How to Straighten a Cue Shaft

A damaged pool cue can make it virtually impossible to compete. Pool cues can suffer from nicks and dents in the cue shaft or from warped wood that causes the entire length of the shaft to twist out of shape. Thankfully, both of these problems can be remedied without professional help.

Things You'll Need

  • Iron
  • Soft cloth
  • Fine-grit sandpaper
  • Metal twine
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Instructions

  1. Nicks and Dents

    • 1

      Dampen a soft cloth by dipping it into a container of water for around five seconds.

    • 2

      Wring out the cloth once it has been removed from the container. The cloth should be damp, not dripping wet.

    • 3

      Position the base of the cue on the ground and look down the length of the shaft from the top. Rotate the cue until you see where the cue is dented.

    • 4

      Drape the damp cloth over the dented area of the cue. Fill an iron with water and turn it on. Wait a few minutes until the iron heats up.

    • 5

      Run the iron over the cloth for around 10 seconds. The steam from the iron should enter the wood shaft, causing it to expand and reduce the appearance of nicks.

    • 6

      Rub the cue with a clean, dry cloth once the the nicks have been reduced. There may be heat marks caused by the pressure of the iron on the cue; remove them by rubbing gently them with a fine-grit sandpaper.

    Warping

    • 7

      Position your cue tip side-up so it stands flat against the wall. Rotate the cue slowly until you a gap emerges between the cue and the wall. This is the apex of the warping damage in the cue.

    • 8

      Mark the warped cue area with a carpenter's pencil. Turn the cue back towards the wall so that the area where you made the pencil mark is facing the wall.

    • 9

      Move a solid object, such as a cabinet or a wooden board, so it rests against the pool cue and traps it against the wall. Don't push the object too hard. Just move it close enough to keep the cue in position or you risk breaking the cue completely.

    • 10

      Remove the cue from it's position the following day. Leaving it in a secure, upright position overnight should have cured some of the warping.

    • 11

      Take a length of metal twine and wrap it around the entire length of the cue. Leave a slack of around 20 inches at the top of the shaft so it can be hung up.

    • 12

      Harness the metal wire to a pipe or metal fixture so it's suspended approximately 30 inches above the ground with the base end nearest to the floor. Secure the metal wire by tying a knot or wrapping it around the fixture several times.

    • 13

      Leave the cue for around four days to allow the weight to pull the warping out of the cue. Suspending the cue without obstruction should help it back into shape as warping can often caused by leaning a cue against a wall for prolonged periods. If after several days there is no improvement, you may need to invest in a new cue or take in to a professional to repair.