Question for cue maker or cue expert

G

Gilbertfan81

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I recently purchased an early 70s joss west. Probably made in first run. It is all original down to the cortland linen wrap. I have been toying with the idea of refinishing it. The original lacquer finish has completely worn off. To be honest I love the feel of the satin finish bare wood, you almost can't tell where the wrap starts just by the feel. I was talking to a cue maker at a big tournament last weekend , and he told me if it was not refinished the wood on the butt sleeve would eventually crack and separate from absorbing the moisture in your grip hand. Is this true. It's a great cue and I don't want to ruin it but I plan on using it as my everyday player.

PS it hits like a Mack truck with a ton of bricks in the bed
 
I'm not a maker or an expert but I do know that cue like any other piece of wood needs to be protected from the elements. I would have it refinished and the cortland wrap reused if possible.
 
If all the finish is worn off evenly don't refinish it.. just buy yourself some Renaissance Wax. You can find it on Amazon...it will seal and protect the cue and you can use it all over the cue including the wrap..
 
I have been in the cue business since 1975. Original Cortland is extremely difficult to come by. Some old cue makers may have a roll around. Back in 95', I did find a partial role to make a refinish job back to original. Will the wood get damaged from your sweaty palm?? Unlikely unless you sweat like a faucet. Lots and lots of older cues are played with every day with the old spray finish rubbed off. If you take care of it, as in do not subject it to extreme temp or humidity changes and keep it cased, it should be fine. You have a real gem there and if it hits that good, why mess with it. Just my humble opinion.....Nubs Wagner
 
Legend resurfacing?

cueguy2 said:
I have been in the cue business since 1975. Original Cortland is extremely difficult to come by. Some old cue makers may have a roll around. Back in 95', I did find a partial role to make a refinish job back to original. Will the wood get damaged from your sweaty palm?? Unlikely unless you sweat like a faucet. Lots and lots of older cues are played with every day with the old spray finish rubbed off. If you take care of it, as in do not subject it to extreme temp or humidity changes and keep it cased, it should be fine. You have a real gem there and if it hits that good, why mess with it. Just my humble opinion.....Nubs Wagner
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Nubs, PM me. I have a lot of questions to ask. I still have my Merry Widow Nova with the script logo pre phenolic insert, I got it when I was 16. If the shop is under covers still and ready to go let me know. Maybe we can figure something out.
 
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Did somebody say

Badbeat13 said:
I think his user name on here is bstroud, but don't
quote me on that, even though I quoted you...haha.
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"Worlds collide jerry, worlds collide" wow, same quote twice in one day and nobody commented the first time.
 
Unlikely to crack but the unprotected wood could definitely get harmed in other ways. For example, I've seen more than one cue left unfinished absorb dyes from cue case linings, leaving a black tint that could not be removed without excess sanding.

My first choice would be to have the cue refinished by a pro, preserving the wrap if it's in good shape. If you like the unfinished look, satin clear is available. If nothing else, like Skins said, wax the cue to protect the finish. You can also rub the linen with wax paper to help seal and protect it.
 
cueguy2 said:
I have been in the cue business since 1975. Original Cortland is extremely difficult to come by. Some old cue makers may have a roll around. Back in 95', I did find a partial role to make a refinish job back to original. Will the wood get damaged from your sweaty palm?? Unlikely unless you sweat like a faucet. Lots and lots of older cues are played with every day with the old spray finish rubbed off. If you take care of it, as in do not subject it to extreme temp or humidity changes and keep it cased, it should be fine. You have a real gem there and if it hits that good, why mess with it. Just my humble opinion.....Nubs Wagner
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Welcome to AZ Billiards, Nubs. For those who don't know, Nubs was the founder of Nova Cues after working at McDermott for many years. As such, he was heavily involved in the development of cue making in the mid west.
 
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cueguy2 said:
I have been in the cue business since 1975. Original Cortland is extremely difficult to come by. Some old cue makers may have a roll around. Back in 95', I did find a partial role to make a refinish job back to original. Will the wood get damaged from your sweaty palm?? Unlikely unless you sweat like a faucet. Lots and lots of older cues are played with every day with the old spray finish rubbed off. If you take care of it, as in do not subject it to extreme temp or humidity changes and keep it cased, it should be fine. You have a real gem there and if it hits that good, why mess with it. Just my humble opinion.....Nubs Wagner
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Wow!

Welcome to AZ.

Freddie
 
TATE said:
Unlikely to crack but the unprotected wood could definitely get harmed in other ways. For example, I've seen more than one cue left unfinished absorb dyes from cue case linings, leaving a black tint that could not be removed without excess sanding.

My first choice would be to have the cue refinished by a pro, preserving the wrap if it's in good shape. If you like the unfinished look, satin clear is available. If nothing else, like Skins said, wax the cue to protect the finish. You can also rub the linen with wax paper to help seal and protect it.
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Tate, do some research on Renaissance Wax... It can be used on virtually anything.. I have used it on finished cues, non finished cues, shafts, linen wraps, stainless, plastic, ivory, leather wraps, BALABUSHKA CUES! Many many more surfaces... It is truly remarkable.

If used the cue will be protected from absorbing and bleeding. It kind of hardens to a micro thin coating that can be built up if you like and It can be polished to a nice luster and will feel great. You don't need a lathe to use it.

Like I said, it's only if the finish is all evenly worn down and looks like an old GB cue that I make this suggestion..

If I fell and hit my head on a rock, passed out, woke up, and HAD to have the cue refinished I would send it to Pete Tascarella or Keith.
 
Having done so in the past, Min wax rubbed on polyurethane finish would not only protect the cue from the elements...it is also a finish you could do yourself.
 
Lots and lots of older cues are played with every day with the old spray finish rubbed off. If you take care of it, as in do not subject it to extreme temp or humidity change.
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What Nubs said, and I am sure that he has forgotten 100 times more than I will ever know.

I use a product called, Dr. Woodwell. Used in part for furniture restorations.

I have taken the finish off quite a few cues, snooker cues, including jump cues and used this oil finish.

If you were to decide to use a clear oil finish on the butt sleeve, it certainly wouldn't harm it, and it wouldn't change the color of the wood.

If you taped off the wrap at the bottom, you can wipe the oil on with a soft cloth. Let it dry, do another, let it dry and buff it.

I think that you would like the look and feel.
 
TATE said:
Unlikely to crack but the unprotected wood could definitely get harmed in other ways. For example, I've seen more than one cue left unfinished absorb dyes from cue case linings, leaving a black tint that could not be removed without excess sanding.

My first choice would be to have the cue refinished by a pro, preserving the wrap if it's in good shape. If you like the unfinished look, satin clear is available. If nothing else, like Skins said, wax the cue to protect the finish. You can also rub the linen with wax paper to help seal and protect it.
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I agree with your first choice.

FWIW.

Ken
 
I've had this cue in my hands a couple times now,it's a hell of a cue,even in the current condition.

I honestly think the linen on it is the Penn instead of Cortland,but supposedly Cortland made a white with black spot too,which is what's on there.

I've been trying for YEARS to make my linen wraps feel the same way that cue feels in the grip hand. Tommy D.
 
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