Burl handle - yes or no?

[pharaoh68]

I am really interested in a rather modest and plain cue. Nothing too fancy. And I'd love to stray from the leather and lizard wrap. I really would like to try a solid wood handle and, while curly maple and birdseye maple are both attractive, I absolutely love burl. I think its one of the most dazzling and attractive woods around.
I once saw a picture of a Ken Murrell custom cue with a light-colored, burl butt sleeve. He refered to it as maple burl. Same color as unstained or non-dyed curly maple but with the natural, wild look of burl. So, here's the question:
Is it generally a bad idea to use burl as a handle? I asked Paul Fanelli about it once when I had the privelage of meeting him through Ronnie P. and he said he had never done it and would be hesitant to try. But is it possible or would it simply make for a bad playing cue? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

-Brian.

 

[Michael Webb]

As with most burls and curly maple, it should be cored.

 

[pharaoh68]

Thanks for the reply Mike. And by the way, I love your cues. I know a lot of people with Webb cues and they're all great!

 

[Michael Webb]

Thank you for the compliment.

 

[Penrose Cues]

If you core burl, core it with a dowell wich is at least 3/4 of an inch in diameter in order to make sure that you have enough body and gluing surface.

Tom Penrose

 

[Sheldon]

I've done Thuya burl and Amboyna burl handles, also Spalted Maple, and others. They work great as long as they are cored.

 

[mjantti]

Why the burl handle has to be cored ? Is it because it's too brittle or because it's too heavy/dense ?

 

[Michael Webb]

Some of them are very brittle, light, unpredictable.