Sensation wrote:
> How slick is tung oil? What the purpose of it on a cue shaft?
Well, I'm not the only one who uses tung oil -- this I got from Ted Kaufman:
I can't believe I still hear of people who recommend sanding a shaft as a means of regular maintenence. And for god's sake, if you just acquired a shaft and need to make it smooth, then sand it one time with nothing courser than 400 grit (and only if it is a mess), then finish with something like 1500-2000. After that, get rid of all sandpaper.
The most lasting and fastest way I know of to seal a shaft is tung oil. There are dozens of products, but if you chose one intended for gun stocks, it should work well. Be sure not to choose one that includes polyurethane or varnish or shellac. Choose pure tung oil.
Apply a very light coat of tung oil, wait till it dries completely--several hours or overnight. Buff it out till it gleams. This may take some elbow grease, but it is a one time deal and it's worth the effort.
The first few times you use the shaft it will feel a bit sticky because it will be so slick. Use talc for a couple of sessions and buff it after use. After that, the finish will last an extraordinarily long time. All you have to do to restore the slick surface is wipe it down with a damp cloth and burnish it. The grain will not raise from the damn cloth because of the tung oil.
One caveat, after many years, the tung oil will turn slightly yellow. But by that time most shafts without tung oil would have turned blue from imbedded chalk.
I don't know what other cue makers use tung oil, but I know first hand Southwest applies it to all new cue shafts.