Making a linen wrap less slick

O

olgoat

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have started playing again with a linen wrap from a solid wood handled cue. The linen wrap seems very slick to me and I find I am grasping the cue a lot more. (Not good ;-)

Is there something that can be done to linen wrap to give it a little more texture? (ie I have read here I think about sanding linen wraps) Or would going to a leather or cork wrap be the way to go.

I started playing with a linen before going to wood. I am very surprised at the difference in feel going back to linen. It really takes some getting used to.

Thanks
Tim
 
making a linen wrap less slick

linen can be pressed as tight or loose as you want it. Take it to a repairman & tell him what you want...JER
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
linen can be pressed as tight or loose as you want it. Take it to a repairman & tell him what you want...JER
Click to expand...

I agree with JER but wanted to add. Whatever you do, don't listen to anyone who suggests using wax paper on the wrap! This practice has been recommended by some well known players, also cue repair people and it's one of my pet peeves. The wax may make it feel good at the moment (if that's the feel you like, not for me!) but the wax traps grime and chalk dust. It also makes it so difficult to clean, it's better to re-wrap the cue than even mess with trying to clean it once it's been accosted with the wax paper!

just more hot air!


Sherm
 
cuesmith said:
I agree with JER but wanted to add. Whatever you do, don't listen to anyone who suggests using wax paper on the wrap! This practice has been recommended by some well known players, also cue repair people and it's one of my pet peeves. The wax may make it feel good at the moment (if that's the feel you like, not for me!) but the wax traps grime and chalk dust. It also makes it so difficult to clean, it's better to re-wrap the cue than even mess with trying to clean it once it's been accosted with the wax paper!

just more hot air!


Sherm
Click to expand...

I was under the impression most makers use wax as part of the finishing process.
Would you mind sharing how you do your wraps?
 
Canadian cue said:
I was under the impression most makers use wax as part of the finishing process.
Would you mind sharing how you do your wraps?
Click to expand...

I press my wraps several times, burnish them and seal them with the same sealer I use on my shafts. That's something I mix up myself and there's no wax in it! I also sometimes sand the wrap and repeat the process, if the customer really wants it smooth. You can make it feel like a silk ribbon that way depending upon how far you want to take it.

just more hot air!

Sherm
 
well it was recommeded to me to try some spray on starch like u use for ironing on my linen wrap to help some scratches in the wrap (it did help, as it darkened the wrap and make them less noticeable), i also noticed that the starch made the wrap a lil tacky (not sticky just not slick, textured), so you might want to try this.
 
cuesmith said:
I press my wraps several times, burnish them and seal them with the same sealer I use on my shafts. That's something I mix up myself and there's no wax in it! I also sometimes sand the wrap and repeat the process, if the customer really wants it smooth. You can make it feel like a silk ribbon that way depending upon how far you want to take it.

just more hot air!

Sherm
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing
 
scottycoyote said:
well it was recommeded to me to try some spray on starch like u use for ironing on my linen wrap to help some scratches in the wrap (it did help, as it darkened the wrap and make them less noticeable), i also noticed that the starch made the wrap a lil tacky (not sticky just not slick, textured), so you might want to try this.
Click to expand...


I use a concentrated starch, and press the linen. It darkens the linen alittle on a new wrap also. After some prep & final pressing, the wrap is smooth as a new borns bottom. I seal under the wrap with a shaft sealer that I make Like Sherm mentioned, but have not tried it on top yet. I'll have to give that a shot sometime.
Greg
 
making a linen wrap less slick

I spray the linen with starch, then press it. Then I use a razor blade to take off any high spots. Than I spray,with starch & press a 2nd time. Then I seal it with a mixture of thinned shelac...JER

P.S. A little side story... I spent a lot of time perfecting a process, where my wraps were very smooth. Then I was asked by a customer to leave the wrap a little less smooth. I complied with his request & when I delivered the Q to the customer, he let a friend of his look it over. After running his hands over the wrap area he said " I GUESS YOU JUST DON"T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT SMOOTH, BUT STAY WITH IT, YOU'LL GET RIGHT SOMEDAY". You just can't win.....................JER
 
That's what I'm doing also, I have only been sealing the under wrap though. I can see where sealing the top Might help. I need to try it.

I have pictured that same story happening in My head before pressing a wrap. The first thing I ask when someone wants a wrap done is do you want It pressed, because that's the only way I'll do them. I'm happy with the pressed I'm doing, but even i'm lacking in skill doing the unpressed, or the linen I use is best when pressed & trimmed. Either way I am just not satified with the non-pressed feel I am getting, and seems tuff to finish without trimming pressing, or atleast sealing somehow, so I won't even do one that way until I figure out a better way. guess i'll have to figure It out one day, but for now I'm sticking with what working well for me. Greg
 
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