ive got a nice size chip in the finish of my jacoby break cue about half a dime in diameter. the chip goes all the way to the wood. no damage to the wood itself thank god for laminated wood. my question is, can i do something to the area until i can get the money together to get it fixed?
Chip in the finish
- Thread starter bookmd
- Start date
Whatever You do don't put any kind of wax or anything that could cause a finish to not want to stick on the bare wood. You could maybe fill it, but to be honest It's something best done By someone with the proper equipment & experience, or It may end up costing more to fix down the line. If that's the only spot on the cue then the price to fix it may not be as high as You think. Letting something like that go unprotected though could change the color of the wood that is bare, and that would make a simple touch up job into something more involved, but that's really dependent on what material is there. It's one of those things that's easier fixed, and may blend better when It is fresh.
Greg
Clear fingernail polish will seal it and keep the wood clean until you can afford the repair.
I don't know if it makes a huge difference but my wife gave me a bottle of
Teflon finger nail polish. Maybe its stronger but it does work.
Have your wife or girlfriend apply it for you as they seem to be better at that sort of thing.
But either way, finger nail polish does work well.
Teflon finger nail polish. Maybe its stronger but it does work.
Have your wife or girlfriend apply it for you as they seem to be better at that sort of thing.
But either way, finger nail polish does work well.
If you dont have the chips fixed right away you will want to seal off the area as mentioned previously. Being the oils from your hand can get in the wood not to mention chalk dust or something else that would hamper finish from sticking to it. So dont rub you finger over the spot or wipe the butt of your cue with anything other than a clean cloth until you get the dent fixed.
Take it to someone who uses the same finish that is on the cue. It is probably auto clear and can be repaired quite easily. I just mix up a small portion of clear (10 drops) and fill the clean chip. Repeat as necessary until the finish is slightly above the current finish. Sand and polish and if done properly you will probably not be able to find where it was chipped.
thanks for all the help. i have used nail polish in the past on a cheaper cue but i was worried about making problems with the fix. i applied the polish, i did ok. i also figured you couldnt get rid of the chip look even though you bring the level of the finish back to normal. but being stained black might be my salvation. thanks again. i have a small lathe that i can get the butt spinning in, just a bit nervous about spinning one of my babies. thanks again.
When the chip is still somewhat fresh, so long as the wood is not dented, It can be filled & blended so that You can not even see that It was there. It's all in the prep work, materials used, and procedure you use. If the chip was showing the white edges from the finish lifting and you lock that in without wetting them out, then it's sealed in, and the only way to fix It is to dig It out and start over, which turns into more work then It would be in the first place. You have to get those edges taken care of before filling the rest of the chip, otherwise you can tell there was a chip there even after being filled. If You can get figure nail polish to wick into those edges then you may be able to blend, but I use a really thin CA for that part. I also prep the edges of the area to remove as much of the lifted part as I can so that the wicking action has less distance to travel in order to work It's magic.
CA as in my tip glue? i guess a clear coat is a clear coat. much appreciated
Well I use gel for tips, but yes just a thinner glue that I use for the first cote, after that The gel can be used to fill faster, but the thin stuff is what wicks into those edges the best. It blends well with auto clear, Ca finishes, etc. It will work with epoxy finish too, but the epoxy doesn't buff out quite as as shiny so the spot can sometimes be seen as glossier then the rest of the finish.
It's not that easy to apply though, so for the average person, someone just wanting to seal their cue off until they can have the cue refinished, the nail polish is easier to apply, therefore the better choice if you don't plan on having It finished anytime soon. The CA is more involved, and harder to work with. It also involves sanding and buffing.
At least with the nail polish on there It's better then leaving It unsealed for any long period of time. It was Your best DIY option on this one. The important thing is that You sealed It.