Well said. Especially with a cue that may be a collectors item.
While I agree that the Ask the Cuemaker forum is the correct place to post this thread...
Your cue may have more intrinsic value for it's playability than for it's collectibility....Helmstetters do not typically rate high as a collectible cue unless it's one of the early handmade by Richard Helmstetter cues.
Also, I would encourage you to post pics of the affected area you would wish to be repaired. This will help those who may have input to give you more true and correct information.
If I were you, I would contact Craig Rittel of Fullsplice Billiards located in Lakewood, WA. (Tacoma-area) His moniker here is manwon. He is a bit of an expert on these older Helmstetter cues, and coould likely give you more info on the cue itself. Additionally, he also does some wonderful work giving 'face-lifts' to these older cues...he may even have some OEM materials on hand.
That's for the repair stuff.....now on to lengthening the cue itself. I would heavily caution against this, as that cue will never play the way you are used to it playing now. The balance point WILL be different....and not necessarily better. If you are looking for a longer length cue to try out on the 'cheap', I would definitely have to recommend you to Paul Allers out of Oak Harbor, WA. 60" cues are his forte, and he does them very, very well. A sneaky with fancy rings will run you roughly about $225..something a bit plainer might be a little less. Even tho' he is more of a regional cue maker, don't let that deter you, as everyone who has gotten one has been extremely happy with it...several here on AZ.
I have an old Helmstetter 86-06 BEM/BEM wrapless full splice cue that I was gonna give a 'face-lift' to, until I played with it! Anything I would have had done to this cue would have changed the way it plays, so I have opted to just leave it alone...which would likely be my recommendation to you...save for the repair on the butt.
Lisa
