Wax sealer on woods

[dakota]

I am just getting started on making my first couple cues and I have a question about wax sealer used on bare wood. I have noticed that a lot of wood that I have ordered has the ends sealed with a wax sealer when I receive it. I believe this is to prevent checking and cracking? My question is after you start working with the wood, say turning squares into rounds, do you reseal the wood? I have heard that using a sealer is very important on many woods like burls and snakewood and such. If anyone can help inform me as to what type of sealer they use and on what types of wood it will save me some headaches and some wasted materials.

Thanks in advance,

Dakota

 

[Michael Webb]

I use Nelsonite in the first stages, after that I use a sanding sealer.

 

[dakota]

I use Nelsonite in the first stages, after that I use a sanding sealer.

Michael,

Thanks for the response, I have noticed that a couple of your newer cues have been made using snakewood and another used amboyna (awesome cues BTW). Did you have to take any special precautions or special steps working with these woods versus say cocobolo or ebony?

I have cut about 10 turning squares into rounds and have these hanging for use as forearms in the future. I have treated all the maple (and some purple heart) with Nelsonite already, but I just couldn't see treating the cocobolo and ebony. It just seemed like the cocobolo was to dense and oily for nelsonite to make a difference and ebony just seemed too dense for it to make a difference.?

Regarding your use of sanding sealer in the later stages. Once you get your pieces down to almost final size, do you apply sanding sealer to the entire piece of wood and then reapply sealer after each time you work the piece?

Thanks again for all your help, I am very grateful for help and advice.

Sincerely,

Dakota

 

[Michael Webb]

Michael,

Thanks for the response, I have noticed that a couple of your newer cues have been made using snakewood and another used amboyna (awesome cues BTW). Did you have to take any special precautions or special steps working with these woods versus say cocobolo or ebony?

I have cut about 10 turning squares into rounds and have these hanging for use as forearms in the future. I have treated all the maple (and some purple heart) with Nelsonite already, but I just couldn't see treating the cocobolo and ebony. It just seemed like the cocobolo was to dense and oily for nelsonite to make a difference and ebony just seemed too dense for it to make a difference.?

Regarding your use of sanding sealer in the later stages. Once you get your pieces down to almost final size, do you apply sanding sealer to the entire piece of wood and then reapply sealer after each time you work the piece?

Thanks again for all your help, I am very grateful for help and advice.

Sincerely,

Dakota

Thank you for your kind words.
I nelsonite everything, Just because the wood is dense, doesn't mean it won't warp. Amboyna and Thuya, have to be cored, I would never use Snakewood as a forearm, coring it is the Devil child. I use it for points and 4 inch sleeved sections only. It's just to prone to cracking. Sanding sealer for every stage after nelsonite. I hope this helps.

 

[blud]

sealers

I am just getting started on making my first couple cues and I have a question about wax sealer used on bare wood. I have noticed that a lot of wood that I have ordered has the ends sealed with a wax sealer when I receive it. I believe this is to prevent checking and cracking? My question is after you start working with the wood, say turning squares into rounds, do you reseal the wood? I have heard that using a sealer is very important on many woods like burls and snakewood and such. If anyone can help inform me as to what type of sealer they use and on what types of wood it will save me some headaches and some wasted materials.

Thanks in advance,

Dakota

dakota, several years back I stoped using nelsonite. I use a very high solids sanding sealer now. It soaks in better than nelsonite.
I tested it like this,

I used a maple handle cut it two times at 4" long, the first one I diped it in nelsonite [with some oil-based stain in the nelsonite] and let it sit for 5 minutes. I diped the other 4" with a high grade sanding sealer with the same kind of stain, also for 5 minutes. I then cut both pieces in half, [cross ways], and took a look see. The sanding sealer penetrated deeper than the nelsonite.
It also was dryer than the nelsonite. For me, I think sanding sealer is best.
Parafine is what I use to seal my woods. When I use snakewood for a front or butt seleve, including points, I turn cut it, and go straight to the 2 part epoxy and coat it. No more checking.For finishing, just sand down the epoxy, and coat right away.
blud

 

[Cue Crazy]

Thank you for your kind words.
I nelsonite everything, Just because the wood is dense, doesn't mean it won't warp. Amboyna and Thuya, have to be cored, I would never use Snakewood as a forearm, coring it is the Devil child. I use it for points and 4 inch sleeved sections only. It's just to prone to cracking. Sanding sealer for every stage after nelsonite. I hope this helps.

