I broke my BK4 shaft

[hlymnstr14]

I scratched on the break. One of those that the cue ball pops back, then spins right in the side. I smack the shaft on the table which I've done dozens of times. I wasn't really that mad, just a little wrist snap down. I shouldn't have done it, 100% my fault. But, figured I'd take some pictures of what the inside of the shaft looks like. I was surprised it was hollow and several inches hollow as you can see how far down the pen goes down.

Just interesting, not complaining.

 

[straightline]

Low deflection glue should fix it. Put some blue foam in there while you're at it.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Does it get extra breaking power from the pen spring?

 

[dendweller]

I scratched on the break. One of those that the cue ball pops back, then spins right in the side. I smack the shaft on the table which I've done dozens of times. I wasn't really that mad, just a little wrist snap down. I shouldn't have done it, 100% my fault. But, figured I'd take some pictures of what the inside of the shaft looks like. I was surprised it was hollow and several inches hollow as you can see how far down the pen goes down.

Just interesting, not complaining.

Wow, I would of bet that they didn't core the break shafts. I played a young guy a few years ago, he broke pretty hard like young guys do. His break cue was a 314. He said he'd used it to break for a couple years.

I guess coring maple doesn't make it all that fragile.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

I am confused. Thought I knew but now not sure. Will someone please explain:

What it mean to "core" a cue? to core a shaft?

Are 314 shafts cored?

Thanks.

 

[SHORTY WRIGHT]

I have a 35 day old one for sale

 

[Double-Dave]

I am confused. Thought I knew but now not sure. Will someone please explain:

What it mean to "core" a cue? to core a shaft?

Are 314 shafts cored?

Thanks.

Generally speaking coring means drilling/boring a hole in the butt of a cue and then filling that hole with a different wood. Usually done for extra stability and/or weight and/or playability.

Shafts are sometimes cored in a similar fashion aswell.

Low deflection shafts often have a hole drilled in them which is sometimes left empty, sometimes filled with a foam type material, sometimes filled with a very light wood, sometimes with a carbon tube. Espescially when left empty or foam filled this is not considered coring.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

Generally speaking coring means drilling/boring a hole in the butt of a cue and then filling that hole with a different wood. Usually done for extra stability and/or weight and/or playability.

Shafts are sometimes cored in a similar fashion aswell.

Low deflection shafts often have a hole drilled in them which is sometimes left empty, sometimes filled with a foam type material, sometimes filled with a very light wood, sometimes with a carbon tube. Espescially when left empty or foam filled this is not considered coring.

Thanks. Is there a correct name for the drilled but left vacant/foam filled? I looked at Predator's material on the BK4 shaft and could not tell that there was a void in it. This does not seem like a good design for any cue, let alone a break cue. I am surprised that a lot more of them are not breaking.

I sure hope my 314s do not have voids.

 

[Double-Dave]

Thanks. Is there a correct name for the drilled but left vacant/foam filled? I looked at Predator's material on the BK4 shaft and could not tell that there was a void in it. This does not seem like a good design for any cue, let alone a break cue. I am surprised that a lot more of them are not breaking.

I sure hope my 314s do not have voids.

The technical term is "hole" ;-)

All 314's, Z`s, Vantages are hollow, that's the main reason for the minimum diameter warranty on them.

They do fail on occasion but then so do solid maple shafts, nothing much to worry about really. With the amount of Predator shafts out there how often do you see one broken in half that wasn't directly attributed to abuse/accidents. Not much at all.

 

[dendweller]

Espescially when left empty or foam filled this is not considered coring.

Maybe, but if you core an apple you remove it's center. Drilling is not very description of what you're doing either.

Maybe "hollow out".

 

[Cornerman]

I am confused. Thought I knew but now not sure. Will someone please explain:

What it mean to "core" a cue? to core a shaft?

Are 314 shafts cored?

Thanks.

Just like an apple. To core an apple is to take out the center. More correctly in this case would be the term “bore” or “blind drill.”

