What's a good cue cleaner you use?
- Thread starter dom_poppa
- Start date
Ever since this wonderful product came out,I totally quit using so-called shaft cleaners,even the ones that worked.
The best thing ever in the opinions of a LOT of people is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
It's best used while the shaft is spinning in a lathe,but it's damn effective used by hand as well.
All it takes is a little warm water,alcohol,or even a common household cleaner like 409,Orange Magic,Simple Green,etc.
I find denatured alcohol to be the best as far as not raising the grain too much at all,but if the proper small amount is used,plain warm water or any of the liquid cleaners won't raise the grain enough that it can't be sanded smooth with 400 at the worst,and 600 if done right. Tommy D.
The best thing ever in the opinions of a LOT of people is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
It's best used while the shaft is spinning in a lathe,but it's damn effective used by hand as well.
All it takes is a little warm water,alcohol,or even a common household cleaner like 409,Orange Magic,Simple Green,etc.
I find denatured alcohol to be the best as far as not raising the grain too much at all,but if the proper small amount is used,plain warm water or any of the liquid cleaners won't raise the grain enough that it can't be sanded smooth with 400 at the worst,and 600 if done right. Tommy D.
You can use the magic eraser dry too, I have been doing so for a few years now. Just make sure you have a nice little piece of leather to burnish with afterwards. The Magic Eraser will leave little fibers or something when you are done using it. The leather will get rid of it and make you shaft slick.
As stated, Magic Eraser is the best. It comes in a sheet about 3x5x1/2". I cut mine into strips about 1/2" wide and carry a strip in my cue case. After each playing session, just quickly clean the shaft. Only takes seconds and your cue looks new next time you play. It's also great for keeping that ferrule nice and clean. Burnish the shaft with leather every now and then to keep it really slick.
This is how I do it. Works great.
Rubbing alcohol on a paper towel. It cleans the chalk dust from the pores of the wood but also evaporates almost instantly. It cleans the ferrule nicely too. Because it evaporates so fast it has little effect on the wood. Burnish with a dry paper towel when you are through and then I use worn 600 grit paper to make the shaft super smooth.
I dress teh shaft prior to ever playing it with 10 coats of carnuba wax, allowing each layer to dry.
From here on in, I can simply wipe the shaft with 99% isopropyl alcohol and the grime comes right off but the wood grain is not raised. about once a year another coat of carnuba goes on.
From here on in, I can simply wipe the shaft with 99% isopropyl alcohol and the grime comes right off but the wood grain is not raised. about once a year another coat of carnuba goes on.
Disagree.
Magic Eraser is simply the best solution for the home user. Slightly dampened with denatured alcohol for me.
The Magic Eraser isn't an abrasive. The "grit" people are talking about is the Magic Eraser fibers falling apart. It's the microfibers that get into the crevices of the wood.
Freddie
shaft cleaning
Close to how i do it
dish soap and wet cloth then alcohol green brilo cleaning pad or 600grit paper . any time somting wet gets on the wood it raises the grain.
lightly smooth the shaft
then 50% shelac clear or amber if you like a gold tone 50% alcohol 3 or 4 coats to reseal the shaft dries in seconds, then 600 grit lightly , burnish and carnuba wax.
I have a lathe that helps a ton but if you just wax once a month ......
the shaft is easy to clean. but it is important to reseal the shaft.
helps kepts the chalk out of the grain and protects the wood .
Carnuba wax from the auto parts store pro yellow car wax or bowling alley floor wax .
MMike
Close to how i do it
dish soap and wet cloth then alcohol green brilo cleaning pad or 600grit paper . any time somting wet gets on the wood it raises the grain.
lightly smooth the shaft
then 50% shelac clear or amber if you like a gold tone 50% alcohol 3 or 4 coats to reseal the shaft dries in seconds, then 600 grit lightly , burnish and carnuba wax.
I have a lathe that helps a ton but if you just wax once a month ......
the shaft is easy to clean. but it is important to reseal the shaft.
helps kepts the chalk out of the grain and protects the wood .
