Anything special about old or aged chalk?

NK_Sniper

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuh2VAFCpjs

Right in the beginning of the "What's in your case" video above, Johnny Archer says that he LOVES old chalk and always collects them. He never did explain why. I recall a few players saying the samething in other videos in this series. One person (can't remember if its Fat Boy), shows a chalk that is over 30 years old! That person collects and only uses old chalk like 20 years old and so on.

My question is: is there anything special about old or aged chalk? If not, then why are some of those PRO and world class players going crazy for it? :confused: Do any of you guys have a similar preference? If so, then please explain why.
 
Many people have many opinions. You are going to get a lot of answers to this one. I like the old preflag masters but many say it's the exact same stuff. Could just be in my head.

As for the scorpion. I asked him about old chalk at the expo and honestly he was a ***** about it. Gave me short answers and flat out denied liking old chalk and what not. I lost a little respect for him that day.

life does go on however.
 
Really, this thread again. Now it starts... The topics will be:


1. If Kamui is worth it
2. Which Kamui is better
3. omg kamui sticks to the white ball, no lolz i use 1 cube per 100 years
4. BAKE UR CHALK ITZ AWESOME
5. NO, stick it in milk for 17 months, freeze it, bake it, soak in honey and vodka, freeze bake and bake again

...... lol :)

Just use whatever you feel like using, there is VERY little difference, it all comes down to having a good stroke and a decent tip.


Cheers.
 
I believe what Johnny is talking about is that the chalk is used and 'broken in'. I don't want a new piece either I'll look in the box to find one used enough to have a top similar to those from Johnny's case. To me it just feels better as far doing a good job of chalking the tip.
 
Many people have many opinions. You are going to get a lot of answers to this one. I like the old preflag masters but many say it's the exact same stuff. Could just be in my head.

As for the scorpion. I asked him about old chalk at the expo and honestly he was a ***** about it. Gave me short answers and flat out denied liking old chalk and what not. I lost a little respect for him that day.

life does go on however.

I read somewhere about how long ago chalk (not sure if it was Masters) that was made with corn starch that worked really well, but after the price of corn went up, they no longer used the corn. So not sure how big of a difference in performance that offered.

I didn't expect Johnny to dodge that topic and cop-out on an answer. Ah well....
 
Really, this thread again. Now it starts... The topics will be:


1. If Kamui is worth it
2. Which Kamui is better
3. omg kamui sticks to the white ball, no lolz i use 1 cube per 100 years
4. BAKE UR CHALK ITZ AWESOME
5. NO, stick it in milk for 17 months, freeze it, bake it, soak in honey and vodka, freeze bake and bake again

...... lol :)

Just use whatever you feel like using, there is VERY little difference, it all comes down to having a good stroke and a decent tip.


Cheers.

Cool down bro. You're way off topic. I'm asking about the mystery behind old/aged chalk. Nothing whatsoever to do with "which chalk should I use?". And screw Kamui btw... :D
 
I believe what Johnny is talking about is that the chalk is used and 'broken in'. I don't want a new piece either I'll look in the box to find one used enough to have a top similar to those from Johnny's case. To me it just feels better as far doing a good job of chalking the tip.

Point taken, but obviously players on those levels (and generally any serious player), could have a spare or practice shaft lying around specially for breaking in and shaping their chalk to their requirements. In other words, they don't NEED to wait for used chalk to come their way. So that is what makes me think that it has to do more with the age of the chalk rather than its shape or breaking it in. What are your thoughts on that?
 
I have been told that older chalk, like paint, had a high lead content. Nothing to do with aging, but from how it's manufactured. From what I understand, the lead makes it dense & sticky. I would never try to convince anybody that there is a difference, but the difference is obvious to me. And if Johnny notices the same thing I do, it doesn't surprise me a bit that he would prefer the older stuff. I don't play nearly as well or competitive or often as he does, so it's not all that advantageous to my game. But I can see how it could be at his level. One miscue or lack of spin could cost him a several thousand dollar match. It would only cost me a shot.
 