 

[Cornerman]

Maybe, but if you core an apple you remove it's center. Drilling is not very description of what you're doing either.

Maybe "hollow out".

Drilling is a correct term. If you were to make a design drawing, you would annotate it as (for example):

1/4” DRILL
6” DEEP

or similar for a blind hole of these dimensions. If it matters that you want a flat bottom, then that should be annotated as well since a drill will leave distinctive shape from the drill bit end.

 

[Cornerman]

I scratched on the break. One of those that the cue ball pops back, then spins right in the side. I smack the shaft on the table which I've done dozens of times. I wasn't really that mad, just a little wrist snap down. I shouldn't have done it, 100% my fault. But, figured I'd take some pictures of what the inside of the shaft looks like. I was surprised it was hollow and several inches hollow as you can see how far down the pen goes down.

Just interesting, not complaining.



View attachment 742659View attachment 742660View attachment 742661

I assume the pen assembly there to show how deep the blind hole is.

 

[Cornerman]

Generally speaking coring means drilling/boring a hole in the butt of a cue and then filling that hole with a different wood. Usually done for extra stability and/or weight and/or playability.

Shafts are sometimes cored in a similar fashion aswell.

Low deflection shafts often have a hole drilled in them which is sometimes left empty, sometimes filled with a foam type material, sometimes filled with a very light wood, sometimes with a carbon tube. Espescially when left empty or foam filled this is not considered coring.

I guess it wouldnt be called coring specific to cuemaking, but the term coring is perfectly acceptable as an engineering term to remove material in such a manner and leave it empty for whatever reason (weight reduction, even hear distribution, etc)

 

[Black-Balled]

I assume the pen assembly there to show how deep the blind hole is.

Id think the predator folks already know how deep the hole is and it is crazy to think the wouldn't need a pen sooner or later.

 

[garczar]

why hollow a break shaft??? you don't need or want ld for breaking.

 

[dendweller]

why hollow a break shaft??? you don't need or want ld for breaking.

I'd think that the less deflection you get, the more apt you are on a hard shot to hit the rack where you're trying to, so not scratch in the side and break your stick on the table.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

What we need is clarity. Let's see if I can add to the confusion. We have a single term -- "coring" -- used in two instances, both involving removal of material. The distinguishing elements are: replacing with wood vs. no replacing/replacing with foam. Ideally, the same term should not be used to describe both.

 

[Cornerman]

What we need is clarity. Let's see if I can add to the confusion. We have a single term -- "coring" -- used in two instances, both involving removal of material. The distinguishing elements are: replacing with wood vs. no replacing/replacing with foam. Ideally, the same term should not be used to describe both.

It happens all the time in other manufacturing industries. Coring is the act of removing material, historically in a cylindrical shape. In some casting and molding processes, coring isn’t necessarily cylindrical. Filling or plugging is the next process. So in traditional manufacturing, these are two separate processes (removal vs filling).

Should cuemakers be allowed to corner the market on terms that have already been used for hundreds of years?

 

[Biloxi Boy]

It happens all the time in other manufacturing industries. Coring is the act of removing material, historically in a cylindrical shape. In some casting and molding processes, coring isn’t necessarily cylindrical. Filling or plugging is the next process. So in traditional manufacturing, these are two separate processes (removal vs filling).

Should cuemakers be allowed to corner the market on terms that have already been used for hundreds of years?

No. But unfortunately many trades employ esoteric terms. (Some say to impart mystery to an otherwise simple art.) Another term to consider is "ring". For years I was happy in my ignorance until I removed the butt cap from my WHP, and, lo and behold, I discovered not a Hoppe Ring but a Hoppe Disc, "Oh no" quoth the cue makers when I published my observation. As long as I know what is being described, I am ok, but clarity in the first instance is preferable. Consider the missives of our absent Cowboy. (Sailors are perhaps the first and worst offenders.)