Shaft Abrasives

kokopuffs

kokopuffs

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm thinking two brands of cue papers: McDermott and Q Smooth.

I find that the QSMOOTH product removes far less wood and burnishes better than the McDermott Papers. Both are fine products, however, better than using 600 grit sandpaper.

QCLEAN is an abrasive bleach product like dutch cleanser that removes deep seated chalk and dirt. Bear in mind that it is more abrasive than QMOOTH and should therefore be used sparingly.
 
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i use "micromesh". they start at about 1200 grit, and go up to 8000 grit. they come in 12"x12" sheets at roughly $12 per sheet. they are cloth backed , are reusable, AND washable. the stuff you use is made by 3M, and they lose their abrasive rather quickly.

i go from 1200 to 1600 to 2400 to 3600 to sometimes 5000. once you smooth your shaft, you really shouldn't need to use it often if you keep it well maintained. all you need do is wipe it down with a cloth.

you can google "micromesh" and buy online.
 
bruin70 said:
i use "micromesh". they start at about 1200 grit, and go up to 8000 grit. ...
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I use the same stuff and like it, but have been told that the grit ratings don't correspond directly to those used for sandpaper, emery cloth, etc. In other words a 1200 grit micromesh is more abrasive than a 1200 grit sandpaper.
Don't know how true it is just thought I'd throw it out there.
 
From the Micro Mesh website:

Micro-Mesh is a unique cushioned abrasive that produces a very fine and uniform scratch pattern. The nine grits range from 1500 up to 12000. The 1500 is similar in grit range to conventional 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. The 12000 will leave a scratch pattern that cannot be detected by the human eye...

Visit their site for specifics:

http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/reference/wood_methods.htm
 
kokopuffs said:
From the Micro Mesh website:

Micro-Mesh is a unique cushioned abrasive that produces a very fine and uniform scratch pattern. The nine grits range from 1500 up to 12000. The 1500 is similar in grit range to conventional 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. The 12000 will leave a scratch pattern that cannot be detected by the human eye...

Visit their site for specifics:

http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/reference/wood_methods.htm
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hmmmmm. maybe that's why i found 3600 most satisfying. the 5000 will polish the plastic ferrule. that's good enough for me.

you can get the 12000, 3M stuff that they use to sand microchips if you need to go THAT far:):):)
 
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i must give big praise for the Q-system products. Q-clean, and Q-slick are nothing short of fantastic! soon i will also order and try Q-glide and Q-smooth. i use 400 sandpaper, which just about everyone will say is a big no-no. however sandpaper 800 and above is to me BULLSHIT! you may as well use NOTHING! i use, 400 sandpaper followed by #600.
 
THE SILENCER said:
i must give big praise for the Q-system products. Q-clean, and Q-slick are nothing short of fantastic! soon i will also order and try Q-glide and Q-smooth. i use 400 sandpaper, which just about everyone will say is a big no-no. however sandpaper 800 and above is to me BULLSHIT! you may as well use NOTHING! i use, 400 sandpaper followed by #600.
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curious......just WHAT do you think the purpose of these papers are for?

do you think they're for "sanding" your shaft down????
 
bruin70 said:
curious......just WHAT do you think the purpose of these papers are for?

do you think they're for "sanding" your shaft down????
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That post right there, tells you everything you need to know about this guy, you don't need to hear anything else. some things are hopeless this is one of them. I now leave you for him, have fun with him, he can be your new expert and whipping boy,
your new board guru, c'est la vie....:D :p :cool: :rolleyes:
 
fast larry said:
That post right there, tells you everything you need to know about this guy, you don't need to hear anything else. some things are hopeless this is one of them. I now leave you for him, have fun with him, he can be your new expert and whipping boy,
your new board guru, c'est la vie....:D :p :cool: :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

i believe in another thread, bernie touts mali cues. well, there ya go. i guess it all fits.
 
kokopuffs said:
Bruin:

The fine papers would be used for polishing and burnishing as opposed to sanding.
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yes, well you don't ever want to sand. proper care of a shaft is easy once you have it smooth, which is what the 3M papers and micromesh are for.

once i get my shafts glass smooth, i only use them once a year or so. i have been using the same 2400, 3600, and 5000 (2" squares) for years now. once the shaft is smooth, i wipe down my shafts with a cotton cloth a few times a night or in between my times at the table. it's just maintenance work.

essentially, all i'm doing is burnishing. if it gets dirty(hardly ever) i just wipe it down with a damp paper toewel and buff it again.

clean and smooth as glass.
 
THE SILENCER said:
...however sandpaper 800 and above is ... NOTHING!
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That is the point of the higher grits, you shouldn't be sanding your shaft; you should be polishing it, which is what the higher grits do. Of course if you want to buy new shafts every few years and possibly sand your shaft out of round (a long-shot, I know) feel free. The higher grits are doing something, it just takes more time and patience to acheive it. Personally I very rarely even lay the higher grits on them anymore, just clean them with various things (sometimes lighter fluid, sometimes waterless hand cleaner, etc) and burnish them with a piece of leather.
 
bruin70 said:
once you smooth your shaft, you really shouldn't need to use it often if you keep it well maintained. all you need do is wipe it down with a cloth.
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I found that the micro-fiber towels work excellent for this. I keep one in my cue case and wipe my shaft after every use. They clean without chemicals, can be washed, and be reused again. I find them reasonably priced at Wallyworld in the automotive dept. in bundles of five. I've given them to some of my friends. :)

Jim
 
bruin70 said:
i believe in another thread, bernie touts mali cues. well, there ya go. i guess it all fits.
Click to expand...

I'll bet the guy's Mali can run more racks than any of your Craig Peterson cues...assuming you don't have someone else shoot for you.

PoolMouse
 
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