Ivory ferrules and deflection

ace911

ace911

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It's my basic understanding that ivory ferrules deflect more, but create more action. Is this correct?

Some people have told me that ivory ferrules should not deflect more. I spoke to different cuemakers that said they could either make a shorter 3/4in ferrule or leave it upcapped to minimize deflection.

What do you guys think?
 
Last edited:
well ivory in one of the heavier ferrule materials so yes the more weight the more deflection. i dont know that more action would be the word. i think deff more feel. reducing size means reducing weight. my current player is 3/4 uncapped ivory ferrule. plays very very solid with excellent feel and little deflection. hope this helps
 
I'm not going to bring science into this, just my experience. I play nothing but ivory ferrules. I do everything with em. Break, jump, play........... I have yet to break or crack an ivory ferrule. The good thing about having a lathe is that I can put a new one on, so I fire away with confidence.

I played the standard ferrules or whatever came on the shaft before I started tinkering with cue making. I didn't know the difference, and actually didn't really care for ivory.

When I first tried it, it was unfamiliar and produced inconsistent results. I experimented with different tips to adjust to the ivory, but the ivory seemed to just deflect more. As more time passed, I tried other shafts with ivory ferrules, and then went back to the fiber ferrules, and after playing ivory ferrules for a while, I noticed a difference. The fiber ferrules provided a dead hit. The ivory provides a much more lively and pingy impact thus resonating more. Now, the ivory may deflect more in comparison to the fiber, but I can't tell you how much. All I can tell you is it ain't a lot. The way your brain becomes accustomed to things over time, it is much more worth it to play ivory ferrules than anything else. That's just me though. I still have a couple shafts with a mason micarta and I think those are nice too.

As far as 3/4 ferrule I've played that too, and it does deflect less but I personally like a ferrule that is a normal 1" I don't mind whatever deflection there is because I play just fine with what I use, which is a radial pin dufferin conversion. I personally think all that LD BS is a bunch of BS. To minimize deflection is one thing, but to depend on it is totally wrong. I believe in hard work spent on the table will enable you to use any shaft with any ferrule or tip with no problem at all.
 
I don't know the slightest thing about deflection but I really like the way the Ivory ferrules stay so clean. I absolutely hate a dirty ferrule. If I could find a ferrule that stays as clean as Ivory I would consider switching to that material.

Kevin
 
I hate using ivory ferrules. They add nothing to to the cue, IMO. They sure look pretty, though.
 
Kevin Lindstrom said:
I don't know the slightest thing about deflection but I really like the way the Ivory ferrules stay so clean. I absolutely hate a dirty ferrule. If I could find a ferrule that stays as clean as Ivory I would consider switching to that material.

Kevin
Click to expand...

My apologies I am not a cuemaker and didn't mean to hijack the thread with my comments.

Kevin
 
So what are the pro/cons of ivory, why use it if they deflect more. why do so many cue makers perfer ivory? Just because you have better feel or have more spin on the ball?
 
ace911 said:
It's my basic understanding that ivory ferrules deflect more, but create more action. Is this correct?

Some people have told me that ivory ferrules should not deflect more. I spoke to different cuemakers that said they could either make a shorter 3/4in ferrule or leave it upcapped to minimize deflection.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I use Ivory Ferrules on all my playing cues, I love the feedback / hit and the fact that Ivory stays clean better than any other material I have used.

As far as deflection is concerned I have found that 1/2 to 3/4 Ivory Ferrules will cut normal deflection using Ivory ferrules in half as long as they are not capped. Capped Ivory Ferrules have a much higher deflection than non-capped, I have found this to be true by trying both, I suspect that the major difference is a reduced weight in the end mass.

JIMO
 
I like feel and easy to clean. Nothing beats ivory feel wise. Im like craig 3/4 uncapped. Which is funny bc i was strongly against uncapped ivory in the beginning
 
As a player (well ball banger) only thing I like about ivory is how it looks and stays clean. I played with ivory ferrules for a long time, and once your used to it doesn't really effect anything. I broke with mine, but always had those little pads between the tip and ferrule. Never cracked one, but have seen cracked ones, usually on cues with very thin tips.

I personally like lbm, though its getting harder to get and doesn't stay real clean in my experience.
 
Are there any considerations for wall thickness on the uncapped version. Do you thread it onto a thinner tenon to keep it thicker, etc? Any strength concerns w/ no cap?
Would SK be breaking with a 1/2 to 3/4 uncapped ivory ferrule? And I'm talking long rack breaking here, not 8-9-10 ball.
SK - DO YOU power break w/ a capped ivory ferrule?
 
Thanks guys, Interesting, I'm learning a bit...

I like the look of a 1in ferrule, 3/4in is alright I guess, 1/2in would look a little funny to me.


What do you think about the fiber pads, are they necessary for ivory ferrules?
 
I agree, on my playing cue I love uncapped ivory ferrules--even better with 5/16 tenon. I also like LBM ferrules, prefer uncapped there too.

Martin


manwon said:
I use Ivory Ferrules on all my playing cues, I love the feedback / hit and the fact that Ivory stays clean better than any other material I have used.

As far as deflection is concerned I have found that 1/2 to 3/4 Ivory Ferrules will cut normal deflection using Ivory ferrules in half as long as they are not capped. Capped Ivory Ferrules have a much higher deflection than non-capped, I have found this to be true by trying both, I suspect that the major difference is a reduced weight in the end mass.

JIMO
Click to expand...
 
ace911 said:
Thanks guys, Interesting, I'm learning a bit...

I like the look of a 1in ferrule, 3/4in is alright I guess, 1/2in would look a little funny to me.


What do you think about the fiber pads, are they necessary for ivory ferrules?
Click to expand...

I personally always use them, are they necessary I really don't know. In my opinion Ivory will chip very easily where it has been cut if not supported. Some may not agree and that is OK I am not looking for agreement only offering an opinion that I believe in.
 
When asking if Ivory deflects more or gives more action we need to know what the other ferrule referrence point is, in order to give a correct answer.
Does it deflect more than a regular melamine ferrule? Yes.
Does it deflect more than a brass ferrule? No.
Does it deflect more than a ABS or PVC ferrule? Yes.
Does it give more action than a Melamine ferrule? No.
Does it give more action than a brass ferrule? Yes.
Does it give more action than a ABS or PVC ferrule? No.

Just my opinion.
 
cueman said:
When asking if Ivory deflects more or gives more action we need to know what the other ferrule referrence point is, in order to give a correct answer.
Does it deflect more than a regular melamine ferrule? Yes.
Does it deflect more than a brass ferrule? No.
Does it deflect more than a ABS or PVC ferrule? Yes.
Does it give more action than a Melamine ferrule? No.
Does it give more action than a brass ferrule? Yes.
Does it give more action than a ABS or PVC ferrule? No.

Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Chris what is your opinion on Capped verse Non-capped for Ivory?
 
manwon said:
Chris what is your opinion on Capped verse Non-capped for Ivory?
Click to expand...
Although non-capped might give a little more cue ball action they have proven to be much weaker when it comes to cracking. So I don't think the trade off is worth it.
 
Last edited:
cueman said:
Although non-capped might give a little more cue ball action they have proven to be much weaker when it comes to cracking. So I don't think the trade off it worth it.
Click to expand...

How about with the addition of a Pad between the ferrule and the tip?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top