How straight should a 2 piece cue be on those little straightness checkers?

[ColdUpNorth]

I just got a new cue and I'm trying to decide if I should return it.

On the rollers the shaft by itself is laser straight. The butt by itself spins pretty darn straight. I have to really stare at the joint pin to detect even the slightest movement when rolling it, it's tiny but there is a little movement at the pin. Then when I join the two pieces together and roll it on the cue roller, there's a heck of a wobble at the tip. I was shocked by how much movement there is.

When I roll the assembled cue on the table, It looks pretty good, the tip stays down. There is a little movement in the light gap under the shaft.
But if I had only rolled it on the table, I probably would have been fine and called it a pretty straight cue. But spinning it on the rollers the amount of tip movement I see is a bummer.

Is some tip circling when screwed together on those rollers pretty typical, or should I return it and try a different one? Or am I using those little rollers wrong?

 

[garczar]

I just got a new cue and I'm trying to decide if I should return it.

On the rollers the shaft by itself is laser straight. The butt by itself spins pretty darn straight. I have to really stare at the joint pin to detect even the slightest movement when rolling it, it's tiny but there is a little movement at the pin. Then when I join the two pieces together and roll it on the cue roller, there's a heck of a wobble at the tip. I was shocked by how much movement there is.

When I roll the assembled cue on the table, It looks pretty good, the tip stays down. There is a little movement in the light gap under the shaft.
But if I had only rolled it on the table, I probably would have been fine and called it a pretty straight cue. But spinning it on the rollers the amount of tip movement I see is a bummer.

Is some tip circling when screwed together on those rollers pretty typical, or should I return it and try a different one? Or am I using those little rollers wrong?

could be the facings aren't flat. if not happy return it. its your money.

 

[ShootingArts]

As usual, garczar has nailed things. The cue sounds reasonably straight to me. How much did you pay and how well do you like the cue? Put those little rollers four inches or less apart and there probably isn't a straight cue in the world if you use them and a dial indicator set up all up and down the cue. Even if it shows straight today it is unlikely to year around if you use it.

Hu

 

[ColdUpNorth]

Cost wise it ended up being in that $1800 range after tax. I just don't know how close to perfectly straight I should hope for, or what level of wobble is acceptable.

 

[garczar]

Cost wise it ended up being in that $1800 range after tax. I just don't know how close to perfectly straight I should hope for, or what level of wobble is acceptable.

For that kinda dough it outta be straight together or apart. Sounds to me like facings need to be trued up.

 

[muskyed]

Could be the joints or could be your rollers. Try rolling the butt section on a table with the butt on the cloth and joint on the rail edge with the shaft sticking out. Odds are though that one or both of the facings need to be trued up. Simple process to do.

 

[straightline]

I bought cue skates and stuff that air rolled picture perfect oscillates to one degree or another.

I'm going to quit pool.

 

[straightline]

One thing that might hold water is with the skates, the stick gets gravitationally torqued in unnatural ways so I may not quit.

 

[j2pac]

For that kinda dough it outta be straight together or apart. Sounds to me like facings need to be trued up.

For that kind of money, send it back and get a straight cue...It's already in your head.

 

[mikemosconi]

How straight is straight when it comes to wood cues- every single person has their own ideas on how to judge cue straightness and each individual seems to have their own straightness tolerances in their head.

Anyone who says “ either it is straight or it is not” is correct - technically.
But man, in the cue world over the years it is always a source of contention as to cue straightness measurement/ judgement methods vs. cue straightness acceptability/ tolerance levels.

Weigh the input that you get here and make your own final decision - I will say that with second hand cues- if I was not a bit tolerant on cue straightness judgement - I probably would never have owned one of the hundreds that have passed my hands.