How do aged pool shafts play?

CaptainPots · Aug 21, 2018

Hi!

I just had a conversation with my local biggest cue distributor about the ageing of pool shafts.

Does anyone what exactly happens to the wood in the shaft after many years of intense play? Does the wood soften, weaken, get soggy, expand, contract?

Cheers.

Chopdoc · Aug 21, 2018

How do aged pool shafts play?

They play like crap. Especially the tight straight grain ones with that honey color patina.

Oxidation, fungus, termites, etc. The inside turns into something like jello.

Please send all the old shafts you run into to me for disposal. You can pick up a nice snazzy laminated shaft or carbon fiber instead.

.

Michael Andros · Aug 21, 2018

Chopdoc said:
They play like crap. Especially the tight straight grain ones with that honey color patina.

Oxidation, fungus, termites, etc. The inside turns into something like jello.

Please send all the old shafts you run into to me for disposal. You can pick up a nice snazzy laminated shaft or carbon fiber instead.

.

What's your address, doc? I'm sending you mine. I'm glad to finally get it off my chest... er, cue. I can't wait to get a fak... er, NON-natural-material shaft. I feel like I've been "saved". Thank you!

GoldCrown · Aug 21, 2018

CaptainPots said:
Hi!

I just had a conversation with my local biggest cue distributor about the aging of pool shafts.
.

Was it a bar room conversation. I'm anything but an expert but I think nothing happens if taken care of properly.

Sealegs50 · Aug 21, 2018

The question has been discussed previously if shafts play better with extended use or if we like them better because we acclimate to their characteristics. I tend to believe the latter. My favorite shafts get the most use and are 12, 21, and 33 years old.

poolhustler · Aug 21, 2018

they play fine with a little Viagra

oh … pool shafts....

no idea, but I would assume just fine!!

Johnny Rosato · Aug 21, 2018

Chopdoc said:
They play like crap. Especially the tight straight grain ones with that honey color patina.

Oxidation, fungus, termites, etc. The inside turns into something like jello.

Please send all the old shafts you run into to me for disposal. You can pick up a nice snazzy laminated shaft or carbon fiber instead.

.

I have 2 original shafts for my 1984 D-1 McDermott and 2 original shafts for my 2001 Rick Howard. All 4 play like chit and after reading your comment I now know why.
They play so chitty I'd be embarrassed to send them to you, but I'll think about.

efirkey · Aug 21, 2018

I've been playing with the same shaft for 20 years and I have not noticed a difference nor even thought about it.

WoodyMPW · Aug 21, 2018

Slower. Sometimes they forget what ball to hit. And if it's after 9pm, forget about it.

ctran · Aug 21, 2018

Chopdoc said:
They play like crap. Especially the tight straight grain ones with that honey color patina.

Oxidation, fungus, termites, etc. The inside turns into something like jello.

Please send all the old shafts you run into to me for disposal. You can pick up a nice snazzy laminated shaft or carbon fiber instead.

.

agree, but I can better your offer, by paying for shipping.

Ssonerai · Aug 21, 2018

AFAIK there has never been a stress related failure of a certified wooden aircraft propeller. Usually made of more or less straight grain laminated hard maple, same material as pool cues. (sometimes walnut or mahogany in the past). Pool cues live a more sedate life in better climate controlled environments. In that situation, wood just does not change much over time as far as engineering characteristics.

smt

measureman · Aug 21, 2018

They play slow and have to go to the bath room a lot.

alstl · Aug 21, 2018

The way my brain works is an old cue/shaft which still rolls straight is less likely to warp than a new one as long as you take reasonable care of it.

Ken_4fun · Aug 21, 2018

alstl said:
The way my brain works is an old cue/shaft which still rolls straight is less likely to warp than a new one as long as you take reasonable care of it.

My thoughts exactly.

Ken

Cuebuddy · Aug 21, 2018

Chopdoc said:
They play like crap. Especially the tight straight grain ones with that honey color patina.

Oxidation, fungus, termites, etc. The inside turns into something like jello.

Please send all the old shafts you run into to me for disposal. You can pick up a nice snazzy laminated shaft or carbon fiber instead.

.

Once again you have shown your incredible value to the members of this forum.
Burning these old shafts is a good way to disgard them as long as the area that you live in is not is a stage 2 fire ban.

If you choose a chipper then make sure you remove the metal female side of the joint first as to not dull the cutters.

Chopdoc · Aug 21, 2018

Cuebuddy said:
Once again you have shown your incredible value to the members of this forum.
Burning these old shafts is a good way to disgard them as long as the area that you live in is not is a stage 2 fire ban.

If you choose a chipper then make sure you remove the metal female side of the joint first as to not dull the cutters.

Actually, I was thinking upcycle.

LINK

.

pt109 · Aug 21, 2018

Chopdoc said:
They play like crap. Especially the tight straight grain ones with that honey color patina.

Oxidation, fungus, termites, etc. The inside turns into something like jello.

Please send all the old shafts you run into to me for disposal. You can pick up a nice snazzy laminated shaft or carbon fiber instead.

.

Cuebuddy said:
Once again you have shown your incredible value to the members of this forum.
Burning these old shafts is a good way to disgard them as long as the area that you live in is not is a stage 2 fire ban.

If you choose a chipper then make sure you remove the metal female side of the joint first as to not dull the cutters.

I’m in big trouble here.....gotta ‘68 Joss with an original shaft....and ‘86 Joss...
...and a Lake Superior snooker shaft....wood’s 150 years old, at least.

How can I safely dispose of them?
...maybe Jason Laus can help....he knows nuclear shit.

Cuebuddy · Aug 21, 2018

Chopdoc said:
Actually, I was thinking upcycle.

LINK

.

Tomato stakes are fine but this is what happened to me last time I used a cue shaft in my greenhouse.

You guessed it

Octomatoes

maha · Aug 21, 2018

i couldnt tell you all my shafts are from out of business or long dead cue makers with funny foreign names. i do have a couple from 1980 but they are too new to use yet.

Chopdoc · Aug 21, 2018

Cuebuddy said:
Tomato stakes are fine but this is what happened to me last time I used a cue shaft in my greenhouse.

You guessed it

Octomatoes

Well, if you can grow a full set you have a money making proposition there. :thumbup:

But how do they play?

How do aged pool shafts play?

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