Cue Xrays?

Mr. Bond

Mr. Bond

Orbis Non Sufficit
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In another thread, someone 'claimed' they had taken Xrays of a Balabushka cue, for the purpose of 'studying' his construction methods.

But, from what I currently understand about Xrays and wood, it seems like it would have been a fruitless effort, because, the Xray wavelengths used in common radiology would render the wood basically transparent.
(The correct terminology is "Radiotransparent")

So, what exactly is one going to discover by looking thru a cue?

Any Xray experts here?
 
I've seen an x ray of an Adams copy of a Bushka.

It was taken not so much pertaining to overall construction of how or what method George used in making his cues. It was more about how he actually made them forward weighted.
 
Yes, cues can be effectively x-rayed and have been many times.

MRI would probably not be better I think, it depends a lot on water content. CT would probably be better. But I could be wrong, there are many variables adjustments, and manipulations of the technologies to consider.


I have seen crummy cue x-rays and good cue x-rays.



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Mr. Bond said:
In another thread, someone 'claimed' they had taken Xrays of a Balabushka cue, for the purpose of 'studying' his construction methods.

But, from what I currently understand about Xrays and wood, it seems like it would have been a fruitless effort, because, the Xray wavelengths used in common radiology would render the wood basically transparent.
(The correct terminology is "Radiotransparent")

So, what exactly is one going to discover by looking thru a cue?

Any Xray experts here?
Click to expand...
There are many people who have Xrays of older cues. I'm not sure what you're asking. Do you think they didn't do it?

Of course the wood is transparent in an Xray. Why else would anyone be Xray-ing other than to look through the wood?

Freddie <~~~ saw the images on the internet :)
 
not fruitless

The xray allows you to see how the cue is constructed internally, especially how the metal components are threaded/installed and what those metal components look like (like an handle/forearm connection screw which you obviously cannot see otherwise).

Also, the other different materials (phenolics, plastics, etc.) will reveal differently than the wood in the xray, so you can see how things are sleeved.
 
Six Shooter said:
I've seen an x ray of an Adams copy of a Bushka.

It was taken not so much pertaining to overall construction of how or what method George used in making his cues. It was more about how he actually made them forward weighted.
Click to expand...


AFAIK there are no construction similarities, so I doubt that an Adam x-ray would say anything about Balabushka's construction methods, even the weight bias.....
 
Chopdoc said:
AFAIK there are no construction similarities, so I doubt that an Adam x-ray would say anything about Balabushka's construction methods, even the weight bias.....
Click to expand...

Adams has or had a license from the Balabushka family to produce cues exactly in the models and ways that George would have made them.

The x ray reveals that there is a weight bolt in the forearm of the cue which gives it the forward weight.
 
Six Shooter said:
Adams has or had a license from the Balabushka family to produce cues exactly in the models and ways that George would have made them.

The x ray reveals that there is a weight bolt in the forearm of the cue which gives it the forward weight.
Click to expand...


It's an interesting notion, but as far as I know patently false. Many cues have a metal screw in the A joint and are nothing like a Balabushka.

Adam licensed the name and copied some of the cosmetic designs. I have never heard anybody claim they shared construction methods with the originals.

Of course, I could be wrong. But I would need some serious convincing beyond the notion that there is a weight in the forearm.


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Balabushkas are often X-rayed for ID. George used a proprietary A-joint screw to join Spain and Szam arms to his handles. The presence of that screw doesn't guarantee a Bushka, but the absence of it disqualifies a cue from being one.

Kevin
 
kvinbrwr said:
Balabushkas are often X-rayed for ID. George used a proprietary A-joint screw to join Spain and Szam arms to his handles. The presence of that screw doesn't guarantee a Bushka, but the absence of it disqualifies a cue from being one.

Kevin
Click to expand...

Proprietary? Lol
Double anchor lag bolt ?
I have an x-ray of a supposed bushka and it doesn't have it.

SW'a buttsleeve can be seen as bolted on sleeve in x-rays.
 
Six Shooter said:
Adams has or had a license from the Balabushka family to produce cues exactly in the models and ways that George would have made them.

The x ray reveals that there is a weight bolt in the forearm of the cue which gives it the forward weight.
Click to expand...

Adams has a license to produce cues marketed under George's name. The construction methods of these production cues bear no resemblance to George's methods other than some of the models look a little like George's cues.

Kevin
 
JoeyInCali said:
Proprietary? Lol
Double anchor lag bolt ?
I have an x-ray of a supposed bushka and it doesn't have it.

SW'a buttsleeve can be seen as bolted on sleeve in x-rays.
Click to expand...

I've heard George's bolt referred to as a "Butterfly". I can't really tell the difference, but guys that know take one look and say yes or no. I know so little about it that I X-rayed one of his Titlist arms and was dissapointed not to see any bolt, until it was explained to me.

And by proprietary I mean George only ever used one kind of screw and nobody else used it. George didn't make it. I think it was a furniture screw or something.

I think I asked Tasc this way, "if it has the screw is it for sure a Bushka?" and his answer was that it was very likely but there were other factors he would have to verify first. I then I asked him if there were Spain or Gus Bushkas that were not jointed by the "Butterfly" screw and he said not to his knowledge.

That's what I think I know.

Kevin
 
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