Micarta ferrules

Mr. Bass Man · Jan 26, 2014

There is some lore regarding the hit of a Micarta ferrule and I've been trying to find out when these ferrules came about as well as who was using them in cue construction. Also from those who have vintage and new Micarta ferrules how would you compare the two, as well as to the hit to that of ivory?

Bavafongoul · Jan 26, 2014

The old Micarta ferrules were pretty popular back in the 70's & 80's. It was made by Westinghouse and I had my choice of ferrules when Bob Runde
made my cue in 1985. He recommended going with Micarta which I did. The Micarta ferrules come really close to the feel of ivory and I don't know if
the contemporary paper-based Micarta material plays like the original Westinghouse stuff my cue's ferrules.

Mr. Bass Man · Jan 27, 2014

Bavafongoul said:
The old Micarta ferrules were pretty popular back in the 70's & 80's. It was made by Westinghouse and I had my choice of ferrules when Bob Runde
made my cue in 1985. He recommended going with Micarta which I did. The Micarta ferrules come really close to the feel of ivory and I don't know if
the contemporary paper-based Micarta material plays like the original Westinghouse stuff my cue's ferrules.

Thank you bavafongoul, definately helpful! From what I can find, Runde era Schons often had micarta ferrules(Westinghouse) and everyone seems to have the same feeling on the paper based micarta. I've also noticed that some of the Westinghouse micarta used in more recent cues has grain lines, whereas the older micarta is solid yellow with no lines. Anyone know when micarta was originally introduced into cues?

mortuarymike-nv · Jan 27, 2014

ferrule

Mr. Bass Man said:
Thank you bavafongoul, definately helpful! From what I can find, Runde era Schons often had micarta ferrules(Westinghouse) and everyone seems to have the same feeling on the paper based micarta. I've also noticed that some of the Westinghouse micarta used in more recent cues has grain lines, whereas the older micarta is solid yellow with no lines. Anyone know when micarta was originally introduced into cues?

I think they stopped making this micarta in 59

skierlawyer · Jan 27, 2014

I like the old yellow mircarta ferrules. They play slightly softer than ivory and feel very lively. Mine has stayed very clean like ivory, not showing chalk stains.

Mr. Bass Man · Jan 27, 2014

mortuarymike-nv said:
I think they stopped making this micarta in 59

Now that is what I'm talking about! So if that micarta was no longer made in 59' who was using it prior to that?

Bavafongoul · Jan 27, 2014

I like the look of the ferrules on my '85 Schon that Bob Runde made for me. There's just a tint
of yellowing, almost like with old pool balls, and the shade looks really cool. I mean it should right?
My cue is almost 30 years old and I don't want it to look like a new cue......that's part of my cue's appeal.

TheNewSharkster · Jan 27, 2014

if you head over to the 'Wanted/For Sale' forum you can buy a micarta ferrule and give it a shot

Drawman623 · Jan 27, 2014

skierlawyer said:
I like the old yellow mircarta ferrules. They play slightly softer than ivory and feel very lively. Mine has stayed very clean like ivory, not showing chalk stains.

Well said.
I prefer the play of yellow Micarta to ivory. Also, some joints were made with that material. I own a Bob Weir box cue that has a micarta joint and 2 micarta ferruled shafts. Plays out of this world!

Dave Kersenbrock was the first maker I am aware of who used yellow Micarta, though I would be very interested to know when it was first applied to cuemaking.

Mr. Bass Man · Jan 27, 2014

TheNewSharkster said:
if you head over to the 'Wanted/For Sale' forum you can buy a micarta ferrule and give it a shot

Saw the threads for Westinghouse micarta but it is not the original asbestos based material which I believe is much more consistently yellow and delivers a more favorable hit

mortuarymike-nv · Jan 28, 2014

micarta

Mr. Bass Man said:
Now that is what I'm talking about! So if that micarta was no longer made in 59' who was using it prior to that?

I am not a expert ........... Westinghouse made the yellow micarta for electrical insulator's.
They contain asbestos and Westinghouse stopped using asbestos in 59 if I remember correctly.

I don't know when they cue makers started using yellow micarta.
the shaft in the picture was made in the 70s.

Cue man billiards has the old yellow micarta in stock. < that's the best info I can give .

Post this in ask the cue maker.

pdcue · Jan 28, 2014

mortuarymike-nv said:
I am not a expert ........... Westinghouse made the yellow micarta for electrical insulator's.
They contain asbestos and Westinghouse stopped using asbestos in 59 if I remember correctly.

I don't know when they cue makers started using yellow micarta.
the shaft in the picture was made in the 70s.

Cue man billiards has the old yellow micarta in stock. < that's the best info I can give .

Post this in ask the cue maker.

Cueman Micarta is not the "old" Micarta - looks to be Mason Micarta -
definitely not the Micarta Schon used.

Westinghouse stopped making the Micarta Schon used in 1976.
It did not contain Asbestos.
It had no 'lines' because it was not lamminated.
It was a different resin than the other Micartas.
It never was made in rod form.

HTH
Dale

SC02GTP · Jan 28, 2014

Do a search for Micarta in the "Ask the Cuemaker" forum. I remember seeing and reading a long discussion on this topic. Interesting to say the least.

I have an old R10 Schon with the micarta ferrules and a new Tascarella with ivory ferrules. The micarta ferruled shafts have a warmer hit, if you will. The ivory has a much more crisp hit. Both feel great, both do what they were intended to do, it is mostly just a different feel.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=275092&highlight=micarta

kntbeach · Jan 28, 2014

I do not care so much about the hit compared to ivory but the Micarta just looks so old school I love it.

mattb · Jan 28, 2014

One thing a lot of us like about the Micarta is the color. Not because some think its old school, but it helps with the aiming process. White ferrules tend to blend into the cue ball. That old yellow gives a better aiming point. The feel is also a plus.

I have a few Schon shafts with Micarta on them that are either 13 mm or close to it and their hit is unique.

mel_smOg · Jan 28, 2014

Its definatelly gives softer hit than ivory and less deflection. I like it way more than ivory if I am playing with regular shaft

Rico · Jan 28, 2014

Micarta

Bob also took sheets of the old micarta and laminated them together. Then he turned them down to desired size and used them as joints. they hit between implex and ivory. yes they hold up have one thats 20+yrs .

cueman · Jan 31, 2014

pdcue said:
Cueman Micarta is not the "old" Micarta - looks to be Mason Micarta -
definitely not the Micarta Schon used.

Westinghouse stopped making the Micarta Schon used in 1976.
It did not contain Asbestos.
It had no 'lines' because it was not lamminated.
It was a different resin than the other Micartas.
It never was made in rod form.

HTH
Dale

Dale is right that the micarta I have is not the old stuff from the 70's. It is the new stuff Mason popularized. I am surprised Westinghouse still had some old Micarta left several years after they quit making it when Schon started making cues. We learn something new everyday.

Mr. Bass Man · Feb 3, 2014

Here's my micarta ferrule

9ball5032 · Jul 3, 2020

Schon ferrules

Micarta ferrules

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