Why do I do this to myself?

[weegee3]

Don't answer; I know I need a shrink.
I made a cue. It came our nice. That was 1 year ago.
I look at it yesterday and I notice the cyno finish has cracked a lot.
So I put it on the lathe and try to work it out. Whatever that mean.
Now I have a mess on my hands and think I have to get all the cyno off and refinish it from scratch. I'm sand and I use a scraper and and I'm cursing and I'm starting to cry. What a mess.
I finally put it aside, open a beer and now I'm feeling better.
Well enough to ask smarter people than me about refinishing a cue.
Specifically, how to get the old stuff off in a reasonable amount of time and sweat.
I've watched Chris Hightower do scrape off a finish on his on his video and he makes it look easy; well not easy but reasonable in the amount of work expended.
Any tips or is it just a crap job that requires patience and lots of time on your hands to work it out?

 

[JerseyBill]

refinish

Don't answer; I know I need a shrink.
I made a cue. It came our nice. That was 1 year ago.
I look at it yesterday and I notice the cyno finish has cracked a lot.
So I put it on the lathe and try to work it out. Whatever that mean.
Now I have a mess on my hands and think I have to get all the cyno off and refinish it from scratch. I'm sand and I use a scraper and and I'm cursing and I'm starting to cry. What a mess.
I finally put it aside, open a beer and now I'm feeling better.
Well enough to ask smarter people than me about refinishing a cue.
Specifically, how to get the old stuff off in a reasonable amount of time and sweat.
I've watched Chris Hightower do scrape off a finish on his on his video and he makes it look easy; well not easy but reasonable in the amount of work expended.
Any tips or is it just a crap job that requires patience and lots of time on your hands to work it out?

Take it easy, the process is slow for the smartest of people. I've ruined 20 cues in the begining. Keep hanging in there, it will come and the self gratification will have been all worth it. I can't help you with the finish. I'm afraid of using cyno, but someone here will help, Just relax, have another beer, and wait until you're sober before you turn on the lathe.
good luck, Bill

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Joe B is the guy to go to for Cyno.
He will probably see this in time and give you a hand.

League night tonight so will have a beer or two for you as well.

One thing is for sure. Don't start thinking you are the Lone Ranger. Many before you and many afterward will do the same.

No biggy in the grand scheme of things and you will be a better finisher for it in the long run.

See, I can talk real big because its not my finish. Hahaha. I have messed up maybe one or two myself. Me don't want to start counting anyway.
Doesn't come out right and go down to bare bones again, and again. And that was the same cue.
And truthfully, I don't believe that I still know 100% what I am doing.

 

[cuejo]

I use a 3" carbide scraper to remove the old finish.
Takes a little bit for sure, but that's the easiest part

 

[Mcues]

Finishing

I use one of those utility knife blades..as in wallboard knife. I like the lathe turning about 1500 rpm. You hold the blade at an 45 degree angle to the cue and make light passes in one direction only. After most or all is off then you can start sanding with 320, 400, 600. I suggest using some type of epoxy as base coat( west system 107 clear hardner) many others you can use. I apply it with a sponge brush and I leave it turning on the lathe at about 200 rpm for 10 to 20 minutes depending on what else I need the lathe for. You can hang the cue somewhere until the next morning.

Next day some more sanding starting with 400,600, and if it looks smooth and level you can prepare for the cyno( and if it still not level ) you have to give it another coat of epoxy.

I start with the medieum cyno and apply two coats while the cue is turning at 400 to 450 rpm. you have to wait and let it set before applying the next coat. After that I go to the thin cyno and do about 5 coats and spray the accelerator then 5 more coats.

The whole procedure gets repeated the next day and I start sanding from 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, # 7 car polishing compound, 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material, Meguiars #7
polish then wax.

Usually I end up with 25 to thirty coats of cyno.

Anyway this should be enough to get you busy and in trouble

Mario

 

[JBCustomCues]

Joe B is the guy to go to for Cyno.
He will probably see this in time and give you a hand.

Well I don't kont who this Joe B. is but my first name just happens to be Joe with a last name that starts with B so I guess I'll take a shot at one. The easiest way to remove the cyno is to use a razor blade up on its end scraping while running about 250-300 rpms. This is one of those things that you have to have a feel for so take your time and just be careful not to gouge the wood. It takes me about 15 to 20 min. to get a cue striped and ready to reclear but I've been doing it this way for a long time. Good luck.

