Keeping shaft smooth

[MrLucky]

Pledge contains several chemicals in it...

How about Pledge? I read somewhere you should be able to put a light coat on just to keep it slick.

Eric

and oils which are OK but even for furniture not the best way its just the "good OLE'" American Fast way! On a Cue these types of products leave a Oil sheen that actually besides making it easier to attract the chalk dust and other dirt they will only feel smooth due to the oil not the smoothness of the shaft ! Carnauba Wax is a natural product (the real stuff not a wax that "contains" carnauba !) and will not leave a residue !

 

[MrLucky]

Well then who am I to argue with "Predator" ?.....

So it's bad? I only started doing it on Predator's recommendation.. they say abrasives are bad, to use 1500 grit instead.. Is this not true or am I missing something here?

From predatorcues.com 'technique' section:

the high numerical "abrasives" LOL! any "grit" is an abrasive just a finer one! is taking some wood off albeit much less it is never the less taking it off over time the process is still reducing shaft size and removing finish however you look at it ! I just prefer to not do that by keeping my shaft clean and using a fine natural wax as explained!

 

[JimS]

the high numerical "abrasives" LOL! any "grit" is an abrasive just a finer one! is taking some wood off albeit much less it is never the less taking it off over time the process is still reducing shaft size and removing finish however you look at it ! I just prefer to not do that by keeping my shaft clean and using a fine natural wax as explained!

I've read several times that the Cue Wiz doesn't take off wood but that's bull. The rough side dammed sure does take off wood. If you rub the cue with something rough and it shows white on that something rough then that's wood from the cue.. but guys will still swear that the Cue Wiz isn't abrasive. Nonsense.

I'm at the point where I use nothing on the cue. I've tried everything and I think that everything (except possibly lighter fluid) leaves a residue that gets sticky. I believe the best way to have a clean shaft is to wash your hands before and often during play, wipe the shaft w/a damp towel, dry, burnish and get it warm or hot (maybe a bad idea w/a glued shaft). No cleaners except Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, no wax's, no slick liquids... nothing. Just cleaned and burnished wood.

 

[Irish634]

Okay, I got the leather and I got the brown paper bag. I assume I wrap the shaft and go up and down like crazy?

Kind of yes... but you aren't trying to start a fire. Get the shaft a little warm will suffice. It'll get smooth.

All I use for my shafts is:

1. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser - 99c or less at walmart
2. 2.5" x 4" Piece of leather - $2 in my local leather shop.
3. If I need to clean more than the magic eraser I have a bottle of McDermott's cleaner. But once it's gone, I probably won't buy any more (no need to).

Hope this helps.

i just want to clarify here a bit. a peice of leather rubbed along the shaft for maintenance. is this to be done with each use of the cue or periodically?

I would say either is ok. Once you get the shaft conditioned by burnishing often, I think you'll find you need to do it less and less. That was my case. All I do now for the most part is wipe it down after playing. I burnish as needed now.

 

[Bastian]

You all make a lot of sense.. I think I'll stick with the leather and microfiber towels for cleaning and smoothing. For the magic eraser, I'll just use the 91% alcohol. The comments on heat make sense too, considering the amount of glue that must be needed for all those pie wedges in the Predator.

Thanks again to everyone for taking time to comment on this age-old topic, some of us are still learning something new every day!

 

[SCCues]

Without having to order/buy products from a billiard supply (other than I what I can get at Wal-mart), anyone have any homemade ways to keep the shaft slick and smooth. I'm not really talking about cleaning, such as with Majic eraser, but something to make it slide smooth after cleaning.

thanks, JED

I like to go to the restroom and wash my hands just before I play and I keep the moist (not wet) paper towel that I dried my hands with to wipe my shaft. The damp part of the paper towel will remove the chalk and then use the dry part of the paper towel to burnish your shaft. Try this method and see if it helps.

 

[jed1894]

thanks for all the suggestions.

JED

 

[JimS]

I like to go to the restroom and wash my hands just before I play and I keep the moist (not wet) paper towel that I dried my hands with to wipe my shaft. The damp part of the paper towel will remove the chalk and then use the dry part of the paper towel to burnish your shaft. Try this method and see if it helps.

Ditto but I use a waffle weave microfiber towel to dry the shaft after wiping w/the damp paper towel. Then use both as needed while playing.