Gluboosting pool cues!?

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RicklesssS

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Joined
Nov 19, 2018
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18
Location
Oregon
Noticed the Gluboost kit for sale in the latest Pennstate catalog, got me to thinking.
C.A. threads almost dominate the forum (not really, but there sure are a lot of them)
Whether it's problems, new techniques, or simple how to's. Lots of problems, ones!
But got to wondering how difficult it might be to do a pool cue!
I don't know the length of a section of pool cue, but it's certainly WHOLE bunch of pens.
It must be "kind of tricky to do", compared to a relatively short pen blank. (Cue = 3 or 4 pen blanks?)
Wiping the C.A. the entire length back and forth, dripping how many drops to cover the surface for each coat, etc etc!
I'm thinking it's probably not for beginners! I bet if you can get good at cues, a pen would be stupid simple!
PS I'm a newbie, doing "ok" with C.A. finish (Stickfast) but will be trying Gluboost soon.
Happy New Year all!
RicklesssS in Oregon
 
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jttheclockman

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Joined
Feb 22, 2005
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19,083
Location
NJ, USA.
I met a guy 4 years ago and seen him again the following year at the woodworking show that comes around every year. It use to stop in a town very close to me until 2 years ago it moved because of cost. Anyway this guy made pool cues and what struck me about his were he was using some designs just like we use in pen making and segmenting. He also cast some cues using braided copper and stainless steel sleeving. It jumped out at me because I do this stuff. In fact the next year I brought a copper braided pen I made and he bought it then. He liked the idea. Anyway we got talking and he said his best finish for his pool cues is the same finish they use on fishing rods which is an epoxy finish built up with layers. I mentioned to him that would be something that could be used with pens as well. I have not seen anyone done that type of finishing here. The problem or trick with that is you need a rotisserie to keep the pen or rod moving and the epoxy seeks its own level. His cues were extraordinary and his technique of using that finish is great. I have not tried it but it is something I may do just that. Now this maybe how other cue makers finish their cues I do not know but from what he said it is a slow process but well worth it. His cues were not cheap either. Just some thoughts for you and I say give it a try. Not sure what Gluboost is actually made of but maybe is an epoxy too. Or just another form of CA.
 

Woodchipper

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Joined
Mar 15, 2017
Messages
5,138
Location
Cleveland, TN
Built rods for 7 years. Keep in mind that the epoxy used for rod building is different than the off-the-shelf epoxy. It sets slowly- I used to turn the rods for up to 8-10 hours before taking it off the turner. Kept the cup and brush to monitor the setting. There is a working time when the epoxy will start to thicken, like any epoxy. Not exactly layers- I never used more than two layers on a rod at any place on- threads, decals. Blanks are not coated with epoxy. Bamboo rods are finished with marine varnish or a polyurethane.
Give it a shot and let us know how it works.
 

ramaroodle

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2018
Messages
686
Location
Seattle
I'm a big fan of Gluboost. Watching slow motion vids of pool brakes the cues seem to flex quite a bit so I'd worry about cracking long term. I think epoxy has more flex and sheer strength than CA which Gluboost basically is but worth a shot as an experiment. You'd probably have to use a whole tube per cue. Just my 2 cents worth.
 

budnder

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Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
527
Location
Chicago/Tucson
I met a guy 4 years ago and seen him again the following year at the woodworking show that comes around every year. It use to stop in a town very close to me until 2 years ago it moved because of cost. Anyway this guy made pool cues and what struck me about his were he was using some designs just like we use in pen making and segmenting. He also cast some cues using braided copper and stainless steel sleeving. It jumped out at me because I do this stuff. In fact the next year I brought a copper braided pen I made and he bought it then. He liked the idea. Anyway we got talking and he said his best finish for his pool cues is the same finish they use on fishing rods which is an epoxy finish built up with layers. I mentioned to him that would be something that could be used with pens as well. I have not seen anyone done that type of finishing here. The problem or trick with that is you need a rotisserie to keep the pen or rod moving and the epoxy seeks its own level. His cues were extraordinary and his technique of using that finish is great. I have not tried it but it is something I may do just that. Now this maybe how other cue makers finish their cues I do not know but from what he said it is a slow process but well worth it. His cues were not cheap either. Just some thoughts for you and I say give it a try. Not sure what Gluboost is actually made of but maybe is an epoxy too. Or just another form of CA.

I've been using some Solarez (UV cure) on small things recently (not entire pen bodies yet), and some of the info I picked up on it was from fishing lure and pool cue crowds.

@TonyL and others did a bunch of experiments with Solarez not too long ago. I recall it didn't quite work out to a keeper, but was promising.

Here's a video of someone putting it on a pool cue:

 
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