Finish crazing

Kobachi

Kobachi

Scarred but Smarter
Cue builders,

About 5 years ago, I bought a jump / break from a maker here on AZ. Works great, it's still straight and solid.

So I haven't used it or pulled it out in about a year, until the other afternoon.
Always stored indoors, controlled temps, in a good case.

I look at it under the pool light, and I had a WTF moment, it looked like someone took steel wool to the forearm, nice long scratch marks going around the cue (as apposed to up and down).

I run my hand along the forearm, it's smooth as a baby's bottom, can't feel a thing. Closer inspection, the marks are underneath the finish...crazing is the best way to describe. I've seen this on very old cues, as I'm guessing the finish is nearing the end of its applicable lifespan, but not on a "newer" cue.

I'm wondering what might have caused this...wrong application? Bad product?

***my purpose for this is just to get your thoughts on how this might have happened, naturally curious***

I'd post pics but its very difficult to catch the glare just right to see this.

Thanks and have a good weekend,

Kevin
 
I could be wrong, but it sounds as if:
(1) the finish was wet sanded while the lathe was spinning. That would account for the scratches around the cue, not lengthwise. This isn't horrible, but also...
(2) the wet sanding wasn't stepped down far enough to 2000 or farther.

If the cue maker stopped wet sanding at 600, the finish will be smooth, and the buffing and polishing compounds will bring out the shine, but under bright lights and fine inspection the fine sanding scratches will be seen.

The scratches might be removed with further and finer wet sanding.
 
He bought it 5 years ago, everything was fine for 4 years, he pulled it out of storage a year ago and noticed "crazing". I can't imagine it was the way it was initially finished on a lathe with only 600 grit paper. If that were the case, I would think he would of noticed it years ago.

Just think there may be something else going on here.

*edit* As much as I thought something else was going on, I also wonder if maybe in the year+ that the cue was stored that maybe the owner learned to notice cue imperfections more closely. Not sure, but it is a possibility.
 
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My first and only thought is that if you have any issues with a cue you should contact the GUY WHO MADE IT.

My second thought is the same as the first...
 
Sounds like the finish was done over a layer of

slower drying material and finally dried under the finish creating those webs.








Kobachi said:
Cue builders,

About 5 years ago, I bought a jump / break from a maker here on AZ. Works great, it's still straight and solid.

So I haven't used it or pulled it out in about a year, until the other afternoon.
Always stored indoors, controlled temps, in a good case.

I look at it under the pool light, and I had a WTF moment, it looked like someone took steel wool to the forearm, nice long scratch marks going around the cue (as apposed to up and down).

I run my hand along the forearm, it's smooth as a baby's bottom, can't feel a thing. Closer inspection, the marks are underneath the finish...crazing is the best way to describe. I've seen this on very old cues, as I'm guessing the finish is nearing the end of its applicable lifespan, but not on a "newer" cue.

I'm wondering what might have caused this...wrong application? Bad product?

***my purpose for this is just to get your thoughts on how this might have happened, naturally curious***

I'd post pics but its very difficult to catch the glare just right to see this.

Thanks and have a good weekend,

Kevin
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

Just maybe the cue was waxed before the clear coat was cured and exiting or percipatating off gases produced the effect.

Just a guess.

Rick
 
+1 on the wax. Im pretty sure if you read about automotive clear, you are not supposed to wax it for like 60 days after it has been sprayed, allowing it to cure as needed. Not sure, but ive heard of things like this happening on cars, especially if sealed in by wax and then things cure.
 
Thanks guys for the responses...

Paulie, I get that, but unfortunately I have collected for quite a few years, hense my surprise discovering the "metamorphosed" finish. It definitely was not there before.

Pescado, no reason to call anybody out. Like I said, just curious about how it might have occurred, more so to maybe help out the newbies in the cuemaker forum, so they might avoid this from happening. The construction is solid, and performance is unaltered. And...it's my understanding from 3rd hand that this builder isn't making anything lately due to health reasons. Not looking to have it fixed by him, or anyone for that matter. It's a jump break, and it jumps, and breaks.

Thanks fellas, stay lathe safe, Kevin.
 
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