Nelsonite ??

T

tg_vegas

Well-known member
After reading Chris Hightower's cue building book, and looking at how I have been doing things, I decided to follow the advise to use Nelsonite. My 5-Gallons arrived today. I built a dip tank and mechanism to submerge and lift shafts into and out of the tank.

I originally planned to process this in my basement workshop but after reading all of the warnings, I've setup a way to dip them and dry them outside.

Questions for the Cuemakers : Is Nelsonite still recommended? How long should I leave this in the dip tank? How long to let it dry before bring the shafts back inside my house? Once dry, do I need to take precautions with further turning of the shafts?

I'm interested in a discussion about upsides and downsides of Nelsonite. I've searched the threads and have found some feedback but no direct discussion.
 
I'm in favour of letting the wood move, if it warps it warps, I rather it warps early on in the process, so I don't spend more time than needed.
 
I don't like the smell of the stuff and rarely use it now. As I get older I am trying to come into less and less contact with toxic stuff. It definitely helps on shafts stability. Out side in a shed would be fine for dipping and letting dry for a few days. I would not waste the material on 1 inch dowels. Get down to around 5/8" at the tip end before soaking. About a minute in the tank is long enough for maple shafts. A little longer probably wouldn't hurt anything if you didn't go extreme. Make sure you are at least .050" to .100" oversized on butts when dipping so as not to affect the color or the wood.
 
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Nasty stuff.
Avoid it.
We used it and didn't think it was worth all the trouble. My mentor quit using it.
We dipped till the bubbles stopped surfacing.
After 1mm turn, you could still smell the stuff.
 
Thanks for that insight. I’m really concerned about smelling up my house, especially since both of my home air handlers are in the same room as my shop. I had planned to do it in my garage and leave them outside for a couple of days before bringing them back into my house for further turning but that sound like a bad plan.

So, I think I’ll send it back.

I really appreciate the warnings from you guys.

Tom
 
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tg_vegas said:
Thanks for that insight. I’m really concerned about smelling up my house especially since both of my home air handlers are in the same room as my shop.

I think I’ll send it back.
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Yes....even after the outside "seems" dry, it will take years for the inside to fully dissipate the smell. Every time you cut after it's been dipped you will smell it.
 
It is some nasty stuff and will rob you of years if you play with it too long or dont take precautions

It's not worth the risk Highly cancerous, at least in California lol
 
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I asked to return it and was told that in 85 years, they've never once had anyone ask for a return or complain about the product. They did say a return was okay, but that I would be the first in the history of their company.......

I trashed the dip tanks I build and trolley system to dip and hang the shafts today. Game over.

Thanks again for all of the input. I'd rather be healthy.

Tom
 
tg_vegas said:
I asked to return it and was told that in 85 years, they've never once had anyone ask for a return or complain about the product. They did say a return was okay, but that I would be the first in the history of their company.......

I trashed the dip tanks I build and trolley system to dip and hang the shafts today. Game over.

Thanks again for all of the input. I'd rather be healthy.

Tom
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bet I can guess the company...LOL....Your much better off not using it for all the above stated reasons. I tried it too a ways back and decided it wasn't worth it.
 
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