Smooth shafts, HOW smooth do you like them?

[twilight]

There are some people that can play with dinged shafts but I can't. I have to have mine smooth. I have a friend who is like this too, but we differ on how smooth is good. I personally like my shaft so smooth that it feels like glass. I use micro mesh, (similar to those automotive papers, and stuff like Qsmooth papers) up to the finest grit. This is not to say I do it often but for a new shaft, or once a year or so. I burnish it like crazy too. The shaft is so smooth that it reflects light and you can barely see the tiny slivers of grain.
My friend likes what he calls a satin like smoothness. He uses the q smooth papers but doesn't use the 2 highest grits. If it gets so smooth it starts to reflect light, it's too smooth for him. His point is, like anything super smooth, once the shaft gets slightly gunky, things stick. He said run your hand against a window then run it on a table. If it's too smooth, your skin will catch. I liked his point, and I thought about it this way; If I polish it so smooth then I get rid of those slivers of grain that act like air channels. This got me thinking, for those who like smooth shafts, HOW smooth do you like yours?

 

[Koop]

I only care that it doesn't stick while stroking. I guess somewhere between you and your friend but probably closer to your friend.

 

[Double-Dave]

I have yet to get my shaft too smooth, so as smooth as possible would be my answer. I've used 1200 grit sandpaper for years, switched to smooth cue papers two years ago, just ordered micro-mesh. I don't burnish my shafts, because I fear the sudden heatup/cooldown could cause warping.

 

[ridewiththewind]

I only use the Q-Wiz on my shafts. It it is not abrasive enough to remove any wood from the shaft, but only removes the grit and dirt from it. I use the rougher side, and then wipe down with a towel, then I flip over the Q-Wiz to the polishing side, then wipe down with a towel again. Then, I burnish the shaft with a piece of a brown grocery bag (I think it works better than leather)...then I usually SlipStic after that. I like the Q-Wiz because it is very easily washable, and dries very quickly. This entire process leaves my shafts silky smooth, and I do not experience any drag while stroking.

I can live with playing with a ding, but prefer not to...and it is so very easy to pull them, that I never really have to...unless it happens while I'm out playing.

Lisa

 

[rackmsuckr]

Too smooth feels like it is sliding out of my bridge. I go for the well-used nicked look. I need to know how many notches to pull it back for draw and follow, lol.

I don't like chalk on my ferrule, but small nicks and dings don't bother me. The big ones, I have my husband, Mike, iron out.

 

[ridewiththewind]

Too smooth feels like it is sliding out of my bridge. I go for the well-used nicked look. I need to know how many notches to pull it back for draw and follow, lol.

I don't like chalk on my ferrule, but small nicks and dings don't bother me. The big ones, I have my husband, Mike, iron out.

And here I thought you were keeping them to mark the number of 'kills' you've had!! LOL!! I've heard tell that some men notch their bedposts.

Lisa

 

[seymore15074]

There are some people that can play with dinged shafts but I can't. I have to have mine smooth. I have a friend who is like this too, but we differ on how smooth is good.

This got me thinking, for those who like smooth shafts, HOW smooth do you like yours?

Who doesn't like a smooth shaft?! Of course preferences vary on how smooth, I'm similar to your friend. I like a finely sanded wood feel. It doesn't have any resistance in my TIGHT bridge. With a shaft like yours it would generate more heat and stick as soon as my finger sweets a little.

 

[twilight]

Who doesn't like a smooth shaft?! Of course preferences vary on how smooth, I'm similar to your friend. I like a finely sanded wood feel. It doesn't have any resistance in my TIGHT bridge. With a shaft like yours it would generate more heat and stick as soon as my finger sweets a little.

I've talked to many guys at the pool hall that say it's to much trouble clean and get rid of dents often. They like a bit of tackiness and a couple of small dings. Your right, my shaft does stick as soon as my hands get sweaty.... I might have to reconsider that there is such a thing as too smooth.

 

[seymore15074]

I've talked to many guys at the pool hall that say it's to much trouble clean and get rid of dents often. They like a bit of tackiness and a couple of small dings. Your right, my shaft does stick as soon as my hands get sweaty.... I might have to reconsider that there is such a thing as too smooth.

I hate dings, I remove them immediately... I know a few people who love that Q-Silk stuff, but I hate it. I think it makes it glossy and "sticky".

 

[teebee]

I like the shaft as smooth as possible - combine that with a good glove and I have the most confidence in my cue not affecting my stroke no matter what temperature or humidity I am playing in.

 

[catscradle]

I've kind of an obsession about that, I like it as smooth as humanly possible. Not that I think it effects my game, just that I get a feeling of satisfaction to get it really, really smooth without a lathe and without removing wood. I've gotten a little less compulsive about it lately, but I still go after a ding immediately upon returning home.

I don't think it effects my game unless it gets sticky which virtually never happens.

 

[Jeffrey Gale]

I like my shafts like glass. Any little thing I can feel, bothers me. They have to be as smooth as glass! My hands stay very dry, so I don't have that sticking problem.

 

[seymore15074]

I like my shafts like glass. Any little thing I can feel, bothers me. They have to be as smooth as glass! My hands stay very dry, so I don't have that sticking problem.

Glass sticks to my fingers, that is too smooth for me. I like the almost powdery-sanded wood feel that is smooth.... I like my shafts smooth, but not smoothed down enough that they don't turn blue from the chalk...lol

 

[BHQ]

i like my shaft to be "slicker than snot on a doorknob" ​

 

[matcase]

I likem smooth as possible. Can you just buy the yellow cue smooth papers?

 

[BHQ]

And here I thought you were keeping them to mark the number of 'kills' you've had!! LOL!! I've heard tell that some men notch their bedposts.

Lisa

lisa, i've heard SOME women do that too ​

 

[bigskyjake]

I've kind of an obsession about that, I like it as smooth as humanly possible. Not that I think it effects my game, just that I get a feeling of satisfaction to get it really, really smooth without a lathe and without removing wood. I've gotten a little less compulsive about it lately, but I still go after a ding immediately upon returning home.

I don't think it effects my game unless it gets sticky which virtually never happens.

ditto that, there is no such thing as too smooth, i also have a little obsession about that. then i go and pick up my friends cues and it feels like they burnished it with a candy bar

 

[desi2960]

veeeerrrryyyy smmmmooootttthhhh

you guys kill me, i use 12 million grit and spin it on my cue lathe for 4 days

 

[renard]

Smooth enough that the human tongue cannot find one inperfection....


...not that I do that with cues mind you!

 

[RiverCity]

I work on my cues with 1500-2000 grit papers and burnish with a dollar bill. When I lived in the south I would occasionally have to use a small bit or powder to cut down on the cue feeling sticky, because of the humidity. But living where I do now, its never been an issue.
I use a very slow method that involves running the paper in only one direction..... it works well enough I have had people ask what I "sealed" the shaft with.
Chuck