box was severly damaged on one end. Often times some of The higher gpi's seem more brittle. I guess as with most things the more ridgid the more brittle they can be, but possible the drying sometimes has something to do with that too. I haven't ran accross the internal checks yet as I mentioned, but that makes alot of since, especially the way It was described as getting larger with the sanding.

Good thread, learn something new everyday.

Greg
 
masonh said:
thanks guys.i was kind of afraid they were cracks.i guess it's a good thing it happened when it did instead of blowing up on a customer breaking with it oe something.

it does suck b/c it was a nice shaft 17-18 rpi and dead straight,evenly spaced,good weight,and i had a nice yellow micarta ferrule on it and a perfectly trimmed tip.
Click to expand...


Mason, before you give up on the shaft try appling a complete coat of CA the entire length of shaft. Then sand back down to wood, it may completely stablize it. It has worked for me in the past, although I never sold the shaft I experimented with, I have been using myself for a couple of years with no problem.

Take Care
 
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i made a shaft last month came out perfect. 13mm looong taper 4+oz. then i hung it for a few days when it was time to finish sand... bam warped.

great color great grain great tone great weight.... great firewood
 
cue defects

They appear to be wood "shakes". When trees grow they are exposed to extreme elements sometimes causing them to bend excessively from one side. The grain may crack and heal over well covering them as the tree continues growing. It's seen in many hardwoods. Looked at any ebony lately?? Improper drying/seasoning of wood can cause internal cracks too. Hidden "shakes" happen!!!!! Darn and to a nice shaft too. Don't continue sanding. You would be wasting your time.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
Looks like a good shaft for a shorter length cue or kids cue! No need to waste good wood!

Zim
 
masonh said:
i was finish sanding a shaft last week and got it ready and slick,then i felt a little rough spot so i started sanding some more and then these 3 little scratches or checks started showing up/i couldn't sand them away.this was an excellent shaft(i thought).they are tiny but you can see them b/c the 800 grit i was using will leave black on certain things.i have trouble getting close ups with my camera but check it out.i was wondering if anyone else had experienced this before.there was also a little nick next to the scratches and they all seemd to get bigger as i sanded.at 13mm they were invisible and this pic is at 12.8mm.

IMG_0283.jpg
Click to expand...

I had a handle do the same thing last week.It didnt show untill I put the clear coat on and when I buffed it out it was there. Havent got around to changing out the handle yet but it the only thing I can do with it. I was pissed,lol. Jeff
 
Shaft

I have to agree with Craig that a thin coat of ca may take care of the problem. But then again it may not. I have seen it done with no ill effects. mine is 12 years old.
 
I say set it up as an "extra" shaft for your breaking cue. Then when you want to really intimidate someone, bring it out and break with it and shatter the shaft. Then just say, "Sorry, it happens sometimes, luckily I always keep a spare. Wanna double the bet?"
 
Not an expert, but....

My condolences on the shaft.
I am by no means an expert, but for what it is worth, if one of the hardest materials on earth, (the diamond) can have internal flaws, and most do, then I see no reason why a piece of wood can't have internal flaws as well. Chances are the flaws were there, and the working of the wood only brought the problems/flaws to the surface. But I agree.....good firewood, unless you feel like making an 11, or 12mm shaft, and seeing if they disappear at that point. By the way masonh, keep up the good work, your cues are simple, elegant pieces of perfection. Very, Very, Very, nice work.
regards.
 
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