Best way to draw art on a cue and put a finish on it?

TwoRailDave

TwoRailDave

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
For a long time I have had the desire to paint a cue one solid light shade and draw art on it. I don't have any idea what would be the best way to go

about this, meaning what to draw on it with and what kind of finish to put over it that wouldn't distort or ruin the drawing. I was thinking about just

putting a solid base coat and drawing on it with a Sharpie. The concern I have with this is that the Sharpie would soak into the wood through the

paint, creating a blurred or smeared appearance. I suppose I could use a very fine brush, but would not be able to achieve the same level of intricacy.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank-you
 
TwoRailDave said:
For a long time I have had the desire to paint a cue one solid light shade and draw art on it. I don't have any idea what would be the best way to go

about this, meaning what to draw on it with and what kind of finish to put over it that wouldn't distort or ruin the drawing. I was thinking about just

putting a solid base coat and drawing on it with a Sharpie. The concern I have with this is that the Sharpie would soak into the wood through the

paint, creating a blurred or smeared appearance. I suppose I could use a very fine brush, but would not be able to achieve the same level of intricacy.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank-you
Click to expand...

16 years ago I built a fellow a plain, curly maple cue and only put a base coat of epoxy on it as a sealer. Once completely filled and sealed I sanded the cue perfectly flat. I then gave the cue to the customer whom took it to an artist who painted murals on custom motor cycles. On the forearm was painted a red headed woman in a long green gown with two black panthers resting at her feet. On the collar was the same image but half of the woman was a skeleton and the other half was the same as the forearm and the panthers were snarling instead of being at peace. The depictions were done so well that they almost looked like a photograph. There was even a twinkle in her blue eyes. The artist used both an air brush and very fine brushes. He then returned the cue and I put on a couple more coats of epoxy sealer and then finished as normal.

I don't like art work on a cue but I must say that this turned out extremely well. I know I took pictures of the cue but have no clue where to look for them.

Dick
 
Thanks for the reply Dick. I realize many would cringe at the thought of drawing on a cue with a fine tip Sharpie, lol. I'm confident that it will, however, turn out well as this is a kind of art that I spend time in. Are there any other suggestions? Should I use automotive clear coat or super glue? Thanks
 
TwoRailDave said:
Thanks for the reply Dick. I realize many would cringe at the thought of drawing on a cue with a fine tip Sharpie, lol. I'm confident that it will, however, turn out well as this is a kind of art that I spend time in. Are there any other suggestions? Should I use automotive clear coat or super glue? Thanks
Click to expand...

The only thing that I would ever consider using super glue on are tips and cuts to stop bleeding.

Dick
 
TwoRailDave said:
Thanks for the reply Dick. I realize many would cringe at the thought of drawing on a cue with a fine tip Sharpie, lol. I'm confident that it will, however, turn out well as this is a kind of art that I spend time in. Are there any other suggestions? Should I use automotive clear coat or super glue? Thanks
Click to expand...

While I don't use it, I believe cyano finishes are usually wiped on - with light pressure, but still you're wiping on the surface of the butt.

Probably not the best to be doing to your artwork.

My 2 cents,

Gary
 
good luck with your art, hope it turns out well for you.

my only comment will be to be careful of the weight added by your laquers and automotive clear coats.
 
Sand epoxy substrate with 320

Apply you art

Spray on fast drying clear lacquer from Ace hardware in the rattle can. 4 or 5 light coats

Scratch the finish th next day with a green scruffy pad

Apply your clear finish in your normal manner

This method works perfect

Good luck,

Rick
 
I am actually in the middle of finishing one now where the customer painted musical notes around the rings I made to look like music paper. I laid down the epoxy base and sanded it smooth for him. He had I cant tell you how many music notes painted on and I am laying the final finish on it Sunday. I will post some pics when I am done with it. I was not thrilled with the idea of someone painting one of my cues, but it really looks good. Not too much to take away from the cue. I made a jump break and shooter for him to match and he had them painted to match. It is pretty cool.
 
TwoRailDave said:
For a long time I have had the desire to paint a cue one solid light shade and draw art on it. I don't have any idea what would be the best way to go

about this, meaning what to draw on it with and what kind of finish to put over it that wouldn't distort or ruin the drawing. I was thinking about just

putting a solid base coat and drawing on it with a Sharpie. The concern I have with this is that the Sharpie would soak into the wood through the

paint, creating a blurred or smeared appearance. I suppose I could use a very fine brush, but would not be able to achieve the same level of intricacy.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank-you
Click to expand...

Try this. Wrap the cue with paper, much like a leather wrap. Draw your art work on it like a object trace. Remove paper. Apply a carbo paper to cue and overlay your art work paper. Carefully trace over your art work so you have a boarder design on cue. Remove all paper and carbon paper, you know have a coloring book effect so have at it.

Ivory - stick on a peel and seal mating paper, thick and strong. Draw your design. Take an Xacto knife and cut out all boarders. Lightly sand blast. You will have etched in your art. For some added effect take some black paint and go around perimiter up onto the ivory. When you are done round sand the ivory so the paint stays in the groves as you wanted but sands from round part of Ivory.
 
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