Hello;
Since Joey let the "secret" finish out-of-the-bag I might as well come clean and tell you how it is done, at least my way:
You will need 2 gallons of EM-TECH Polycarbonate Urethane (EM9300) and 1 quart of Ultra Seal WB (3000). Both of these products are water based.
www.targetcoatings.com. Cost is about $100. This will finish about 100 cues.
Next make a 35" dipping container, exactly like one you would use for Nelsonite. No, you cannot use the same one. Make sure your container is clean. Strain 1 gallon of the EM9300 thru a strainer into the tube. Add 1 pint of distilled water (about 10-15% water to EM9300). Make absolutely sure there is no grit floating on the top. Use more 9300 to top tank to within 3" of top. Cover the container when not in use.
Prepare your cue:
Sand down to 400 grit. If you want to POP the grain use my secret oil mixture. 1/3 boiled linseed oil, 1/3 tung oil and 1/3 spar varnish. Wipe it on
and rub it in like French polish until you are satisfied. If necessary smooth out with 000 or 0000 steel wool, with the grain. You can skip the secret sauce oil if the cue does not need POPPING, like ebony.
Next, using cheese cloth, apply the Ultra Seal by rubbing it into the cue. Keep applying until you have a level surface. Keep rubbing to fill and keep the surface flat. Usually 2 or 3 rubbings will do the trick. Do the steel wool thing again. Wipe the cue down with denatured alcohol or a watered moist paper towel.
Blow both ends off with compressed air. YOU MUST KEEP ALL DIRT OUT OF YOUR DIPPING TANK.
Screw an adapter on to the joint pin that you can hold on to. A dowel, the same size as the joint, with a cup hook in it is perfect. Make sure it is clean.
Put a plug in your bumper cap. Check your dipping tank to make sure there are no bubbles on the surface. If there is, use a CLEAN stick to break them up. Slowly lower your cue into the tank until it is completely covered. Then slowly lift it out and hang it by the hook.
Wait 30 minutes and look at your cue. It should begin to look like it is encased in glass. Do not touch the cue surface. Wait another 30 minutes and dip again. Watch out for bubbles floating on the top of the tank. Wait 1 hour and dip again. That should do it. If it not perfect, like a glass cylinder,
wait 1 day and sand LIGHTLY with 400 grit on a sponge block-with the grain.
Repeat the process above. Generally speaking, the cue should not even need to be polished. If it does wait at least 3 days, 5 days is better.
The butt of the cue will accumulate more finish than is needed. Let it harden for 3 days, at least and file it flat. EM9300 will not stick to metal unless it has been CA'd or System 3'd first. You can apply 9300 directly over CA or System 3.
Good luck and send me a PM if you need more info.
JOEY, do not tell them about the super, top secret, shaft material.
Bob Flynn
www.denalicues.com