Project Q
What is Project Q?
30+ years of experiments, research and development.
A range of unique wood care/treatment products made specifically for cue maintenance/finishing.
100% natural, hand made in my workshop using the finest, purest, and most expensive ingredients.
Without doubt, the best cue treatment products on the market.
Note – Project Q products are also suitable for use on any other wood items where a natural oil finish is required. Q-Lac has even more uses, firstly as a brilliant tip sealer with an instant burnished shine, but also puts a super shine on other materials e.g. leather/plastics
1) Q-Gel
Finishing, Maintenance & Cleaning
What is it?
A unique, oil rich formula, blended to a gel for ease of use and outstanding performance.
Made with my original Liquid Gold Cue Oil, this feeds the wood and builds a natural finish that preserves and protects.
Also very effective as a cleaner to remove dirt build up or sticky residue in preparation for final finishing.
Extremely easy to apply – Leaves a super smooth finish
MW Q-Gel – A game changer that knocks it out of the park for ease of use and quality of finish.
Benefits
- Unique secret formula
- Feeds and protects the cue
- Builds a natural shine over time
- Very easy to use
- Organic 100% natural ingredients
Applications
- MW Q-Gel – For general maintenance and finishing
- Not just for cues, can be used on any wood anywhere
- Use as a maintenance for previously oil finished cues
- Use as a finish for new cues, or over bare wood if you have sanded all the old finish off your cue
- Will last a long time if used solely for maintenance, but will also provide enough to treat several new build or completely refinished cues
- Do Not use on lacquered or varnished cues because it cannot soak into the wood and work properly
Instructions:
- Wear gloves, or at least avoid skin contact. It will get sticky so it’s best to keep it off your skin or clean immediately with suitable solvent based spirit or specialist cleaners. Do not use water!
- Apply generously with a clean cloth – Rub well into the grain
- Leave for one hour – Wipe off all the excess with a clean cloth or paper towel
- Leave to dry – Preferably 24 hours, but can be used straight away if you’re in a rush
- Buff with a clean cloth
- Continue buffing regularly during play to keep the cue clean and help develop a natural shine
Note
- You cannot harm a cue by using too much Q-Gel
- Repeat as often as you want as the wood will only take what it needs
Important
- Do Not leave any excess Q-Gel on the cue as it may be difficult to remove later
- Better to build the finish slowly over time using thin coats that have been allowed to dry/cure thoroughly
Although not essential, I recommend using ultra fine 0000 grade steel wool to rub your cue after it is fully dry. This ‘secret’ step will make the cue feel super smooth in your hands and help develop the shine quicker. You can also re-apply Q-Gel straight after this if the wood feels ‘dry’ or unsealed in any areas.
Initially, the cue may not be as shiny as you want, but after a few weeks/months of regular buffing with a cue towel or other soft cloth, the oil finish will mature, harden, and develop a deep and natural shine.
Alternatively, if you want an instant shine, you can apply MW Q-Lac.
2) Q-Oil
Original MW Liquid Gold Oil!
What is it?
The ultimate traditional wood finish made with 100% pure and natural organic oils
If you want to reproduce an authentic aged look with a deep and natural shine, then this is the product you need. But it takes time and you must follow instructions carefully.
Let’s be clear about something – you can use many oils/waxes/potions on your cue, and if you’re happy with the result then that’s fine.
However, this unique oil is my own secret recipe which I recommend above all others due to the fact I know the quality of ingredients that goes into it and the long term results.
It will last a long time if used solely as a maintenance oil, but will also provide enough to treat 2-3 new build, or completely stripped and refinished cues.
Don’t ask what’s in it because I won’t tell you…
MW Q-Oil – Liquid Gold! The original and best cue oil on the market.
Benefits
- Unique ‘secret’ formula
- Feeds and protects the cue
- Builds natural shine
- Easy to use
Applications
- MW Q-Oil – For a traditional oil finish
- Use as a maintenance for previously oil finished cues
- Use as a finish for new cues, or over bare wood if you have sanded all the old finish off your cue
- Do not use on lacquered or varnished cues. It is a waste of time because it cannot soak into the wood and work properly
Instructions
- Wear gloves, or at least avoid skin contact. It will get sticky so it’s best to keep it off your skin or clean it off immediately with suitable solvent based spirit or specialist cleaners. Do not use water!
- Apply liberally over the whole cue, shaft and butt, rubbing well into the grain
- Use plenty of oil and make sure the wood is saturated all over
- Leave for one hour to soak into the cue then wipe off all the excess oil with a soft cloth or paper towel
- IMPORTANT – Do not leave any excess oil on the cue or it may be very difficult to remove later
- Leave to dry for 24hr
- Buff with a clean soft cloth. If the cue feels slightly ‘gritty’, rub it with ultra fine 0000 grade steel wool to remove any bits of dust stuck to the surface
- Repeat the process. 2-3 oil treatments will probably be enough, but do it until dry spots stop appearing after the oil has sat on the cue for an hour. At this point the wood has probably taken all it needs, but feel free to apply further coats, it will not hurt.
