Fixing minor nicks and dents in your cue

Mike in MN

Mike in MN

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was wondering if anyone had any information on whether or not products like the Cue Doctor Buffer (http://www.poolndarts.com/p-5022-Cue-Doctor-Buffer/) worked for removing minor dings in your cue shaft. I recently had a mishap and now I'm stuck with two minor yet noticable dings in my shaft :( So if anyone has any helpful information on this product or any other like it, please let me know! Thanks
 
No clue about this product, but I put a ding in my new shaft a couple weeks ago.. a buddy told me to fold up some toilet paper real thick, wet a spot, put the wet spot on the ding in the shaft, then rubber band the thing real tight.. So I'm thinking, yeah, whatever.. I understand the concept about wood absorbing water and such (My guitars and cues live in a humidity controlled room for this reason) but it was such a deep ding that I figured the shaft was ruined.. But I tried it anyway, and man was I shocked when I unwrapped it the very next day and couldn't find the ding anywhere! No clue how common this knowledge is, but man I was happy. Good luck!
 
If I'm too lazy to take it to Ted Harris I do it my way. Little bit of 800 grit over the ding, drop of water, pass a lit cigarette back and forth over the ding (keep it moving so it doesn't start making burn marks) and finish with 1000+ grit sand paper.
 
Bastian said:
No clue about this product, but I put a ding in my new shaft a couple weeks ago.. a buddy told me to fold up some toilet paper real thick, wet a spot, put the wet spot on the ding in the shaft, then rubber band the thing real tight.. So I'm thinking, yeah, whatever.. I understand the concept about wood absorbing water and such (My guitars and cues live in a humidity controlled room for this reason) but it was such a deep ding that I figured the shaft was ruined.. But I tried it anyway, and man was I shocked when I unwrapped it the very next day and couldn't find the ding anywhere! No clue how common this knowledge is, but man I was happy. Good luck!
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I tried just dabbing a couple of drops of water on there and letting it sit, and it worked a little, but there is still a noticeable ding. I will try this oh-so elegant TP method you have suggested. I just can't wait until my roommate comes home and sees my shaft laying on the kitchen table wrapped in toilet paper, haha. Thanks for the tip :)
 
Koopa said:
If I'm too lazy to take it to Ted Harris I do it my way. Little bit of 800 grit over the ding, drop of water, pass a lit cigarette back and forth over the ding (keep it moving so it doesn't start making burn marks) and finish with 1000+ grit sand paper.
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Thanks for the tip, but a lit cigarette will not be coming anywhere near my cue.
 
The toilet paper trick usually works pretty good. If your shaft is very dirty it will help if you clean it up first.
A magic eraser with a drop or two of 96% alcohol does that quite well. Also, the piece of toilet paper sould be around the size of large pea or small marble depending on the size of the ding, what I'm saying is your cue should be wrapped with a rubber band, not toilet paper.

gr. Dave
 
I actually had a 4x3 inch or so wad of TP when I did it.. I just made sure the wet part only was on the ding and I made sure the rubber band was very tight on that spot.. I'm not sure which way is better, but man, I honestly still cannot find that ding and it was huge! I honestly was shocked it worked so well.
 
Double-Dave said:
The toilet paper trick usually works pretty good. If your shaft is very dirty it will help if you clean it up first.
A magic eraser with a drop or two of 96% alcohol does that quite well. Also, the piece of toilet paper sould be around the size of large pea or small marble depending on the size of the ding, what I'm saying is your cue should be wrapped with a rubber band, not toilet paper.

gr. Dave
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Where do you find that 96% alcohol? I use water with the eraser and it leaves the shaft all grimy.. I always have to sand it dry lol.. Alcohol makes much more sense, but the rubbing alcohol I have is 70%.. is this something easily obtained somewhere?
 
Double-Dave said:
The toilet paper trick usually works pretty good. If your shaft is very dirty it will help if you clean it up first.
A magic eraser with a drop or two of 96% alcohol does that quite well. Also, the piece of toilet paper sould be around the size of large pea or small marble depending on the size of the ding, what I'm saying is your cue should be wrapped with a rubber band, not toilet paper.

gr. Dave
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Thanks for the tip Dave!
 
Depending on the type of ding, both methods will work. if it's a deep v-type ding, the paper-water method will work after a few applications. It may help to use hot water. If it's a round ding, the buffing method may work. I used to use a coke bottle or real thick glass.

