Very deep dent in shaft

[mjantti]

My friend showed his cue the other day and asked if I could get rid of his deep dent in the shaft. Normally I recommend putting a drop of water into the dent/hole and let the wood expand, but in this case the dent was very deep and wide, a few millimeters wide and perhaps 1-2 mm deep, so I guess the water thing can't really help that.

Is there any way to fill up these large dents/holes in the shaft ? Is the result ok and can you get the surface smooth again that you will hardly notice the dent anymore ? Or is the shaft a goner already, ready for firewood ?

 

[catscradle]

My friend showed his cue the other day and asked if I could get rid of his deep dent in the shaft. Normally I recommend putting a drop of water into the dent/hole and let the wood expand, but in this case the dent was very deep and wide, a few millimeters wide and perhaps 1-2 mm deep, so I guess the water thing can't really help that.

Is there any way to fill up these large dents/holes in the shaft ? Is the result ok and can you get the surface smooth again that you will hardly notice the dent anymore ? Or is the shaft a goner already, ready for firewood ?

For deep dents I steam them by placing a damp cloth over the dent and placing the tip of a hot iron on the cloth. The cloth should be folded thick enough so the shaft only gets the effect of the steam raised, but not the effect of the heat of the iron directly. I think this will do a better job on the dent, but it sounds like nothing will raise it completely. Somebody posted recently about filling big dents with wax and burnishing it real smooth. I'm too lazy to search for the thread for you, but it might be worth your while.
Also it may be a good idea to post this in "Ask The Cuemaker".

 

[TheBook]

Inlay it with a diamond.

Try filling it with expoxy and then sanding flush. Or maybe drilling a hole and then plugging it. I would try different things before I scraped it.

 

[blud]

Dent

My friend showed his cue the other day and asked if I could get rid of his deep dent in the shaft. Normally I recommend putting a drop of water into the dent/hole and let the wood expand, but in this case the dent was very deep and wide, a few millimeters wide and perhaps 1-2 mm deep, so I guess the water thing can't really help that.

Is there any way to fill up these large dents/holes in the shaft ? Is the result ok and can you get the surface smooth again that you will hardly notice the dent anymore ? Or is the shaft a goner already, ready for firewood ?

I use a differant method. A drop of water is ok, but the iron is not the way it should be done. The iron applies to much heat, and can dry your shaft out to much, and could cause it to warp.

I place a drop of water on the dent and spin it very fast and hold a paper towel around the dent area. Most of the time this works well.If you had a joint pin, you could use an electric drill for spinning the shaft.

If you can't remove the dent completely, take a pick, [I use a denist pick], and scrach the inter surface with it. Then take some super-glue-gel, and fill the dent. wipe it off with a business card wraped around the shaft. You may have to do this a couple of times. After it's filled up, use some 220 sand paper to smooth out the glued area, then use 600 to get it real smooth.Polish with a good shaft cleaner/polish. Do not use WAX. Wax attracks grit and dirt. Use a good polish. hope this helps.
blud

 

[pete lafond]

For deep dents I steam them by placing a damp cloth over the dent and placing the tip of a hot iron on the cloth. The cloth should be folded thick enough so the shaft only gets the effect of the steam raised, but not the effect of the heat of the iron directly. I think this will do a better job on the dent, but it sounds like nothing will raise it completely. Somebody posted recently about filling big dents with wax and burnishing it real smooth. I'm too lazy to search for the thread for you, but it might be worth your while.
Also it may be a good idea to post this in "Ask The Cuemaker".

What you stated first works the best for a shaft. Because of the size, it will take a much longer time. After a few minutes with the iron, take the cloth off of it and let it sit for 5 minutes and then repeat. Good luck. (also if they used a silicone based conditioner, you need to completly remove it before beginning.)

 

[Bludworm]

Take a normal paper towel cut it in half. Tightly fold the towel till it is just big enough to completely cover the dent. Moisten the towel with water and pinch out any of the excess water. Lightly scotch tape that to the dent and leave on for eight hours. Remove tape and the dent will be gone (unless it's a really, really deep...if so, the dent will be much better.)

DO NOT USE the shaft for playing until it has COMPLETELY AIR DRIED!!! Once dry, clean shaft as you normally would and you're done.

P.S. during the taping phase and air drying phase make sure the shaft is standing upright on its own...not leaning against a wall or what ever.

I was taught this trick by cue maker four years ago and have used it ever since. I have NEVER had a problem with warping the shaft using the above method.

 

[gulfportdoc]

Is there any way to fill up these large dents/holes in the shaft ?

I've had excellent results by holding the dent over the steam escaping from a teapot spout. If you don't have a teapot, use a small saucepan. Keep the water steaming, then hold the shaft 6-8" above the steam. It might take several minutes. Then, when it dries, you can smooth down the rough surface with 2000 sandpaper or other medium. I've used this on really deep dents with success.

Good luck!

Doc

 

[catscradle]

I've had excellent results by holding the dent over the steam escaping from a teapot spout. If you don't have a teapot, use a small saucepan. Keep the water steaming, then hold the shaft 6-8" above the steam. It might take several minutes. Then, when it dries, you can smooth down the rough surface with 2000 sandpaper or other medium. I've used this on really deep dents with success.

Good luck!

Doc

I've also heard of (but not tried) covering the top of a small sauce pan with aluminum foil, poking a small hole in it (smaller than the hole on a tea kettle), bring the water to a boil which will produce a stream of steam out of the hole, and proceeding as you described above.

 

[Troy]

I have had success making a small "bandaid" from a small piece of paper towel.
Wet the papeer towel and tape it to the dent area. Check it often and keep it wet. I had one that took nearly 8 hours.
Then spin the shaft and burnish with a peice of un-dyed leather.
It might not come out perfect, but it wil be much better.

Troy