- Although not essential, I recommend using ultra fine 0000 grade steel wool to rub your cue after it is fully finished and fully dry. This ‘secret’ step will make the cue feel super smooth in your hands and help develop the shine quicker.
- If you would like to enhance the grain of an Ash cue, you can apply Q-Age as per the instructions above.
- I recommend a final coat of Q-Gel which will further help seal and protect the wood.
- Continue buffing regularly during play to keep it clean and maximise the shine
Note
- You cannot harm a cue by over-oiling.
- Repeat as often as you want as the wood will only take what it needs.
Important
Please do not forget to remove any excess oil as it may dry on the cue surface and leave a sticky hard mess that is difficult to remove. Better to build the finish slowly over time using thin coats.
Initially, the cue may not be as shiny as you want, but after a few weeks/months of regular buffing with a cue towel or other soft cloth, the oil finish will mature, harden, and develop a deep and natural shine.
Alternatively, if you want an instant shine, you can apply MW Q-Lac.
Q-Oil vs Q-Gel
Q-Oil is the ultimate all natural wood finish, variations have been used by craftsmen for centuries. But it takes a long time to mature and dry fully, so you must be patient and play the waiting game.
Q-Gel was developed as a quicker and easier option. It contain the same oil but is easier to apply and seals quicker making it easier for general use and non-experts. It is also a very effective cleaner, so is excellent for every day maintenance purposes, cleaning and replenishing the wood as it goes.
Both will give a great finish and experienced woodworkers or keen hobbyists may prefer to use the original Q-Oil for the most traditional of final finishes, whilst the ease of use of Q-Gel may be preferred by the general public or those in a hurry.
As a guide, I’d suggest soaking new wood with oil and allowing to dry for a few days and then topping up with Q-Gel. For general cleaning and maintenance Q-Gel is ideal.
3) Q-Lac
High Gloss Final Finish
What is it?
A secret recipe of all natural resins that will produce an instant deep shine on any cue or wood surface that has been prepared correctly.
Developed as an additional final step in finishing, specifically for cue butts to enhance the appearance but also great for the shaft to seal and further improve the smooth feel.
Used sparingly, this will produce a high gloss shine in just few seconds.
MW Q-Lac – Instant ‘UltraShine’ made easy
And that’s not all it does:
Tip Sealer
Brilliant for cue tips! Use on the side of your cue tip to create a seal against moisture and an instant ‘burnished’ shine. Takes seconds, fantastic product for this purpose.
Other Uses
Works just as well on any wood item e.g. furniture, tables, or even other materials like leather/plastics. Works on anything to create an organic and natural seal and shine.
MW Q-Lac – An outstanding product with many uses.
Benefits
- Instant high gloss shine
- Unique secret formula
- Simple application
- Super quick results
- Organic 100% natural ingredients
Applications
- MW Q-Lac – For high gloss finish on cue butts or any wood/leather/plastic item
- Brilliant for cue tips! – Seals against moisture and gives instant burnished shine.
- Also for shafts but only use a tiny bit at a time or it may feel sticky. Used correctly, it will be very smooth.
- Note – Wood must be fully sanded and finished before applying Q-lac
Instructions
- Wear gloves, or at least avoid skin contact. It will get sticky so it’s best to keep it off your skin or clean immediately with suitable solvent based spirit or specialist cleaners. Do not use water!
- Wrap a small piece of clean cloth around your finger and lightly touch/rub the top of the Q-Lac so there is just a little bit of ‘soft/wet’ Q-Lac on the cloth.
- Rub evenly and smoothly on a small area of the wood, up and down, turning the cue as you go, until you feel the cloth start to drag slightly.
- Move quickly, do not linger in one area, and make sure you rub it out over the entire area you are working on so that you do not leave any excess Q-Lac in the form of ridges or clumps at the top of your strokes because it will be very hard to remove later.
- Repeat this until you have covered the whole area you want to shine.
- If you continue past the stage of the cloth dragging, you will see a shine to start to develop. That is fine, in fact you can keep rubbing until the shine fully develops, but it is easier to stop when the cloth starts to drag and use a new clean cloth, as in the final step below, to bring out the shine and fully remove any excess Q-Lac on the surface.
- Buff with a new clean cloth until the cue feels super smooth and there is an even shine all over.
Important
- Do Not load up the cloth with Q-Lac, it will make the cue sticky and you will struggle to remove it.
- The secret to achieving a high gloss shine is to work in small areas and only use a very small amount of Q-Lac on the cloth.
If the cue feels slightly sticky, leave it for a few minutes and buff again. If it still feels a bit sticky then you have probably applied too much and it must be fully removed before you try again. This time, use less and really rub it in.
If you can’t get the wood to shine then you are either applying too much, or there may be some residue of other finish that is affecting it, or maybe the wood has not been sanded well enough. Which means it must be sanded right back through the grades so that the surface is as smooth and clean as possible and then finished again before applying Q-Lac. See HOW TO > Finish
Note
- Q-Lac starts to dry out when in contact with air so keep the lid tightly closed when not in use to prevent the surface drying out too much.
