Camatillo in Cues !!

Q

Quesports

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
There seems to be no end of issues, some real and some not with Camatillo. Here are a couple links with comments from members and cue makers regarding using it in cues and how it supposedly changes color over time..

Wood loosing its color

I have noticed that wood seems to change color. From a fresh cut to final product I only wish that I could retain all of the woods natural color. Cocobolo is one of the woods that I have a issue with color loss I would like to be able to do natural wood color , no stains or oils just a...
forums.azbilliards.com

Here is a thread I started in 2011 regarding choosing veneers for a cue I was going to have built.

Camatillo Forearm Veneer Colors

I am looking for help trying to decide what veneer colors would look best with a camatillo forearm. There is no sapwood in this particular piece and it will have ebony points with ivory inlays.. I have done a search and seen some pics of camatillo forearms but most do not have veneers. Any and...
forums.azbilliards.com

Once again comments stating it will change color over time and bleed. None of these things have occurred in my cue..

I had Dave Kikel build that cue for me and brought up the issue of it potentially changing color to him. He laughed and said, "it just needs to be sealed properly and aged properly. He sent me all his Camatillo and I picked the pieces out to have him build that cue. Now 10 years later it has been refinished several times and most recently by myself using auto clear coat... IT HAS NEVER CHANGED COLOR NOR HAS IT BLEED AT ALL.... It is the same today as it was 10 years ago... Seems there is no hard a fast rule regarding wood and what it will or won't do. Guess I was just lucky....
 
jasonlaus said:
I believe it's Searings favorite
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Your right Dennis loves camatillo and he was supposed to build me a cue with camatillo but after waiting forever for Dennis I contacted Dave Kikel.

I paid Dave to ship me all the camatillo he had and then picked out all the straight grained pieces except one small piece he used in a butt on another build after mine. It made a beautiful sound when I hit it with a hammer. Really rich deep tone that lasted a long time. When I could not decide on veneer colors I liked I made the decision to go all izory, segmented handle and izory points The izory next to the violet camatillo looks spectacular!
 
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Quesports said:
Your right Dennis loves camatillo and he was supposed to build me a cue with camatillo but after waiting forever for Dennis I contacted Dave Kikel.

I paid Dave to ship me all the camatillo he had and then picked out all the straight grained pieces except one small piece he used in a butt on another build after mine. It made a beautiful sound when I hit it with a hammer. Really rich deep tone that lasted a long time. When I could not decide on veneer colors I liked I made the decision to go all izory, segmented handle and izory points The izory next to the violet camatillo looks spectacular!
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What is Izory?
 
v6sCGiBh.jpg
 
ipoppa33 said:
v6sCGiBh.jpg
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Maybe, but I don't feel that way. I never intended posting pics, it was about folks saying camatillo changes color and bleeds. Which is very misleading according to Searing, Kikel, and Treadway along with several other cue makers.
 
Quesports said:
Maybe, but I don't feel that way. I never intended posting pics, it was about folks saying camatillo changes color and bleeds. Which is very misleading according to Searing, Kikel, and Treadway along with several other cue makers.
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If it's possible for it to remain bright violet purple as when first cut I would love to see some photos of the cues. Not sure if you can get finish on it fast enough before it starts turning root beer brown.

As far as bleeding? Like a stuck purple ink well. Put some holly rings up against it and get back to me.
 
measureman said:
Why dont you just say Ivory?
I dont understand why people dance around that word.
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It's not just me it is cue makers, cue sellers and many others so I followed suit. Figure big brother is keeping track or something so why risk it? Ebay and the WFS section here has many examples...
 
JC said:
If it's possible for it to remain bright violet purple as when first cut I would love to see some photos of the cues. Not sure if you can get finish on it fast enough before it starts turning root beer brown.

As far as bleeding? Like a stuck purple ink well. Put some holly rings up against it and get back to me.
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I have never seen one that turned root beer brown or any other color, but I would sure love to see a before and after picture of one that did. The folks building cues with camatillo must have a way of sealing it so it does not bleed. Maybe they are sealing the inlays after cutting them and before installing them. Possibly sealing the pockets after cutting and before installing the inlays as well. Honestly they would be the ones to ask since they are successfully making cues without all the issues that are alluded to.
 
