Are there any good ways to get my cue shaft clean?

Question

My shaft is pretty dirty and I was woundering if anyone uses a specific product that works well? Thanks!

Answer 1

I just sprinkle a little bit of powdered detergent like tide or comet on a damp rag and rub down the shaft vigorously. Before i do that i wrap a piece of scotch tape around the tip so it doesn't get wet. That could ruin it. After rubbing it down with the detergent i dry it off immediately. You don't want your shaft to stay wet for very long. Water and wood do not mix and it could cause warping. After drying it off i use a piece of scotchbrite on it. I finish it off by wrapping a dollar bill around it and rubbing it down really hard. The result is a clean smooth shaft, as good or better than new. Never use any sandpaper on your shaft, regardless of the grit. You will be taking off wood and changing the shape of your shaft. Don't waste your money on those cue cleaning products. They are usually just alcohol , detergent or wax with some different name. You most likely already have what you need to do the job right there in your house.

Answer 2

So far the things I've found work decent for me are using rubbing alcohal on a towel.  Its a good quick fix, cleans a lot of the chalk off the shaft and will make it smooth, but its mostly temporaty.  Also micro sanding paper, like Q-smooth works okay.  I'm looking forward to seeing other posts, good question.

Answer 3

Ordinary liquid dishwashing detergent and water should do the trick.  Just put a squirt in a bowl of water and use a wrung-out facecloth or dishcloth to wipe it off.  Then rinse out the cloth, put clean water in the bowl, and wipe the cue again to remove the detergent.  And it might be a good idea to wash your hands before you play pool to keep the cue cleaner longer.

Answer 4

Some harsh detergents can eat away at the wood, so be careful what you use. Steel wool can damage your shaft, do NOT use it.  Here's a method I've been using for awhile that a cuemaker I know showed me:

Buy a Mr Clean Magic Eraser. Cut it into strips about 1 inch wide (so you can get several uses out of it). Wet the Magic Eraser with the highest concentration of rubbing alcohol you can get your hands on. Don't use water because if it soaks into the shaft it can weaken the wood. Hold the Eraser with rubber dish washing gloves or paper towels so you don't get alcohol on your hands. Rub the shaft clean. After the shaft is clean, wipe it dry with a towel. When it is completely dry, burnish the shaft with a burnishing pad or very, very fine grade sandpaper (you just want to smooth it out, not remove much, if any, wood).

This method works better than anything I've ever tried, including every product out there designed specifically for cleaning pool cues.

Answer 5

A VERY FINE STEEL WOOL .

Answer 6

I use Tide as well on a damp cloth then after scrubbing, I wipe with a wet cloth and dry immediately.  I don't use a dollar bill but a piece of brown paper bag - it has normal oil for your shaft to keep it slick.  I always keep some cut pieces of those lunch bags in my case.  You will see the difference.

Answer 7

Use very fine grit sand paper