- When the surface is firm, you will only need to touch/rub it very lightly to soften it, but if you rub too much it will start to become liquid. However, that is okay too because it works whether it is wet or dry. Just leave it open until it dries out a bit and ‘hardens’ enough so it won’t pour out if it gets knocked over. Or just put the lid on and put it away safely.
- Also, even when the surface appears hard or very dried out, once you start rubbing it with your finger, it will likely soften up enough to still be good to use.
- So, try to keep it from drying out too much, because it’s just easier/better that way. But it will work great, whether it is very wet or dry. Unless it is completely bone dry of course, at which point you should probably buy some more because it really is a rather fantastic product…
Q-Lac: Hard Or Soft?
Q-Gel and Q-Age are relatively idiot proof but Q-Lac is a product that needs to be used correctly. Always use a very small amount…
Also, it’s quite delicate in as much as when it gets made, the ingredients are boiled up together and poured into their tins to cool/dry. As it cools it shrinks down so the tins are always a little below the top.
This leaves a firm(ish) ‘paste’ like substance. If you rub a cloth wrapped finger lightly across the top, you will get a very thin smear on the cloth and the Q-Lac will stay relatively firm(ish).
But, if you dig your finger right in, stir it up with anything, shake it, or drop the tin, it will revert to a more liquid state. This explains why it may arrive less solid than when it was packed because they get thrown around in the postal system. Hence, they should be opened upright, and carefully, or some spillage may occur.
In time it would harden up again but it makes no odds because this ‘wet’ state is absolutely fine and works exactly the same whether it is original paste or liquified. In fact, when ‘wetter’ it may be a little easier to dip your cloth wrapped finger in and get just a little on the cloth rather than trying to smear across the surface of the original firm(ish) paste to get the desired ‘little bit’ loaded on the cloth.
The point is, it works whichever state it is in. It just helps if you understand what, and why, it is what it is.
4) Q-Age
Ash Grain Enhancer (AGE)
What is it?
A special mix of organic ingredients, blended to create a firm paste for simple application, that will immediately enhance and highlight the arrows and grain lines of any Ash shaft.
Suitable for all Ash cues with open grain that are pale in appearance, or have lost some dark grain colour in places due to wear or bad treatment, or you simply want to make the arrows stand out more.
Applied in seconds, it will produce a mature and naturally aged appearance.
Other Uses
Also works well on Ebony to enhance the darkness of the colour. Only works on bare or lightly oiled wood though, will not affect lacquered or heavily sealed Ebony. Note – It is not a stain, it has oil and pigment that will slightly darken any wood, not make it go completely black.
MW Q-Age – Highlights Ash Grain & Enhances Ebony/Dark Woods
Benefits
- Unique secret formula
- Seals and darkens Ash grain
- Quick and easy results
- Organic 100% natural ingredients
Applications
- MW Q-Age – For Ash shafts or any open grain wood where you want to highlight/darken the grain.
- Also enhances the depth of colour in Ebony and other dark woods.
- Can be used on new and old cues
- It is not intended to be a grain filler that blocks the grain completely, moreover an extra process that brings out the grain pattern of the wood
Instructions
1) Wear gloves, or at least avoid skin contact. It will get sticky so it’s best to keep it off your skin or clean immediately with suitable solvent based spirit or specialist cleaners. Do not use water!
2) Apply generously, working well into every section of grain over the entire length of the shaft.
3) Wipe off excess and buff with a clean cloth or paper towel until there is no residue left on the surface.
4) Finish with an application of MW Q-Gel. This will remove any last bits of surface residue and enhance the overall depth of colour leaving a warm and natural mature/antique appearance.
Although not essential, I recommend using ultra fine 0000 grade steel wool to rub your cue after any application of MW Q-Gel, once it is fully dry. This ‘secret’ step will make the cue feel smoother in your hands and help develop a natural sheen/shine quicker. You can also re-apply Q-Gel straight after this if the wood feels ‘dry’ or unsealed in any areas.
Initially, the cue may not be as shiny as you want, but after a few weeks of regular buffing with a cue towel or other soft cloth, the oil finish will mature, harden, and develop a natural shine.
Alternatively, if you want an instant shine you can apply MW Q-Lac.
Important
- Do Not leave any excess Q-Age on the cue as it will stain your hands or clothing
- Do Not use on Maple or any light wood with open grain – It will get in the pores, make it look dirty, and you will not be able to remove it completely
- Q-Age will not work on shafts or any wood that has been lacquered or the grain is already filled with other sealers
Note
- Some areas may not take on the colour well, due to very shallow depth of grain or possibly blocked areas of grain. You may be able to achieve a better result by applying small amounts to the specific individual areas only. Make sure you get some colour into whatever grain is available and then wipe off excess lightly so that you do not inadvertently ‘drag’ it out. Leave to dry for 24 hours and buff with a clean cloth.
- For new wood, it is recommended that you apply Q-Gel or Q-Oil first. This will bring out the natural colour, seal the wood, and generally just make it easier/better.
