Old cue with new tip.

[cuejunky]

Hi all, I have a McDermott cue that I purchased many moons ago in 1980, while still learning to make my way through life and pool halls. I recently had the shaft re-tipped (the original lasted all these yrs) and spent $25 to have a Moori (sp?) tip put on. Man, what a difference, well worth the money, I have to get out of the way when I draw. However, the shaft has seen many a table (bars too, I have to confess) and has a few nicks in it. I now was wondering if there is a home repair method that I can do to fill the nicks? Any one have any input? Thanks.

[jkregan]

Your best bet is to find a good cuemaker or repair man in your area and spend a few bucks to have it repaired. The cost will be nominal and the results will be better than your first attempt at fixing it yourself.

Congratulations on getting a Moori put on for $25. Around here, it costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $40.

[cuejunky]

Thanks for the tip (no pun) jkregan, although I thought there may be some old pool playin codger that knew something. By the way, the tip was put on at Chris's Billiards in Chicago, on Milwaukee Ave., an old place that is still interested in the value of their customers rather than the value of making an extra buck off them.

[jkregan]

I am an old codger who knows how to do what you ask but it is not something you want to do on a good cue for the first time. I practiced on some house cues and cheapos before I first tried to take dings out of a good shaft, in my case a Predator Z-Shaft.

The dividing line between easy and hard dings to remove is the effect on the wood fibers. If they are just compressed from a small ding, then a Q-Tip dipped in warm water and then placed briefly on the ding should swell the wood enough to bring the surface back level and smooth. This may take several applications but don't let the wood get wet. Then, when the wood is all leveled, use very fine (no less than 1200 grit) sandpaper to smooth the shaft again.

If the wood is dented enough to break some of the fibers or it is a gouge, I still think a pro is a better bet.

[cuejunky]

Great, thanks you old codger, I'll try out the technique on my breaker house cue, which has a lot of spots to practice on and if I can master, then will try out on my McD. Thanks again.