Preventive Tips On Cue Care by Randy Mobley
Most every one knows not to expose a guitar to heat or moisture. It could warp the top, bow the neck or crack the finish; basically ruin the playability. I think people often overlook the fact that a billiard cue is also an instrument and deserves the same care and handling as a fine violin or guitar.
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| Treat your cue like a fine instrument |
Basic cue care is really not too difficult, but most people seem to wind up learning the hard way, by unwittingly damaging their cue and having to replace it, or have it professionally repaired.
I care about cues, especially the ones that are special to their owners, whether for playability or sentiment. They deserve the utmost care.
In caring for your cue, one of the most important things is to keep it in a good protective case. A tube or box type is better than a zippered sleeve type. There are also rigid foam types that offer better thermal protection.
As with musical instruments, the cue must also be kept away from heat and moisture. These two factors may cause warpage and delamination of glue joints, which may lead to buzzes and rattles in the cue. Leaving a cue in a hot car is a cue killer, no matter the quality of the case. A cue shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight or stood at an angle for any length of time.
The most common repairs I get are tip and ferrule replacement, and removal of dings in the shaft. Using the cue to rake balls down table or leaning the cue against a sharp edged shelf are probably the two main causes of dings or pits in the shaft. Avoiding these practices will greatly increase the life of the shaft.
Sanding the shaft is very bad, as it removes wood thus changing the taper and playability. Remember, what comes off can’t be put back.
Tips should be trimmed and shaped professionally. I see a lot of ferrules with deep scratches from improper trimming or scuffing. Tip burnishing tools are also a no no. They are used for cosmetic reasons, and may damage the fibers in the tip. The turning motion may weaken the tip and ferrule glue bond.
Sanding the shaft is very bad, as it removes wood thus changing the taper and playability. Remember, what comes off can’t be put back. I recommend not using any sandpaper. A dollar bill or a crumpled piece of grocery bag work great for cleaning the shaft. Getting upset and stabbing the floor is the easiest way to break the butt cap. The extreme compression of the bumper may cause the butt cap to crack.
Finally, wipe down your cue and wipe the chalk off the tip before packing up. This will keep your cue clean and keep chalk dust out of your case.
I hope these tips are useful in helping you to enjoy your cue.
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One Response to “Preventive Tips On Cue Care by Randy Mobley”
Dumanjug, Cebu
- January 1st, 2010
I really love to play pool. thanks for sharing your tips to us beginners.
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