How to make Curly Maple to have 3-Dimensional Hologram Effect?

Yeo

Yeo

Lousy Pool Player
Silver Member
The curly maple of the forearm of a friend's cue really look fantastic!!

Look at this picture:
curlymaple.jpg


The curly maple has a 3-dimensional hologram effect!
I simply love this curly maple!!

How to achieve this effect?
Is it by lightly stained with light golden oak?
Or is it the natural tone of the super figured curly maple?

Thank You.
Yeo
 
Yeo said:
The curly maple of the forearm of a friend's cue really look fantastic!!

Look at this picture:
View attachment 17658


The curly maple has a 3-dimensional hologram effect!
I simply love this curly maple!!

How to achieve this effect?
Is it by lightly stained with light golden oak?
Or is it the natural tone of the super figured curly maple?

Thank You.
Yeo
Click to expand...

Some of the newer finishes are too clear and lack the warmth of a finish with a little tone to it. One thing you can do is to give the wood a wipe with some shellac to darken it a little and bring out the highlights and depth of the wood before finishing.
 
I know using honey maple stain can make figured maples really *POP* without darkening them too much.....I have a premium chunk of curly I'm dieing to use on a cue.....

Also getting the finish smooth as glass is just as important...
________
 
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I might see what it looks like after it is sealed with epoxy. I am building a cue right now with a fantastic piece of hard curl. I think some maples are naturally more "honey" colored that others. Wet your finger and wipe the cue..if it darkens..you have a piece of what I would call honey maple.

Has anyone noticed that depending where you are in your turning sequence that you can lose figure and gain it again? Maybe it's just me.
 
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<Has anyone noticed that depending where you are in your turning sequence that you can lose figure and gain it again? Maybe it's just me.>

This wood had better figure on one side than the other. As you turn it the best side gets worse and the bad side gets better. Try to make sure when you buy wood that it is the same on both sides. It costs more money but it is worth it to the customer.
 
Poulos Cues said:
I might see what it looks like after it is sealed with epoxy. I am building a cue right now with a fantastic piece of hard curl. I think some maples are naturally more "honey" colored that others. Wet your finger and wipe the cue..if it darkens..you have a piece of what I would call honey maple.

Has anyone noticed that depending where you are in your turning sequence that you can lose figure and gain it again? Maybe it's just me.
Click to expand...
Maple as a whole has four sides that give different appearance. On birdseye you have eyes on two opposite sides and what looks like curly maple on the other two opposite sides. It is really not curly maple you are seeing. You are seeing the sides of the eyes which gives eh same effect as curl. On curly maple the figure can often be pretty consistant aound all four sides, but at times it has the 4 different looking quarters like birdseye has also.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
 
Thanks Chris! I WAS talking about the hard curl in particular. I will be sanding and sealing my cue this weekend and am curious to see if the "curl" smooths out. Any insight? I guess I can wait and see...but the suspense is killing me! LOL!
 
Poulos Cues said:
Thanks Chris! I WAS talking about the hard curl in particular. I will be sanding and sealing my cue this weekend and am curious to see if the "curl" smooths out. Any insight? I guess I can wait and see...but the suspense is killing me! LOL!
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Curly woods are my favorite. I use Curly maple probably three to one over Birdseye. The curls in wood is the straight grain turning back on itself making end grain in the side grain. Moisture in wood is absorbed in end grain much more than side grain.

The way I get the curls to really stand out is to stain the wood with a darker stain, immeadiatley wipe off with a solvent and after a few minutes I sand the piece so that most if not all of the stain has been removed from the side grain. Since the curls absorbed so much more stain than the side grain they will be much darker. The most important thing about putting a stain on Curly is to use the proper stain. A clear dye stain must be used if you want a natural look. If you use a pigmented stain then the curls will hold these small pieces of pigment for all to see and resembling small coffee grounds in your curls which are impossible to get out.

Dick
 
Thank You everybody for your replies!!!

Is it possible to post some pictures of curly maple that has been made to 'POP' out? Thanks a million!!

Currently I have requested to my cuemaker to apply a very light golden oak stain on the curly maple to bring out the grain.

But my worry is will the golden oak stain turn out to be too dark such that the colour of the curly maple becomes unnatural??

Has anyone tried applying light golden oak stain on curly maple?
How is the outcome?
If possible, can you post some pictures of a light golden oak stained curly maple?

Thanks a million!!
 
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Please don't use stain ..use dye to make the grain pop you won't beleive the difference.... Ray
 
I don't use any stains on my cues, and have good luck with the curly maple. I think the quality of the wood is the biggest factor.
Quilted maple is more rare but also give a moving effect when rotated under light , as will lace wood if cut right.
Chris
 
Yeo said:
The curly maple of the forearm of a friend's cue really look fantastic!!
The curly maple has a 3-dimensional hologram effect!
I simply love this curly maple!!
How to achieve this effect?
Is it by lightly stained with light golden oak?
Or is it the natural tone of the super figured curly maple?
Thank You.
Yeo
Click to expand...

I do not stain or color the wood used in my cues.
(other than the veneers)
What you see is what nature made available and is natural.
I realize that some wood can be enhanced by staining but I prefer not to do it.
Starting out with a superior piece of wood is the way.
 
Here is one that "pops" well.
 

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I save ths sanding dust from my Cocobolo. I put about a teaspoon of this dust, on a paper towel, wet with mineral spirits. With the lathe running, I rub the towel over the Maple. It brings out the grain, with only a VERY SLIGHT stain...JER
 
TellsItLikeItIs said:
Nice cue Scott. Uhhh, were you aware that I have a birthday coming up? Just thought I'd let you know ;)
Click to expand...
What a coincidence! Mine is coming up in May, too! :D
 
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