What to ask cuemaker if I want a real shiny, glossy, lustrous finish?

Paul_#_

Paul_#_

Well-known member
Astle custom cues.jpg

Some photos from production cues do not show much of a glossy, lustrous finish. I am thinking of Schmelke, Jacoby, and others.

Photos from some custom cuemakers, though, do.

If I wanted to be sure that the cue came back looking with the shine of the cue from the shiniest custom cuemaker, what would I ask the cuemaker to do?

As an example, here are cues from Astle Custom Cues with very nice finish.
 
If you are talking about product photos, they often use filters to reduce glare (pool cues are difficult to photograph) Usually the finish is much shinier irl than in the photo's
Mr. Astle makes an excellent product, finishing included, so it's a great deep gloss finish you see in the photos and I'm pretty sure those photos are taken in indirect sunlight, not inside with artificial light. That's my preferred way to take pictures as well, gives the most natural colours.
Cue makers use different finishes and seeing that finishing is something that most cuemakers find's frustrating, you are kinda stuck with the finish the cuemaker is comfortable using. I know for a fact that Mr. Astle use a buffer to shine up the clear after wet sanding and that does give a deeper gloss that a regular 3 stage automotive polish system that many cuemakers use.
 
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Kim Bye said:
If you are talking about product photos, they often use filters to reduce glare (pool cues are difficult to photograph) Usually the finish is much shinier irl than in the photo's
Mr. Astle makes an excellent product, finihing included, so it's a great deep gloss finish you see in the photos and I'm pretty sure those photos are taken in indirect sunlight, not inside with artificial light. That's my preferred way to take pictures as well, gives the most natural colours.
Cue makers use different finishes and seeing that finishing is something that most cuemakers find's frustrating, you are kinda stuck with the finish the cuemaker is comfortable using. I know for a fact that Mr. Astle use a buffer to shine up the clear after wet sanding and that does give a deeper gloss that a regular 3 stage automotive polish system that many cuemakers use.
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100% agree cues are probably the hardest thing to photograph. Just the size of the cue, lighting. It's not my favorite thing to photograph.

The only good way i've taken somewhat decent photos is on a pool table above with a wide angle lens zooming in.
 
You would want Shelby Williams to finish the cue then, he has the deepest, shiniest finish I've seen recently. The finish has incredible depth, not sure what his process is, but he certainly has it nailed down.
 
One of the cues you mentioned is Jacoby. You probably think that because of some photos you saw. I can assure you that their finish is glossy and deep looking. I have 2 Jacobys and the finish is superb. Many by me shoot Jacobys near me as they are somewhat local, and just a great cue if you can find a design you like. This picture is from one I picked up late last fall and while the picture may not show it, it is very glossy.
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I've also seen pictures of JoeyinCali's, a member on here's cues, and his finish is superb. I would love to have one of his cues, but I'm trying to buy another boat at this time and something has to give and I already have a lot of cues, ha ha.
 
muskyed said:
I've also seen pictures of JoeyinCali's, a member on here's cues, and his finish is superb. I would love to have one of his cues, but I'm trying to buy another boat at this time and something has to give and I already have a lot of cues, ha ha.
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Joey does an automotive grade clear and it's extremely durable! Top notch stuff.
 
I've always thought Webb, and Carmeli had two of the nicest finishes in the business.
👍
 
Whamo cues uses urethane it's extremely durable and looks like it's 8 miles deep, Maybe , he will chime in here Dickie neighbors used the auto finish then used a buffer to make it look like glass
 
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