When I was cleaning my play cue's shaft today, I discovered something wrong with the ferrule:
Does it look like cracked or just scratched? Thanks.
Does it look like cracked or just scratched? Thanks.
Cracked Ferrule?
- Thread starter OnePercent
- Start date
Always hard to tell from a picture but I would say scratch.
Most of the time (certainly not always) a ferrule will start to crack from
the tip down and not as in this case from the wood up. Scratches do not
grow, so if it gets bigger you will know for sure.
gr. Dave
Most of the time (certainly not always) a ferrule will start to crack from
the tip down and not as in this case from the wood up. Scratches do not
grow, so if it gets bigger you will know for sure.
gr. Dave
Here is a larger resolution of the photo:
I just discovered it today and haven't tried to hit with this shaft yet. It's a Predator's 314-2.
In that case, time will tell. I might use my spare shaft instead for now.
How does the crack affect the shaft in a game?
I just discovered it today and haven't tried to hit with this shaft yet. It's a Predator's 314-2.
In that case, time will tell. I might use my spare shaft instead for now.
How does the crack affect the shaft in a game?
At this point don't worry about it. It'll crack when it cracks. 
Yeah, it's a crack. Personally, I'd have someone replace it sooner than later if you have local access to someone good.
Hopefully you have a spare shaft handy. Might be a good opportunity to make notes of how reg shaft plays vs. your Predator while you wait for the repair.
Hopefully you have a spare shaft handy. Might be a good opportunity to make notes of how reg shaft plays vs. your Predator while you wait for the repair.
Cashplayer
Banned
If you haven't had it too long or it's a 314-2 series, contact Predator directly. They may well replace it for you with a new one.
To replace the ferrile it's very tricky with the low deflection shafts. Often involves inserting a wood tenon which will kill the low deflection properties.
If you can't get a exchange from Predator I would just play with it until it gets loose. They really isn't a great way to replace the ferrule and their ferrule is special anyway. It would never play the same.
To replace the ferrile it's very tricky with the low deflection shafts. Often involves inserting a wood tenon which will kill the low deflection properties.
If you can't get a exchange from Predator I would just play with it until it gets loose. They really isn't a great way to replace the ferrule and their ferrule is special anyway. It would never play the same.
Ron Swanson
Banned
A predator 314-2 cracking? What are the odds? 
I would wait if i were you. Just as likely to be a scratch imo and you'll have quite a long time before it becomes a problem. Nothing to be gained by doing it now.
I would wait if i were you. Just as likely to be a scratch imo and you'll have quite a long time before it becomes a problem. Nothing to be gained by doing it now.
Go ferruleless... one less thing... I just have to worry about my shaft splitting...
Spending too much time looking at the ferrule. You will give it complex. So much that it will crack. Some habits will make one go blind.
I would say a crack unfortunately. Unless it starts clicking on you, play with it.
But with my OCD, that crack would freak me. Hahaha.
Altho I am obviously not a Pred repairman, unless the tenon is badly damaged, you can put a new ferrule on it.
I am not 100% sure on the fix in that case. Seems to me that a regular tenon could be installed, and then drilled out to make it hollow like the original, that was part of the shaft.
Either way, I am sure that a repairman that has done them before can replace a tenon if needed and make it pretty dern close to original.
The tenons have a fairly thin wall on them.
But with my OCD, that crack would freak me. Hahaha.
Altho I am obviously not a Pred repairman, unless the tenon is badly damaged, you can put a new ferrule on it.
I am not 100% sure on the fix in that case. Seems to me that a regular tenon could be installed, and then drilled out to make it hollow like the original, that was part of the shaft.
Either way, I am sure that a repairman that has done them before can replace a tenon if needed and make it pretty dern close to original.
The tenons have a fairly thin wall on them.
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It's cracked. No big deal to replace it, worry about it when it starts making noise. It's not going to hurt anything right now but don't break with it. You could weep some crazy glue into it if you want to prolong its lifespan. Up to you.
I also thought I had a Predator 314-2 with cracked ferrule. I sent this picture to them. I got an e-mail in response saying that I had to send the shaft to them so they can determine if they want to replace it as a warrantied repair.
I took the shaft to SBE and met with the folks the Predator booth. They were very nice and agreed to have Joe Blackburn look at the ferrule. Joe sanded the ferrule lightly and the line disappeared. He said he has seen this before and that their ferrules scratch easily. Since I had hardly played with the shaft, a scratch doesn't entirely make sense to me. But I am still pleased at Predator's willingness to look at my shaft and show it was not cracked all the way through. Whatever happened was just on the surface.
I took the shaft to SBE and met with the folks the Predator booth. They were very nice and agreed to have Joe Blackburn look at the ferrule. Joe sanded the ferrule lightly and the line disappeared. He said he has seen this before and that their ferrules scratch easily. Since I had hardly played with the shaft, a scratch doesn't entirely make sense to me. But I am still pleased at Predator's willingness to look at my shaft and show it was not cracked all the way through. Whatever happened was just on the surface.
