Cheap cue fail - paint chipping off

Halfjack87

Halfjack87

In Training
Silver Member
Just about 5 months ago, I got my adult son a Player cue.

The Player is 21 oz, solid black, described as "stain", but has started chipping off like cheap paint in the middle of the stick - he has 2 chips about an inch apart. This is not from any contact to the stick - he's very careful with it and uses a hard case. He does break with the cue, and hits the balls pretty hard when he gets a good straight shot, but nothing I would expect to be outside normal use, certainly nothing that should chip paint.

We're looking for replacements, don't want to spend more than $200. He still likes the look of solid black (generally), but wants to make sure what he's getting won't chip off like this one has done.

I'd really like insight on what's going on with the 'stain' chipping off and how to avoid that.

Thanks in advance!
 
Halfjack87 said:
Just about 5 months ago, I got my adult son a Player cue.

The Player is 21 oz, solid black, described as "stain", but has started chipping off like cheap paint in the middle of the stick - he has 2 chips about an inch apart. This is not from any contact to the stick - he's very careful with it and uses a hard case. He does break with the cue, and hits the balls pretty hard when he gets a good straight shot, but nothing I would expect to be outside normal use, certainly nothing that should chip paint.

We're looking for replacements, don't want to spend more than $200. He still likes the look of solid black (generally), but wants to make sure what he's getting won't chip off like this one has done.

I'd really like insight on what's going on with the 'stain' chipping off and how to avoid that.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

If the cue is solid black, it's laquer, unless it's a high end cue with African blackwood or ebony.
It sucks to get a ding in your cue and cheap cues have cheap paint that often comes off in big flakes.
You could stop the dings from getting any bigger by sealing the edges if the chipped area with superglue.
 
Halfjack87 said:
Just about 5 months ago, I got my adult son a Player cue.

The Player is 21 oz, solid black, described as "stain", but has started chipping off like cheap paint in the middle of the stick - he has 2 chips about an inch apart. This is not from any contact to the stick - he's very careful with it and uses a hard case. He does break with the cue, and hits the balls pretty hard when he gets a good straight shot, but nothing I would expect to be outside normal use, certainly nothing that should chip paint.

We're looking for replacements, don't want to spend more than $200. He still likes the look of solid black (generally), but wants to make sure what he's getting won't chip off like this one has done.

I'd really like insight on what's going on with the 'stain' chipping off and how to avoid that.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Should be under warranty...... But I have had issues getting a players cue I sent in for warranty back ....................

You might try finding a old used McDermott C or D model, Those IMO were one of the best production cues made at the time even for McDermott .

Personally if you don't find a good used C or D Model McDermott cue which they are out there then you might consider a schmelke cue.
I have sold these cues to some customers wanting a good cue in a certain price range ..
IMO they are as good as you can get for the buck .
You can buy 5 McDermott lucky cues .

Any way check these guys out see what the other members suggest .
I think Schmelke cues have a descent reputation http://schmelkecue.com/.

Hope this is a help to you ...
 
Thanks for all the replies!

As far as gothic fingernail polish goes, I had some USMC-issue M-Nu which worked well for a Band-Aid... he's gonna work with it some in the near future and see what he can do.

In the meantime, were still looking at replacement cues - did go over to Schmelke as recommended, had some appealing options at good prices.
 
Pictures of the damaged area?

$200 is a good price for an intro. pool cue. There are lots of makers out there in that price range. All about the same. Get one that fits all your wants. Joint style, tip, tip size, shaft taper, length, wood make, design, etc. It takes a little shopping around, but its worth it. Keep the old player as a backup. No sense throwing it out when the damage is only cosmetic. Its not like a broken joint, or ferrule. Besides you can experiment with it once you get the replacement.
 
Halfjack87 said:
No pics, he's got the cue with him - should have thought of that, but for the sake of conversation, 2 small chips about an inch apart, about a week apart in occurrence.
Click to expand...

Awfully nice of you to want to buy him another cue. I dont think its worth doing though. If you buy him a higher grade cue, he may still damage it. LOL. Honestly, as the saying goes, "its the Indian, not the arrow." Since its cosmetic, it can still be play it. Im assuming the damage is on the butt end of the cue, and not the shaft. Damage on the shaft is a totally different situation.
 
Dings happen, especially to break cues. All my cues have a couple of dings and I'm very careful with my cues and can't tell you when they happened. But, there they are. Moral of the story: it's going to happen with this cue, the next cue and the one after that.

That said, Schmelkes are very good cues and very reasonably priced. But they're not ding-proof.
 
Are the chips in between the joint and the wrap? Damage there can be common if a player is breaking with a cue and dropping their elbow, especially on bar tables with metal edges.
 
It might have been a bad batch or outdated chemicals, a few years ago at Predator the primer was bad on some 2K1 or 3K1 cues so the finish would flake off. It didn't take much more than a slight bump and it would start cracking instead of not affecting it at all or leaving just a small ding. Once the crack started the finish was very easy to flake off and actually big pieces were easily removed, so the price of the cue isn't necessarily the only factor sometimes you just have bad materials.


Neil
 
Considering he likes black - Cant go wrong here with 3/8 x 10 pin and upgraded shaft for $200 and change shipped on eBay.

Lucasi LZCB5 Custom Pool Cue w/ Zero Flexpoint Shaft

Good luck,

-Kat,
 
Ding proof

bdorman said:
Dings happen, especially to break cues. All my cues have a couple of dings and I'm very careful with my cues and can't tell you when they happened. But, there they are. Moral of the story: it's going to happen with this cue, the next cue and the one after that.

That said, Schmelkes are very good cues and very reasonably priced. But they're not ding-proof.
Click to expand...

Actually there is Solezar a very tough scratch resistant UV finish ..
It is hard ass glass and doesn't shatter .

One of our members tested it beating the finish with a piece of angle Iron,.
It dented but didn't shatter.

My understanding allot of cue makers at switch over to Solezar .
My guess is I will be too .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top