Ivory Ferrule Substitute

Motives

rhncue said:
I feel this thread was started in the same light. Mr. 84 never came in here posting any opinions that I would construe as looking to start an argument. He asked a question on cue construction, which is what this forum is supposedly for, and then he was asked questions that started all of this. It's true he may have had an arterial motive for asking the question just to have this discussion brought to bare, as I feel he already should have none the answer since being around cue construction since he was a baby but new products are always coming out and there could be something new available with those attributes so he certainly deserves the benefit of doubt for posting the question. I also feel he may have just asked it to fit in and not act like he knows everything. At any rate, he is entitled to his opinions and doesn't deserve this slamming over such a simple question. Now, of coarse, this is just my opinion.

Dick
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Well, I have been around this stuff since I was a baby, but all the cues I had built until fairly recently were to my dad's specs. I have recently started stepping out a bit with my cue building, altering the construction, utilizing new tapers, so on and so forth. No, I did not come on here looking to bring the discussion to bare, I definitely don't know everything, and I know I don't fit in. Maybe I can find my own little niche, or piece of the pie.

I am good at what I do (in my own opinion:smile:) and I'm looking to get better at it.

Thanks,

Hightower84
 
its simple

i like elk or whitetail antler much better that ivory. just buy the sheds, so no animals are killed, and the problem is solved.
i played with a josswest for about 20 years and it had ivory ferrules. i break with whatever cue i an using at the time and have cracked 4 ferrules in that time.
i switched to antler [ when i use a ferrule ] about 4-5 years ago and have never had a problem with the ferrules. its cheaper and i believe stronger than ivory. if you do a bit of searching you can find whitetail that is just as white as ivory and plays ever bit as good.

chuck starkey
 
Several mentions have been made of whitetail antler. Has anyone used antler from blacktail deer? I have blacktail all over the place and find sheds in the yard every year.

-Howard
 
junkbond said:
Several mentions have been made of whitetail antler. Has anyone used antler from blacktail deer? I have blacktail all over the place and find sheds in the yard every year.

-Howard
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I've never heard of black tail.
If you can send the tips, I'll pay for shipping.
 
Northern California has some - Pacific Northwest animal.

2096299379_feee8e0413.jpg


Smaller than a big mule deer ... about the same size as an average whitetail.

I don't know if there are any studies of differences in composition of antler material from various deer but I wouldn't think the differences would be that great - more dependent on local diet and mineral content available than sub species.
 
Not just Northern California. We have them on the central coast, also. Here's one just outside the house, about 25 feet from the pool table (ferrules on the hoof?).

deer12.jpg
 
hangemhigh said:
Hate to burst your bubble, but any substance you use will involve killing animals in one way or another. The people that work at the factory that produces the substitute have to be fed, and they are not vegetarians. So you might as well just stick with pre-ban Ivory.
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Tommy,
Hightower84 asked a very valid question and he's got a point, that I am kind of curious to see other people's opinion as well. Being a bit more respectful to people around here can tell a lot of how well educated you are or are not.
 
BENFICA said:
Tommy,
Hightower84 asked a very valid question and he's got a point, that I am kind of curious to see other people's opinion as well. Being a bit more respectful to people around here can tell a lot of how well educated you are or are not.
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LOL, that's Master Tommy to you, does that mean you don't want to build a web-site for me, sac fresh?
 
hangemhigh said:
LOL, that's Master Tommy to you, does that mean you don't want to build a web-site for me, sac fresh?
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Hey Tommy,
You just need need to give Hightower84 a bit of a break. He is still new around here :)
So Mr. Master Tommy, would be more than happy to build a website for you, as long as you have bem, cocobolo, blackwood or ebony cue for me ;). Just drop me a pm. I am sure we can work something out.
 
I see and hear both sides of the argument.

I am an omnivore (I eat meat AND veggies- even grains too!) and this has no bearing on my decision to use pre-ban Elephant Ivory for cue ferrules.

I feel/believe/whatever it is the best ferrule material available. Based on the quality of the hit, how it machines, how it takes a polish and how it sheds chalk build-up and resists chalk stains (and I am a very traditional guy). It is fantastic material, and testament to the fact that Mother Nature is a far better chemist than she gets credit for. Even better than Mammoth Ivory, which is not too bad as a second choice. I don't like any of the 'other' ferrule materials I have been exposed to, because they can sometimes meet one or more of the 'ivory-like' criteria, but never all of them. Admittedly, I have yet to try white tail deer antler (and if it IS harder/more durable than elephant ivory it probably will have a different feel to it when played), but I am happy with the performance of the Ivory I am using, and have no intention to change that.

That being said, I DO NOT use elephant ivory for decoration on a cue. It has no value as a decoration (to me) and I just don't see the point. It strikes me as more of a sales price driver than a pleasing material visually. I prefer to use white mother of pearl or other more visually interesting materials such as black lip pearl, abalone etc. If you want white in a cue, get some Holly!

Don't get me started on the 'white' maple either...
 
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