Good Luck!
 
A quick method is to use steam instead of water soaking. Place damp paper toweling over the ding, produce steam by quickly touching the paper with hot metal...when you hear the sssss of steam, back off.
 
Bastian said:
Where do you find that 96% alcohol? I use water with the eraser and it leaves the shaft all grimy.. I always have to sand it dry lol.. Alcohol makes much more sense, but the rubbing alcohol I have is 70%.. is this something easily obtained somewhere?
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Everclear, is the only thing I know that comes close. I believe it's only 90%
Been a long long time since I got out of College and my memory is short because of it. Something somewhere tells me that anything over 90% is nearly impossible to get unless you're a chemist and if you do find it, eventually it will take on water till it reaches 90%. Another reason ethanol is mostly a scam.
You got 10% of the ethonal is water in your tank. Water don't burn too good and don't make the wheels turn.

Stuff may be illegal by now. Be careful
 
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Put some water in a whistling teakettle and set the stove burner on high. When the teakettle starts whistling, hold the dent/ding directly over and in the path of the steam coming out of the whistling spout. Hold it there for a few seconds, check the ding and if it's not completely out repeat until it's good to go. Dry / burnish the shaft with some clean dry paper towel and finish with a leather shaft slicker. Grab a cold one, drink it, and then go shoot pool.

Fats
 
Secaucus Fats said:
Put some water in a whistling teakettle and set the stove burner on high. When the teakettle starts whistling, hold the dent/ding directly over and in the path of the steam coming out of the whistling spout. Hold it there for a few seconds, check the ding and if it's not completely out repeat until it's good to go. Dry / burnish the shaft with some clean dry paper towel and finish with a leather shaft slicker. Grab a cold one, drink it, and then go shoot pool.

Fats
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This is my method as well. Including the cold one.
 
The steam method is by far the best way to fix your shaft. The way I do it is to double aluminum foil over a small pan of water. Place an elastic band around the pan to hold the foil firmly on the pan.

Be sure to have a crown in the foil kind of like what those old popcorn foils look like after the corn popped. Before you place it over the pan, poke a small hole in the center of the crown from the inside. Use a pencil but try not to make it as large as the whole pencil, just about half way up the point.

Turn the stove on, and let the water boil until its going crazy. When the steam is really coming out with force, place the portion of the shaft with the ding right under the portion of the steam that you can see and into what is invisable. Do this because if you can see the steam it is starting to condense and cool and what is under that is hotter.

4 to 6 seconds, dry with paper towel, allow to cool a few seconds and check, repeat as needed.

I personally take 1200 wet dry sandpaper after the shaft is fixed and cooled and take down whatever wood has slightly raised. Then I find a pretty crisp dollar bill and burnish the shaft with the backside of it, moving fast enough to produce lots of heat. You can do this step a few times. Even double fold the bill to get more heat before it burns you. It comes out like glass. ( The dollar works well also rolling the side of your tip after you dampen it. It will harden and burning nicely.
 
pwd72s said:
A quick method is to use steam instead of water soaking. Place damp paper toweling over the ding, produce steam by quickly touching the paper with hot metal...when you hear the sssss of steam, back off.
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I like this technique. Have used it a million times to take out minor dents and dings. I usually use a damp cloth and place it over the ding and touch that spot with a hot iron. I let it sizzle a second or two and repeat. It will raise the wood, enough to sand it down carefully when it cools down. Voila, no ding!
 
Neil said:
Is that with one square, or two? There's no way toilet paper is getting near my cue. I don't need another reason or people to say that I shoot like sh...

I just use a damp washcloth and a hot iron. It works great.
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That trick works great, didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes!
 
The Cue Doctor dent buffer has worked well for me as a quick fix. I've also used the water drop method and the steam method. All work well. I like the dent buffer. quick and easy with no hassles. By rubbing the wood all around the dent it pushes the fibers back up. Some knock that action but it's worked well for me. You can also use a shot glass or just a drinking glass. Rub vigorusly over the dented area until you dont hear or feel the bump any more.
 
I want to thank everyone for their fantastic advice to help me rid my poor Predator Z-2 shaft of this ding. I'm gonna try a few things and I'll report back when she's as good as new.
 
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