Hey Mike, Just wondering, I think we use the same brand, but wondering if the product of theirs that you use is different from Mine. Do you seal with the same stuff after the final taper? I'm not real fond of the slight amber effect I get from the sanding sealer I make, or epoxy, so curious if I'm using the wrong product. Mine is the clear, but seems like they have another clear type, so I'm not sure If I'm using the same one. feel free to pm or email If you would rather do that.

Thanks buddy, Greg

 

[Michael Webb]

dakota, several years back I stoped using nelsonite. I use a very high solids sanding sealer now. It soaks in better than nelsonite.
I tested it like this,

I used a maple handle cut it two times at 4" long, the first one I diped it in nelsonite [with some oil-based stain in the nelsonite] and let it sit for 5 minutes. I diped the other 4" with a high grade sanding sealer with the same kind of stain, also for 5 minutes. I then cut both pieces in half, [cross ways], and took a look see. The sanding sealer penetrated deeper than the nelsonite.
It also was dryer than the nelsonite. For me, I think sanding sealer is best.
Parafine is what I use to seal my woods. When I use snakewood for a front or butt seleve, including points, I turn cut it, and go straight to the 2 part epoxy and coat it. No more checking.For finishing, just sand down the epoxy, and coat right away.
blud

Checking can also result from different finishes and the way they bond or don't bond.

 

[Michael Webb]

Hey Mike, Just wondering, I think we use the same brand, but wondering if the product of theirs that you use is different from Mine. Do you seal with the same stuff after the final taper? I'm not real fond of the slight amber effect I get from the sanding sealer I make, or epoxy, so curious if I'm using the wrong product. Mine is the clear, but seems like they have another clear type, so I'm not sure If I'm using the same one. feel free to pm or email If you would rather do that.

Thanks buddy, Greg

I use a different sealer after the final cut before preperation for spraying. I have told a couple of people what I do and they cringed and said to much work because they would rather use super glue, so respectfully I just keep it to myself.

 

[JoeyInCali]

I use a different sealer after the final cut before preperation for spraying. I have told a couple of people what I do and they cringed and said to much work because they would rather use super glue, so respectfully I just keep it to myself.

Super glue turns yellow.
More power to them.

 

[Cue Crazy]

I use a different sealer after the final cut before preperation for spraying. I have told a couple of people what I do and they cringed and said to much work because they would rather use super glue, so respectfully I just keep it to myself.

Sounds ruff well, I've just started going straight on with urethane. Anything wrong with that? atleast the color is good, but makes you apprietiate a good sealer.

 

[dakota]

dakota, several years back I stoped using nelsonite. I use a very high solids sanding sealer now. It soaks in better than nelsonite.
I tested it like this,

I used a maple handle cut it two times at 4" long, the first one I diped it in nelsonite [with some oil-based stain in the nelsonite] and let it sit for 5 minutes. I diped the other 4" with a high grade sanding sealer with the same kind of stain, also for 5 minutes. I then cut both pieces in half, [cross ways], and took a look see. The sanding sealer penetrated deeper than the nelsonite.
It also was dryer than the nelsonite. For me, I think sanding sealer is best.
Parafine is what I use to seal my woods. When I use snakewood for a front or butt seleve, including points, I turn cut it, and go straight to the 2 part epoxy and coat it. No more checking.For finishing, just sand down the epoxy, and coat right away.
blud

Blud,

Thank you for sharing your technique and sharing your experience with nelsonite versus sanding sealer. You mentioned that you use a very high solids sanding sealer currently and I was wondering if you might PM me with more information. I understand if you don't want to share a brand or a source in public, but if you are willing to share the information on what sealer you are using, please just shoot me a PM. Thanks again for all the feedback, everyone on this forum is really helpful and very kind to someone who is just getting started.

Thanks,

Dakota

 

[Jon]

Blud,

Thank you for sharing your technique and sharing your experience with nelsonite versus sanding sealer. You mentioned that you use a very high solids sanding sealer currently and I was wondering if you might PM me with more information. I understand if you don't want to share a brand or a source in public, but if you are willing to share the information on what sealer you are using, please just shoot me a PM. Thanks again for all the feedback, everyone on this forum is really helpful and very kind to someone who is just getting started.

Thanks,

Dakota

Yes, i would like to know as well.
As long as it doesn't smell like Nelsonite .