For those of you who repair cues, what is the safest method to remove dings/ dents that guys get in their shafts. And the ones who use a form of steam, is there a good steamer to invest in? Terry Aeschliman
dent removal
- Thread starter Terry Aeschliman
- Start date
dents
I use a tried and true method, old though it may be. Spit on my finger and a shot glass. Put some saliva on your finger place it on the dent. Let it set for a while for the wood to absorb some. Then take the shot glass and run it over the shaft applying a fair amount of pressure. Repeat the process until complete. Someone ( I don't know who exactly) makes a glass rod for that purpose. I have been using this method with great success for more than 35 years.
I use a tried and true method, old though it may be. Spit on my finger and a shot glass. Put some saliva on your finger place it on the dent. Let it set for a while for the wood to absorb some. Then take the shot glass and run it over the shaft applying a fair amount of pressure. Repeat the process until complete. Someone ( I don't know who exactly) makes a glass rod for that purpose. I have been using this method with great success for more than 35 years.
dents
There is an older man at the local pool hall that had me replace his broken meucci ferrule. Only the ferrule and not the tip. The shaft is an old meucci at least 20 years old. It is smooth as glass and not a ding in it, It feels brand new.
He rubs the shaft length wise with a 3 inch piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe. Something like the glass rod someone sells for that purpose. Then he smooths/burnishes it with what looks like crocus cloth.
I have never seen anything like it.
Kim
There is an older man at the local pool hall that had me replace his broken meucci ferrule. Only the ferrule and not the tip. The shaft is an old meucci at least 20 years old. It is smooth as glass and not a ding in it, It feels brand new.
He rubs the shaft length wise with a 3 inch piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe. Something like the glass rod someone sells for that purpose. Then he smooths/burnishes it with what looks like crocus cloth.
I have never seen anything like it.
Kim
What this method is doing is not removing the dent, it is compressing the material around the it to the same level as the dent.
I just dampen a small folded up piece of paper towel and place it on the dent. I check it every 15 or 20 minutes and when the dent has expanded enough I burnish with 800 and then 1500 grit sandpaper. I also us distilled water because I have found that my local water will leave a mark in the shaft.
I realize that but it seems to work well. The shaft is burnished and hard as a rock.
However, I don't think I would do that to one of my cues.
On the other topic about distilled water, I think you are right. I only use distilled water for wet sanding finishes because of the lack of minerals.
Kim
same here......
A damp bandaid works to swell a dent out.I personally like to lightly sand the shaft,then coat the shaft with rubbing compound,this will dampen the shaft and draw dirt and grime (and dents) to the surface.after it dries wipe it off,lightly sand and seal or burnish.becareful what compound you use with laminated shafts (i've never had a problem,but the solvents in some compounds might cause delamination).
I've always opened up the grain a tad. Very lightly sand JUST the dent. Then lay some spit inside, wait then re-spit. Repeat till raised. Then 600grit then burnish white index card then leather.
This is the only time anything but my hand or cloth touches the wood. Don't mind blue shafts at all.
This is the only time anything but my hand or cloth touches the wood. Don't mind blue shafts at all.
Originally Posted by cuejo
I like a mini iron and some damp paper towel
regards
ron
I like a mini iron and some damp paper towel
regards
ron
Last edited:
oh contrare
The method I described does the very same thing. You leave the saliva on the shaft to expand the wood. Then you burnish it with the shot glass. Exact same process, different method. Were the method only compressing the wood around the dent to the same level it would leave concave impressions in the shaft. This is not the case.
The method I described does the very same thing. You leave the saliva on the shaft to expand the wood. Then you burnish it with the shot glass. Exact same process, different method. Were the method only compressing the wood around the dent to the same level it would leave concave impressions in the shaft. This is not the case.
When you run the shaft longitudinally with something harder than the wood, and the dent magically disappears......
You just flattened the dent out so instead of being a small dent it is now made longer.
This is quite evident when the shaft is spun on the lathe
You just flattened the dent out so instead of being a small dent it is now made longer.
This is quite evident when the shaft is spun on the lathe
Shaft cleaner
I had a shaft some in that the customer wanted to have cleaned up. I used Chris's cleaner and by the time it had dried it pulled pretty much all the dents out. It did the same thing as the spit process by just swelling the wood but it was a nice 2fer.
I had a shaft some in that the customer wanted to have cleaned up. I used Chris's cleaner and by the time it had dried it pulled pretty much all the dents out. It did the same thing as the spit process by just swelling the wood but it was a nice 2fer.
I use a steam gun. Kind of pricey in Canada but I make good use of it at times. I use it when a simple bandage doesn't work.
If you want to make a simple steamer, put a piece of tin foil over the spout of a kettle. Poke a couple of small holes in the foil with a pin. A small more direct stream of steam for you.
Just small shots of steam. Remember that craftsman use steam boxes to bend wood. Not that you could get in trouble with a small shot of steam but
you never know. Its better to err on the side of caution.
If you want to make a simple steamer, put a piece of tin foil over the spout of a kettle. Poke a couple of small holes in the foil with a pin. A small more direct stream of steam for you.
Just small shots of steam. Remember that craftsman use steam boxes to bend wood. Not that you could get in trouble with a small shot of steam but
you never know. Its better to err on the side of caution.
Thanks to all. Very good information, I will store it in the memory(?) bank.
Hell Terry, just sand it down with 60 grit and you won't even know there's a dent there! :thumbup: lol.
Joe