Point taken, but obviously players on those levels (and generally any serious player), could have a spare or practice shaft lying around specially for breaking in and shaping their chalk to their requirements. In other words, they don't NEED to wait for used chalk to come their way. So that is what makes me think that it has to do more with the age of the chalk rather than its shape or breaking it in. What are your thoughts on that?

I think it's just easier to pick one up broken in at a pool room. Notice the tops are all practically identical and about half show that they are Masters with the flag so they really aren't that old.
 
Single Cru vintage chalk - That`s the new thing.
I can see a big market here... :p

I use my chalk until it`s almost the thickness of a coin. I hate "breaking" in a new piece.
 
I have been told that older chalk, like paint, had a high lead content. Nothing to do with aging, but from how it's manufactured. From what I understand, the lead makes it dense & sticky. I would never try to convince anybody that there is a difference, but the difference is obvious to me. And if Johnny notices the same thing I do, it doesn't surprise me a bit that he would prefer the older stuff. I don't play nearly as well or competitive or often as he does, so it's not all that advantageous to my game. But I can see how it could be at his level. One miscue or lack of spin could cost him a several thousand dollar match. It would only cost me a shot.

The chalk in that video was the current Master's chalk, so I would think he just prefers chalk not straight out of the box.
 
1. If Kamui is worth it
2. Which Kamui is better
3. omg kamui sticks to the white ball, no lolz i use 1 cube per 100 years
4. BAKE UR CHALK ITZ AWESOME
5. NO, stick it in milk for 17 months, freeze it, bake it, soak in honey and vodka, freeze bake and bake again

...... lol :)

Just use whatever you feel like using, there is VERY little difference, it all comes down to having a good stroke and a decent tip.


Cheers.

There is no doubt Kamui chalk is too expensive:thumbup:
 
garage sale find, gandy nationial tournament chalk, 1/2 gross box, has to be 40 years old.
took few cubes to leaugue play, disinegrated into granular powder and dust when put to use.
needless to say, league ended earlier than usual that nite and i threw the chalk away.
 
From all of the varying responses here, I think it's safe to say that not all chalk was created equally.

Some chalk is garbage, and some is really good. It depends on many things. Environmental factors should be considered, moisture content where the chalk is stored or used, along with the maker of the chalk.

I have about 40 pieces of vintage chalk for sale currently (I know, shameless plug...) I really like the cool old labels, but that's just me. I have not tried them all out, but some of these cubes look like decent stuff.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=365613&highlight=chalk
 
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Really, this thread again. Now it starts... The topics will be:


1. If Kamui is worth it
2. Which Kamui is better
3. omg kamui sticks to the white ball, no lolz i use 1 cube per 100 years
4. BAKE UR CHALK ITZ AWESOME
5. NO, stick it in milk for 17 months, freeze it, bake it, soak in honey and vodka, freeze bake and bake again

...... lol :)

Just use whatever you feel like using, there is VERY little difference, it all comes down to having a good stroke and a decent tip.


Cheers.

Don't get started on tips!!!!
 
Old chalk

For me it's the design on the wrapping
example.
McP
 

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Ok I found the video with Eric "Fat Boy" Peterson where he shows 30 YEAR OLD chalk cubes! He says they are (sounds like) "pre-flag" chalk (or somn like that), but that they stick better. They are Masters btw (just like Johnny Archer's), so its NOT chalk he just grabbed the other day from a pool room like some previous posters suggested. Fat Boy says he's got like over 100 of them that he stole from the poolhall when he was a kid. Guess they all paid off for him now! :D Go to 5:30 in the video below to get the story or just watch the entire video from the start cuz its all good stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7FGlwYrug4
 
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Here's the 30 year old chalk cubes from Fat Boy's video:
 

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