Can you detect a warp in a cue by just...

[Cuedog]

I almost forgot to thank Chris for his detailed instructions on how to sight down a cue. Very informative for those that were confused what we were talking about or knew, but simply didn't know how to go about it.

But, prior to Chris' post, how did you check a cue for straightness and did you use this method?

Gene

 

[9 ball]

The easiest way to detect warp in a cue is to just put it together lie it on the table, if it rolls straight your good to go but if it wibbles its warped.

 

[Cuedog]

I wish it were that simple. That is certainly one way, but it in itself, is not conclusive.

Gene

 

[bsmutz]

In the past, (I have all the cues I need now, so I don't check them anymore) I have sighted down the cue to see if it is warped. To me, it is a very easy and effective method. Another method I have used often when using a house cue, is to simply turn the cue while it is in the wall rack while watching the tip. If the tip doesn't stay where it is, but describes a circle, the cue is warped.

 

[Tommy-D]

> I saw a guy at Q-Masters checking one out by holding down on the front end of the cue,about halfway between the joint and the wrap,and sliding a dollar bill under one,and checking for possible warpage by gauging how easily the bill slid under if or whether it hung up along the way. He said this method works for full length conical or compound tapers,but wouldn't work on cues where parabolic curves (Coke bottle shape) were employed. He was also doing it on a bar table with 1-piece slate to eliminate possible reading errors caused by slate seam issues,and worn-out Simonis. Tommy D.

 

[Cuedog]

Depends on how bad it is.

If you put the ferrule of the shaft up on a rail and roll it like that, the wobble should be really obvious (but then again certain tapers will still wobble due to the nature of a certain tapers)

What type of tapers do you speak of?

Gene

 

[seymore15074]

Can you detect a warp in a cue by just putting it together and sighting down it? In other words... can you take a cue in your hands and place it in front of your eye(s) and tell if it is warped or not?

Yes, look down the butt and slowly turn it in your hands...you'll see it.

 

[crosseyedjoe]

Rolling the cue on a table is still the best manual way of doing it. You can check for any changing gap between the cue and the table surface aside from checking if the cue is rolling evenly.

If you are using eye inspection, then sight it directly from the tip like a telescope in reverse. Work much better when the stick has a dark wrapping.