For submission to the discussion, a few general observations concerning full splice blanks:
John's Blanks for example, are delivered about 1" at the joint size which gives you .150 of taper turning to shim and adjust the front end points so they are perfectly aligned. It should take at least 1 month or more to make and finish a cue like this IMO.
If you turn a FS blank, one should do it in stages over weeks with seal coats between taper cuts. There should be zero problems if you know what to do. I do my tapering at a very slow travel speed with .010 cuts as not to shock the wood.
Also John's veneer work is spot on on his blanks. If you expect the veneers at
return crotch at the A joint area to be perfect in the last 3/16 of an inch, your expectations are over reaching. If you want perfection, the cue gets a wrap or on a wrap less cue you put an inlay dot or preferred geometry.
I was at John shop and picked through a bucket full of blanks and I found two that were very nice on all four returns (crotch area) and would have made perfect wrap less cues. All the other cues in the bucket mostly were perfect in this area in two or three of the bottom crotch points. No one can have perfect control concerning this detail but you can receive grace now and then. LOL When these blanks are put together as big squares the veneers are placed in the splice and the crotch area is a very thin v. I am amazed at how good both John and Joel Hercek get that in their blank construction as I have seen batches in both shops. Full splice Masters. The force is strong with these two.
That being said I have had people want wrap less cues made from FS blanks and expect perfection in that area which is not a reasonable expectation IMO.
Rick
