wrap groove

J

josie

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was wondering if there are any tricks you guys have to get the irish linen to mach perfectly with the finish on a cue. I am using an epoxy finish and wait until after the finish is on to cut my wrap groove but it doesn't come out as flush as I see some other cues. I have tried cutting my groove anywhere from .020" to .050". I use a oak board press and delrin rollers but just can't get it as nice as I would like.

Thanks for the help.
 
josie said:
I was wondering if there are any tricks you guys have to get the irish linen to mach perfectly with the finish on a cue. I am using an epoxy finish and wait until after the finish is on to cut my wrap groove but it doesn't come out as flush as I see some other cues. I have tried cutting my groove anywhere from .020" to .050". I use a oak board press and delrin rollers but just can't get it as nice as I would like.

Thanks for the help.
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Why do you cut the wrap groove AFTER you apply your finish?...JER
 
I do it after the finish so I can get it exactly to .050". I just can't the irish linen to meet up flush. I am sure it is just a flaw in my technique. I don't know if .050" is the correct size cut.
 
Isn't most linen about .020-.024?
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yes but you have to double the depth b/c you have it on both sides.


.050" should be good,maybe a couple thousandths to deep,but OK.is your linen to high or too low?
 
I should be more clear. I cut the groove about .010" before the finish. After the finish is applied and sanded I cut the groove down to .025". What I meant by .050" is the difference in size of the cue at the finish and at the start of the wrap groove.

Sometimes it is too low and sometimes too high. Part of it is, like most cumakers I am a bit of a pefectionist.

I guess what I was looking for was tips to get it perfectly flush. I don't like to use the linen presses too close to the finish because I have damaged some finishes that way.
 
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Linen varies alittle in thickness. I usually just eyeball It as I'm cutting the end grooves by sticking the linen accross the groove pulling It somewhat tight, until I have the amount of linen that I want sticking over the top of wrap groove. Some linens press easier then others, and You don't want to have to use too much pressure near or on the finish, so the amount I leave over the top can vary depending on which roll I'm working with at the time, and how easily it presses for me.
I don't have a roller press, just one I made from 2 pieces of oak, so I have to be carefull on the ends, but you almost have to get on the finish to get them really even, and on a soft finish that can do some damage quickly. Harder finishes seem to hold up much better, but You still have to be really carefull.

Greg
 
Flush linen

Early on, I use to push the first and last few strands of linen tight up against the edge of the wrap groove to make sure I didn't have a gap at the edge of the groove. However, I would often end up with the linen higher than the finish no matter how much I pressed it.

Now, I only push the last strand up to the edge. On the next four or five strands on each end, I try to leave just a "tiny" amount of space between the linen strands (not a big gap...just not jammed up tightly together against the edge of the wrap groove). This gives the linen room to "flatten out" as I press it. It allows me to "flush" the linen to the surface of the cue based on the amount of pressure I apply when I press it.

Just my $.02
 
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