Jeff...just a tip buddy to help you better your craft...and also so that no one may possibly harm their shaft. Take a piece of wood or solid phenolic and thread it only about 3/4" deep. Use this to hold your pin as you install it into your joint protectors or even your cues. It'll keep you from burring up the threads on the pins. With burrs on the pin threads...over time its going to eat away whatever its threaded into. Not busting your balls...just a helpful tip.