Carnuba wax from the auto parts store pro yellow car wax or bowling alley floor wax .
MMike
A very slightly damp cloth to wipe the shaft down after it used. One single piece of 2000 grit paper to polish the shaft, and a piece of card board with no writing on It to burnish the shaft after polishing,
I think Magic Eraser is comparable to 2000 grit, as I used the 4000 and 8000 shaft paper to polish afterwards.
Periodically, (like once a year or so) I take my shafts to a cue maker and have them re-conditions. It costs about $10 a shaft. There is a commercial about a doctor using a jack hammer and a construction worker trying to find the right medicine to cure him
Just some ideas
Steven
Just some ideas
Steven
What has been mentioned in every shaft cleaning thread, Magic Eraser is number one. Whether you use it with alcohol, water or ammonia.
Now, consider Sil Klean, Atlas cleaner or any other cream shaft cleaners. Both have pumice or a bit of grit in them.
Very small bottle.
Hey, anyone hear of Vim cleaner. Same stuff. Buy a small bottle at the dollar store. Works just as good and will last you a lot longer.
Cue Silk. Very small bottle and very expensive for what you get. Smell it. Can you smell the perfume?
Go to the pharmacy and look in the ladies hair care section. Any hair care product for the frizzies and contain a chemical, dimethicone (sp).
It will list the ingredients on the bottle.
The Cue Silk is a quick fix at the hall. A few drops on your shaft, rub it in and burnish with a paper towel and you're good to go. Doesn't last long but like I said, quick fix. Find a small bottle that contained eye drops and fill it up.
Another thing that I keep in my case is a few packets of alcohol swabs.
You can get a box at the pharmacy for cheap.
Use a couple to smooth your shaft and get the blue off your ferrule.
The best thing you can do for your shaft is to get it clean once. Give it a good wax job with what ever your choice in wax is.
Keep the shaft clean after every use. Give your shaft a weekly coat of wax. Once its clean, its easy to not let it get dirty again.
Anyone who uses sand paper or green pot scrubbers on their shafts will eventually see why they are not recommended on a regular basis.
A lathe is a beautiful tool but you don't have to have one to do regular shaft maintenance.
Now, consider Sil Klean, Atlas cleaner or any other cream shaft cleaners. Both have pumice or a bit of grit in them.
Very small bottle.
Hey, anyone hear of Vim cleaner. Same stuff. Buy a small bottle at the dollar store. Works just as good and will last you a lot longer.
Cue Silk. Very small bottle and very expensive for what you get. Smell it. Can you smell the perfume?
Go to the pharmacy and look in the ladies hair care section. Any hair care product for the frizzies and contain a chemical, dimethicone (sp).
It will list the ingredients on the bottle.
The Cue Silk is a quick fix at the hall. A few drops on your shaft, rub it in and burnish with a paper towel and you're good to go. Doesn't last long but like I said, quick fix. Find a small bottle that contained eye drops and fill it up.
Another thing that I keep in my case is a few packets of alcohol swabs.
You can get a box at the pharmacy for cheap.
Use a couple to smooth your shaft and get the blue off your ferrule.
The best thing you can do for your shaft is to get it clean once. Give it a good wax job with what ever your choice in wax is.
Keep the shaft clean after every use. Give your shaft a weekly coat of wax. Once its clean, its easy to not let it get dirty again.
Anyone who uses sand paper or green pot scrubbers on their shafts will eventually see why they are not recommended on a regular basis.
A lathe is a beautiful tool but you don't have to have one to do regular shaft maintenance.
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What's the difference - denatured alcohol, regular rubbing alcohol?
The caranuba wax, as I have looked at that stuff some have additives or contain different chemicals, do those matter at all?
The caranuba wax, as I have looked at that stuff some have additives or contain different chemicals, do those matter at all?
Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol with enough methyl alcohol in it to make it undrinkable (go blind, die, that sort of thing).
Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol typically at 70% Iso with 30% water.
Carnuba wax--get a can of auto wax that says "pure carnuba wax" on the can (Mother's for the reading challenged).