Quesports said:
I have never seen one that turned root beer brown or any other color, but I would sure love to see a before and after picture of one that did. The folks building cues with camatillo must have a way of sealing it so it does not bleed. Maybe they are sealing the inlays after cutting them and before installing them. Possibly sealing the pockets after cutting and before installing the inlays as well. Honestly they would be the ones to ask since they are successfully making cues without all the issues that are alluded to.
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Is it possible for you to post any photos of your cue?

There are tons of photos of cues on this site with this wood if you use the search function and I don't see any that look the same as when the wood is freshly cut.

Maybe you have not seen this wood freshly cut?
 
JC said:
Is it possible for you to post any photos of your cue?

There are tons of photos of cues on this site with this wood if you use the search function and I don't see any that look the same as when the wood is freshly cut.

Maybe you have not seen this wood freshly cut?
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I have never posted pics of my cues or allowed any of them to be shared publicly.. I do not wish to see knock offs or copies of them to be produced. I designed them and had specific agreements that were agreed upon by the cue makers.

No, I have never seen any camatillo freshly cut. Perhaps long term aging is another aspect regarding bleeding and color change.. There has to be something they are doing otherwise it would be happening to them as well. Dave laughed about it when I mentioned it to him and made some comments after.. Those are confidential.

I can say camatillo is one of my all time favorite woods for hit and looks.. I consider myself extremely fortunate to get all the really straight grained pieces he had for this cue...
 
Quesports said:
I have never posted pics of my cues or allowed any of them to be shared publicly.. I do not wish to see knock offs or copies of them to be produced. I designed them and had specific agreements that were agreed upon by the cue makers.
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Sometimes cues are not even made out of the wood the owner believes them to be.

Actually this happens a lot more than one might imagine.

Do you have any of the wood left? Even when it's dark brown oxidized and you wipe it with a rag with alcohol or lacquer thinner on it the rag will be bright purple.

As far as not showing a photo of your cue for fear of plagiarism, well that's just plain laughable. There are a lots of special cues out there and yours likely isn't one of them other than to you. That's just the honest truth and I don't need to see a picture to be pretty sure of it. Can't tell you the number of people who have showed me goofy ass looking cues they commissioned builders to make for them after they designed them. It's like being shown the baby on Seinfeld.
 
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JC said:
Sometimes cues are not even made out of the wood the owner believes them to be.

Actually this happens a lot more than one might imagine.

Do you have any of the wood left? Even when it's dark brown oxidized and you wipe it with a rag with alcohol or lacquer thinner on it the rag will be bright purple.

As far as not showing a photo of your cue for fear of plagiarism, well that's just plain laughable. There are a lots of special cues out there and yours likely isn't one of them other than to you. That's just the honest truth and I don't need to see a picture to be pretty sure of it. Can't tell you the number of people who have showed me goofy ass looking cues they commissioned builders to make for them after they designed them. It's like being shown the baby on Seinfeld.
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Besides your comment being rude....

I'll be at Searings shop Tue and Wed, if I remember(on vacation in s Florida 🍻) I'll ask Dennis for you.

We've agreed and disagreed on many topics, but I think it's a good question and I'll try to get his opinion. If I can get him to respond, I will, but don't expect a lot of follow up... he's Dennis f'ing Searing after all 🤣 kidding, but....
 
JC said:
Sometimes cues are not even made out of the wood the owner believes them to be.

Actually this happens a lot more than one might imagine.

Do you have any of the wood left? Even when it's dark brown oxidized and you wipe it with a rag with alcohol or lacquer thinner on it the rag will be bright purple.

As far as not showing a photo of your cue for fear of plagiarism, well that's just plain laughable. There are a lots of special cues out there and yours likely isn't one of them other than to you. That's just the honest truth and I don't need to see a picture to be pretty sure of it. Can't tell you the number of people who have showed me goofy ass looking cues they commissioned builders to make for them after they designed them. It's like being shown the baby on Seinfeld.
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I knew going in that speaking with you could end up with insults and rude comments.. You rarely disappoint...Especially when you don't get what you want. Have a fantastic day!
 
jasonlaus said:
Besides your comment being rude....

I'll be at Searings shop Tue and Wed, if I remember(on vacation in s Florida 🍻) I'll ask Dennis for you.

We've agreed and disagreed on many topics, but I think it's a good question and I'll try to get his opinion. If I can get him to respond, I will, but don't expect a lot of follow up... he's Dennis f'ing Searing after all 🤣 kidding, but....
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Hey Jason. If it comes up ask Dennis about the guy that wanted a camatillo cue. I am fairly certain he will remember our conversations. Hope he is doing well... BTW I am jealous........
 
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