I'm curious what cue builders with experience who have used Cortland Linen think? I'm not looking for players personal preference or for wraps on collector cues to maintain original styling.
Let me try this again. If Cortland was invented today and had no historical relevance would it be the preferred linen used by cue builders over what is available today, assuming the cost was comparable.
YES, there is a difference - REAL Cortland line was twisted 3 strands into a group of 3 threads by a process that required very different machinery. The result was a rounder linen thread and that produced a "smoother" feel when wrapped. All our current linen is twisted 2 X 3 and while it would not appear that it might make much difference it can, in the hands of a critical player. Unfortunately, the machinery to recreate the 3 X 3 type linen has all be scrapped.
pfd
To answer some of the questions,
It is possible to finish linen to mimic the Cortland look, and if finished right, it also is very smooth, like Cortland. There are various methods; I've done it by hand. A lathe makes it easier.
The reason you see every Tasc cue with linen coming out looking like Cortland is that he applies a technique to make it so. This also goes for all the late Tad cues. They weren't Cortland, but they had the look of it. I'd be glad to go over the process by PM, but I'm not going to argue the subject.
All the best,
WW
IMHO - you are also thinking of wraps that are way too recent.
Cortland was NOT smooth. You could feel the individual turns of cord on the butt.
And most of all, it was intended to be absorbent.
The old-timer who first showed me how to wrap a cue said of the wrap that after
a good deal of use, "It'll feel just like a towel"
Dale(livin' in the past)
It's only "not smooth" if the maker chooses it to be or doesnt know how to work it to be. It can be finished any way you like. Pete T is a great example. I lke Cortland but todays lnen when worked is just as dsireable to me for feel.
Which is a repitition of exactly what I have said in this thread(?) and about a dozen
other threads over the years, dealing with Irish Linen wraps.
Dale
Let me try this again. If Cortland was AROUND today and had no historical relevance would it be the preferred linen.
YES
I know this an old thread, I didn't want to start a new thread for my question.
String Linen Wrap
is it - Pressed, Waxed, Polished, or Waxed, Pressed, Polished ?
Thanks
I still don't know which comes first?
Wax or Press
and about the Cortline String - it's like holding a million dollars in your hands :grin-square:
Jmo
I have never used wax. I have heard that some who want the linen to have a little more grip have used wax paper on it. Not my choice.