 

[Joe Barringer]

Well I don't kont who this Joe B. is but my first name just happens to be Joe with a last name that starts with B so I guess I'll take a shot at one. The easiest way to remove the cyno is to use a razor blade up on its end scraping while running about 250-300 rpms. This is one of those things that you have to have a feel for so take your time and just be careful not to gouge the wood. It takes me about 15 to 20 min. to get a cue striped and ready to reclear but I've been doing it this way for a long time. Good luck.

Thank you Joe B. I hear great things about you.

Scraping it off with a razor blade is certainly one method and it works well. I prefer sanding as it's safer (no dangerous sharp tools) and I don't have to worry about gouging the wood, which will happen.

It's best to spin the cue and hit it with 220 grit until you're close to the wood and then 400. It takes time, use whole sheets of paper and go evenly up and down the cue moving the paper in and out as you go up and down. Blow out the paper occasionally to clear it and start over. It's a quick process but you need good sanding paper like a Klingspor or similar. And, don't stay in one place as you're sanding. You want to maintain the pitch or taper of the cue. Take your time and pay attention to what you're doing. If done properly you should see the wood evenly up and down the entire cue. Good luck!

Hope this helps. Oh and it's best to do it before you have a beer but make sure you have some being chilled because if you do it properly, you'll need to reward yourself. :grin:

I want to wish all of you a fantastic day!

 

[whammo57]

Scraping a cue scares the hell out of me. I know some guys do it and are very good at it.

I just use sand paper. 220 no load paper and sand the hell out of it evenly.

If the finish is thick or very hard, you'll work up a sweat.

Kim

 

[JoeyInCali]

Scraping a cue scares the hell out of me. I know some guys do it and are very good at it.

I just use sand paper. 220 no load paper and sand the hell out of it evenly.

If the finish is thick or very hard, you'll work up a sweat.

Kim

Try sanding uv finish.
You'll eventually grab a utility blade.

 

[Joe Barringer]

Scraping a cue scares the hell out of me. I know some guys do it and are very good at it.

I just use sand paper. 220 no load paper and sand the hell out of it evenly.

If the finish is thick or very hard, you'll work up a sweat.

Kim

Good to see that you agree since we all know we're discussing a cyano finish.

 

[BHQ]

Scraping a cue scares the hell out of me. I know some guys do it and are very good at it.

I just use sand paper. 220 no load paper and sand the hell out of it evenly.

If the finish is thick or very hard, you'll work up a sweat.

Kim

i took 2 back to barewood
put back in lathe & cut the ca finish off with router
it's fun, assuming one can get the cue back at the same place,
if offsetting tailstock to taper, as i do

 

[Joe Barringer]

i took 2 back to barewood
put back in lathe & cut the ca finish off with router
it's fun, assuming one can get the cue back at the same place,
if offsetting tailstock to taper, as i do

Brent,

In most cases this is too advanced for this forum but yes that's a good way of doing it assuming you don't go overboard. I would venture to say that I would not be surprised see a thread appear: How do you build up a cue....

 

[weegee3]

Finally got there

Thanks for all the input. Finally got it back to bare wood and now I get the chance to do it all again.
Ya' know, I look up to all you guys out there who do this thing so well.
When I grow up, I hope to do the quality of work that approached your stuff.
But then again, I'm 76 and that will tell you how screwed up I am.
Only joshing, I am pleased to be a part of this community.
And a special hello to my man, Joe Barringer. Have all his videos and run through them every so often. Remember Joe, whenever you are up in New England, you have a standing invitation for a lunch and a beer (or two) on my dime.
Thanks all.
Herb aka Weegee

 

[BHQ]

Brent,

In most cases this is too advanced for this forum but yes that's a good way of doing it assuming you don't go overboard. I would venture to say that I would not be surprised see a thread appear: How do you build up a cue....

yeah, go in a couple thou too far and kaploooey
brenster> has experienced kaploooeys before,
but not about going overboard , knock on wood

 

[Joe Barringer]

HERB!!! I didn't know that was you. How the hell are you, you old geeezer! I'll wait for you to come down here as it's just too damn cold up there. :grin:

Hey Brentster.....

"kaploooey" - is that in the dickinary?

 

[BHQ]

HERB!!! I didn't know that was you. How the hell are you, you old geeezer! I'll wait for you to come down here as it's just too damn cold up there. :grin:

Hey Brentster.....

"kaploooey" - is that in the dickinary?

i mispelled it, forgot the h
gotta have the F sound, kaphloooey
remember batman