Kielwood is basically maple that is put through a process of Torrefaction. This controlled heating process removes all of the moisture and sugar from the maple. This process has been used for musical instruments for a long time.
-dj
Actually removal of the moisture, sugar, etc. through kiln heat in a vacuum is subsequently followed up by
having to reintroduce moisture into the shaft. It is an interesting process and low deflection versions require
less mass in the initial 3 1/2- 4 inches of the shaft is what a reknown cue maker explained to me. Once the
shaft has gone through the torrification process, it is thereafter basically waterproof. You can wipe it down
with a wet towel because water will not penetrate the new molecular wood structure created by torrification.
It is a pretty interesting. I just ordered a RMS shaft with the identical specs as one of my cue’s maple shafts.
IMO, it should be the fairest test since both shafts are the same diameter and weight. However, the new RMS
has a medium tip & a short synthetic ferrule whereas my TS shaft has a 1” ivory ferrules & Kamui Black Clear tip.
That’s a big difference in the two cue shaft anatomies. I think it will be a big factor in how the the RMS shaft feels.
I’ll report back with the results of the two shafts. I’ve played with my Scruggs cue for almost 20 years so using a
RMS instead of the orig. maple shaft will be easy to evaluate. Like I wrote, the tip hardness difference and shorter
ferrule material I imagine will be the major reasons why the RMS feels different than my cue’s original maple shafts.
I realize how deflection is influenced by cue elevation so I’ll be careful to keep the comparison as fair as I’m capable.