I think there are three "radial" pin setups. The Uni-Loc brand Radial Pin. It has two different taps available, from the Uni-Loc company. One is a very tight fit. The other is snug, but looser.
Then there are the knock-off radial pins, which are probably more popular these days, as they are much cheaper. These in my experience from the past 2-3 years have all been super loose. Almost as loose as a 5/16-14 thread into a brass shaft insert.
I did basic cue repair for about 10 years, stopping in 2009 when I moved to another state. I had both of the radial taps from Uni-Loc, and also 3/8-10 taps from Atlas. I never actually made shafts, but was learning at the time to do the joints so I could make a full shaft one day (never did). The 3/8-10 did not tap near as cleanly as the Radial. The 3/8-10 threads were more torn. The Radial was very smooth. From that standpoint, I liked the Radial better.
Today, a lot of the cue makers are thread milling the shaft threads. You can see that in the Dzuricky pictures. In that case, the 3/8-10 will be much smoother than the Radial. I don't believe anyone has made a thread milling tool for Radial.
I actually don't like the newer knock-offs I had due to how loose they were. IDK if that's just the couple I had, or they are all like that.
I suspect the Uni-Loc Radial brand are an odd-ball pitch that can only be made on a CNC lathe, to keep people from copying. And the knock-off has the closest pitch that can be cut with the lathe's change gears. In order to make the knock-off work with the original, it is a bit smaller, so that it will still fit an original Uni-Loc Radial shaft, even with the pitch difference. I think that's why the knock-offs are loose (at least the one's I've owned). I have not measured this, its just my gut feeling.
I have had McDermott's 3/8-10 strip on me when I played that brand 25 years ago. Although most of the newer cues use a phenolic insert for the big threads, instead of threading directly into the maple. So this may no longer be an issue.
I personally still prefer 5/16-14 best for its longevity, and ease of screwing together.
All that to say at the end of the day, I doubt it makes any difference.
Then there are the knock-off radial pins, which are probably more popular these days, as they are much cheaper. These in my experience from the past 2-3 years have all been super loose. Almost as loose as a 5/16-14 thread into a brass shaft insert.
I did basic cue repair for about 10 years, stopping in 2009 when I moved to another state. I had both of the radial taps from Uni-Loc, and also 3/8-10 taps from Atlas. I never actually made shafts, but was learning at the time to do the joints so I could make a full shaft one day (never did). The 3/8-10 did not tap near as cleanly as the Radial. The 3/8-10 threads were more torn. The Radial was very smooth. From that standpoint, I liked the Radial better.
Today, a lot of the cue makers are thread milling the shaft threads. You can see that in the Dzuricky pictures. In that case, the 3/8-10 will be much smoother than the Radial. I don't believe anyone has made a thread milling tool for Radial.
I actually don't like the newer knock-offs I had due to how loose they were. IDK if that's just the couple I had, or they are all like that.
I suspect the Uni-Loc Radial brand are an odd-ball pitch that can only be made on a CNC lathe, to keep people from copying. And the knock-off has the closest pitch that can be cut with the lathe's change gears. In order to make the knock-off work with the original, it is a bit smaller, so that it will still fit an original Uni-Loc Radial shaft, even with the pitch difference. I think that's why the knock-offs are loose (at least the one's I've owned). I have not measured this, its just my gut feeling.
I have had McDermott's 3/8-10 strip on me when I played that brand 25 years ago. Although most of the newer cues use a phenolic insert for the big threads, instead of threading directly into the maple. So this may no longer be an issue.
I personally still prefer 5/16-14 best for its longevity, and ease of screwing together.
All that to say at the end of the day, I doubt it makes any difference.
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