Caring for clearcoated vs non shafts

EasyEJL

EasyEJL

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was reading this thread

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=303119

and thought about how one of the cues I recently picked up has a clearcoated shaft, its the first I've gotten that does. All the rest are clearcoated the first couple inches, then plain maple after.

I know how to care for the non-clearcoated shafts, but I was wondering about cleaning or any other care for the clearcoated one. My assumption is that I just need to keep it clean, wipe with a damp paper towel now + then. Anything else?
 
I have yet to see, or play with a clearcoated shaft. I have played with oversprayed house cues, and it is a huge pain in the arse for me personally. I like them to be cleared about 4in up and then nothing but maple. Caring for them is beyond my knowledge. Does it shoot well? You would think it would cause your hand to drag big time.
 
It actually plays nicely enough that I didn't think about it at first. I'm used to shafts like you mention, then going over them with the q-smooth "papers", then the q-slick polish + q-glide conditioners. Makes them smooth and slippery. This one I shot with for a fair bit so far, and it feels good but I wonder what i'll need to do differently if it does start to feel stickier
 
Folks:

I think the term "clearcloated" is a misnomer, because it implies the same polyurethane coating that you see e.g. Meucci cues putting over linen wraps to give them a wrapless "tack" feel, but still maintain the wrapped look.

Rather, the coating is of a type that is more slick, and less "grippy" than polyurethane.

A good example of this is Mike Gulyassy's "Shaft Freeze" that is standard on all his cues (including the Orange Crusher break cue). It is a coating that protects dirt from penetrating the wood pores, yet keeps the shaft "slick" where it glides easily through your bridge hand -- even against moist skin.

I would think care and feeding for this type of shaft is nothing more than just wiping it down with a towel (cloth towel -- NOT paper, because processed paper fibers are slightly abrasive). Maybe spritz a bit of water on the towel (the coating is usually impervious to water) to help loosen any bound dirt or chalk -- but that's about it.

Though, this is a question probably better posted in the "Ask the Cuemaker" forum:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22

Hope this helps!
-Sean
 
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