Yeah I understand linen wrap jobs are extremely common but I am looking for the best of the best. I'm extremely picky when it comes to my cue repair. The only person I've ever let touch my cues so far is Joe Blackburn.
Thanks so much for the suggestions so far, really appreciate it!!
When you get the new wrap put on, no matter who is doing it, tell them what you want and what you expect. Don't be shy - communication is half of it.
If you like a firmly pressed wrap that is super smooth, or a certain color, or whatever it is, tell the person. There are certain things they can do - they might have to charge a little more.
Cue maker's are kind of like underpaid psychiatrists. Some of them are good at finding out what you need, and some aren't.
Say you have a thing about the wrap being perfectly level with the butt and forearm surface. Since they will be removing a leather wrap and replacing it with linen, they might have to sand the wrap channel and build it up a little with clear coat, maybe several times to get it perfect. Then they need to clean out the groove where the wrap meets the forearm and butt, so it sits flush. These are extra steps that can be the difference betwen a beautiful wrap job and a crappy looking one.
Funny story - I had a cue owner contact me who had a badly yellowed epoxy finish. They yellow like crazy and eventually look pretty bad. It was all checked and cracked but he loved the color. So when he sent it in for a refinish, I told him to mention to the cue maker that he wanted to keep the patina. I called the repair guy and re-iterated that he wanted the patina. The cue maker can either stain the wood lightly or mix some stain into the clear. Anyway, he got back a completely refinished cue with a beautiful golden hue.
Chris
