In The Red...chalk that is...

bflgvs

bflgvs

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Okay, so I know this place that has red Simonis cloth on their tables and so they use red chalk. The red gets on/into your shaft and it seems next to impossible to get it absolutely clean again! Scrub, scrub, scrub and it still has a faint red hue that reains.

Any suggestions out there?


Gerry :frown:
 
Use tan masters chaulk when playing on red felt. Then you don't have to worry about it. It barely makes any marks and it's easier to brush the table than it is to clean a red shaft.
 
You now have a "Baton Rouge". Not much you can do. There are some cleaners that work better than others but you will probably never get it all out. Tan chalk is a good suggestion.
 
I don't use the red chalk, if I do indeed play there. Blue is permitted and that is what I use, but the red residue is in the cloth although the tables are well maintained and some would be transfered to my shaft. I will normally wash my hands in hot soapy water, as per a well known Korean cuemaker, several times while playing.
Since I don't play there too often any longer and took all the precautions I could I didn't have a major problem at all. But other players there do have the issue of the 'Red Plague'.

I appreciate all your advice. And, Jerry P., we'll keep looking.

Hey its almost like using that $25/cube stuff, but at least that will come out.

Gerry
 
I used to have a red table but I found it too much for the eyes. Black is another one that is not good. If you watch pro pool, all the tables are covered in green or blue. There is a reason for that, it is easy on the eyes and gives the most contrast on the ball edge for aiming.

Tan chalk is the only one that almost doesn't show on the shaft. Just some hints, have a good sealer coat on the shaft and do not chalk the tip with your bridge hand.

Kim
 
whammo57 said:
I used to have a red table but I found it too much for the eyes. Black is another one that is not good. If you watch pro pool, all the tables are covered in green or blue. There is a reason for that, it is easy on the eyes and gives the most contrast on the ball edge for aiming.

Tan chalk is the only one that almost doesn't show on the shaft. Just some hints, have a good sealer coat on the shaft and do not chalk the tip with your bridge hand.

Kim
Click to expand...



I am right handed and have always chalked with my right (non-bridge) hand. My issue is not how to avoid the "Red Plague" or "Baton Rouge" effects but how to clean the damage that has been done. I personally do not have this problem but others do and have questioned if it is possible to bring their shafts back to a near new appearance.

Thanks

Gerry :smile:
 
I use magic eraser and something Dickie told me, ammonia.

I got a bottle of lemon ammonia and it can be very over powering.
The last shaft I cleaned I soaked the eraser in ammonia instead of alcohol and it did clean better than using them separately.

You should definitely use a respirator as it will affect both your eyes and lungs. I had amazing success using this combo.

Sandpaper? Sparingly and only light enuff touch to get the dirt and garbage off the shaft and to bare the wood so you can scrub. I don't like to use sand paper and only if I have to for nasty jobs like this one. If you don't have a lathe then be careful if you use paper at all.

I always seal the wood after a cleaning.
 
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bflgvs said:
I am right handed and have always chalked with my right (non-bridge) hand. My issue is not how to avoid the "Red Plague" or "Baton Rouge" effects but how to clean the damage that has been done. I personally do not have this problem but others do and have questioned if it is possible to bring their shafts back to a near new appearance.

Thanks

Gerry :smile:
Click to expand...


It is possible to get the shaft back to white but it requires a few things. You can bleach it but that will damage the wood fibers and is probably not a good idea but a few people do use it. You can sand it until it is clean but the shaft gets smaller and most likely not round.

I have to try the lemon ammonia that Blue Hog ridr suggests. I have never tried that.

Once you get the color of the chalk into the grain of the shaft, it is very hard to ever clean it out.

I put several coats of lacquer sealer on my shafts when they are new. this fills the grain and helps. Some people don't like the feel of the sealer but if you give it a good coat of carnuba wax it stays smooth.... for me any way.

Kim
 
The lemony fresh ammonia was the only type they had, but lemon or not,
it still takes your breath away.

Kim, I used to soak the eraser in alcohol and soak a paper towel with ammonia and scrub afterward. This last time, I soaked the ME in ammonia
and scrubbed like a mad man. The result was much better but considering the ME had lots of ammonia in it, it just about knocked me on my butt so I used the respirator as soon as I got a snoot full.

I was able to get even most of the deep seated blue out of the shaft.
 
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I have to echo the comments on ammonia. Although I just use regular windex with a microfiber and get good results.
 
I have tried ME, but I used water with it. BTW, I was told that using bleach will eventually give the shaft wood a gray tinge. Is there any truth to this? Also, is there any chance that ammonia will discolor the wood?

Obviously everything recommended so far has a substantial moisture content. I can only presume that grain of the wood will rise. I do not use sand paper of any grade to smooth the shaft but I do use those micro-fiber sheets (only the finest 2 grades). What do you all use to seal the wood at this point?
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
The lemony fresh ammonia was the only type they had, but lemon or not,
it still takes your breath away.

Kim, I used to soak the eraser in alcohol and soak a paper towel with ammonia and scrub afterward. This last time, I soaked the ME in ammonia
and scrubbed like a mad man. The result was much better but considering the ME had lots of ammonia in it, it just about knocked me on my butt so I used the respirator as soon as I got a snoot full.

I was able to get even most of the deep seated blue out of the shaft.
Click to expand...

I will try it.... I will put on my respirator first LOL

KIm
 
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