Cory Barnhart Roasted Maple Shafts (RMS), aka Kielwood.

This past Monday I checked on the status of my KW shafts underway since they were supposed to be completed in July.

The following day I was told the first shaft is just about ready to ship and the other shaft will follow quickly. But
……..there is always a butt with pool cues and also when things don’t go as planned….but……the shaft turned out much lighter than anticipated and than what I requested. And it really wasn’t close so understandably my order was cancelled.

Very deflating experience since there was so much confidence initially expressed from the cue builder this could be done. So I started to contact other builders that had been previously, or currently, suggested as cue makers that likely can build what I want. Surprisingly, the initial response was you must core the shaft and might still to add weight at the collar. Well, I’m opposed to doing either and want a Kielwood shaft with just a short ferrule, tip and flat faced wood joint.

A couple of builders told me it wouldn’t work and the shaft will turn out much lighter than I want which happens to be 4 oz. min., 29” and 12.75mm. Since I am not a cue builder, I didn’t debate that or challenge why since I’m just looking to have a couple of shafts built. However, it made little sense to me why that was so and so I kept searching for someone.

Well, it only took 24 hrs. and I’ve ordered 2 KW shafts sans any weight being added. The cue maker has already made KW shafts heavier than what I want built and the shafts are all wood without any coring or weight being added. So even though it’s initially back to square one, this time the pieces on the board are moving fast. Despite being check mated on my prior KW shafts order, this time it looks so much more promising. This turned out to more difficult to get done than I expected.

What band saw for an aspiring cue maker?

I'd also like one capable of doing splices at some point.

It's nice to have a table larger than a 14" saw for that.
Plus, 16" seems to be a baseline where manufacturers decide the purchaser is a serious user, and make them a little heavier and a little "nicer" in terms of ease of use, alignments, etc.

If you can get one of the Euro saws in 20" or larger, there are a lot of strengths & refinements.

Here's an acquaintance talking about his herd of bandsaws from tiny, to large. Not sure what all might be relevant to your interests, but it's informative from odd angles. Just FF through the slow parts.


I've got a 30" American i use every day, including occasionally for FS 4 & 6 point cues, as well as a project 36" Tannewitz like the one Ken is working on in the video.

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Paper Veneers

As a visitor to the Ask the Cuemaker, I am surprised that something as cheap as construction paper is used to enhance expensive and difficult butterfly splices. I just presumed there was nothing approaching a decal/overlay cheapness near a butterfly splice. It appears that cheap can be good.
There is a difference between cheap and inexpensive.

Interesting Karl Mayer Cue

Very cool Mayer. 👍

I have seen a Mayer 2 pointer before, maybe only once or twice. He made a wide variety of styles of cues, with certain fairly .

He did use some nice point blanks with veneers, and he also made his own, as well as house cue conversions.

I have one of his 4 point with veneers, his points. I also have one with no points.

Definitely interesting to see this one.

His "higher end" cue with good points and veneers can me a good bit more valuable, but still not break the bank.

The simpler cues

Is there something under the wrap? Maybe a weight that is popping?
Yes, a weight under the wrap.

Looking for Feedback on the Meucci Kielwood Pro Shaft

There are two construction approaches that are dramatically different for building a KW shaft.

One approach is an all wood shaft just like shafts have been made ad infinitem but the shaft
is kiln roasted which involves torrefication. The other approach also uses kiln roasting but the
front portion of the shaft has been cored (hollowed out) and replaced with a synthetic material
lighter than the cored wood.This approach results in less defection than an all wood KW shaft
exhibits which is still a lot less defection than a typical wood shaft produces. You have to pick.

Paper Veneers

Cheap?

I will let the cuemakers respond but I think that is a mischarachterization.

From what I understand paper veneers are not "cheap". It is simply a material/ method to achieve a goal. It has limitations and complications like any other material/ method.

The paper is not expensive, per se, but the process is time consuming and takes a decent amount of additional adhesive (whatever your preferred type). Then, as I said, this can happen (apologies for the blurry photo, but I'm guessing you'll get the gist):

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Question for instructors out there.

In my experience I have seen a few go up 100 points in a year and each had a similar path. Both had implemented deliberate practice routines daily that was dedicated only to there weakness areas with progressive drills. They recorded progress, constantly logged weakness in pattern play and missed shots. They both were extremely dedicated to documenting themselves even at tournaments and recording there matches to review later any weak shots or areas of improvements. They both also had regular competition against better players in rated tournaments and 1v1. Most with other priorities like jobs and family do not have the desire to have a regular routine to improve over 365 days. The two guys in our area that did this made a lot of sacrifices to move up just over 100 points and they always pushed the boundary of there skills...

Paper Veneers

As a visitor to the Ask the Cuemaker, I am surprised that something as cheap as construction paper is used to enhance expensive and difficult butterfly splices. I just presumed there was nothing approaching a decal/overlay cheapness near a butterfly splice. It appears that cheap can be good.
Cheap?

I will let the cuemakers respond but I think that is a mischarachterization.

From what I understand paper veneers are not "cheap". It is simply a material/ method to achieve a goal. It has limitations and complications like any other material/ method.

To Core or not to Core

I happen to disagree with most pool pundits and cue makers I’ve spoken with about building a couple of KW shafts.

It’s taken longer than I initially imagined to locate a cue builder to tackle a heavier version KW shaft that needs to be
uncored and sans any weight inserts. A flat faced wood big pin KW shaft is what I want and I finally met a couple of
cue makers that have been successful at building 4+ oz. KW shafts. I just ordered a couple of KW shafts this week.

I already had a Barnhart KW shaft that absolutely made me into a big fan of KW as quick as TAOM did with V10 chalk.

Interesting Karl Mayer Cue

Very cool Mayer. 👍

I have seen a Mayer 2 pointer before, maybe only once or twice. He made a wide variety of styles of cues, with certain fairly .

He did use some nice point blanks with veneers, and he also made his own, as well as house cue conversions.

I have one of his 4 point with veneers, his points. I also have one with no points.

Definitely interesting to see this one.

His "higher end" cue with good points and veneers can me a good bit more valuable, but still not break the bank.

The simpler cues

Is there something under the wrap? Maybe a weight that is popping?

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