choosing wood

[arps]

Hi.
I want to ask our AZ cuemakers how they choose their wood. Suppose you have 10 pieces of 1.5x1.5x18 purpleheart, what characteristics or factors do you consider during selection?
I want to know your answers for these specific woods:

• purpleheart

• bocote

• cocobolo

• east indian rosewood

• bird's-eye maple

• curly maple

• african blackwood

• gaboon ebony

• tulipwood

i'm more interested on the technical side of wood selection. i mean, aside from the aesthetic side like choosing the BEM with the most "eyes" or choosing the blackest ebony or the bocote with the most figure.
thanks in advance. :smile:

 

[whammo57]

Hi.
I want to ask our AZ cuemakers how they choose their wood. Suppose you have 10 pieces of 1.5x1.5x18 purpleheart, what characteristics or factors do you consider during selection?
I want to know your answers for these specific woods:

• purpleheart

• bocote

• cocobolo

• east indian rosewood

• bird's-eye maple

• curly maple

• african blackwood

• gaboon ebony

• tulipwood

i'm more interested on the technical side of wood selection. i mean, aside from the aesthetic side like choosing the BEM with the most "eyes" or choosing the blackest ebony or the bocote with the most figure.
thanks in advance. :smile:

I choose the ones that look nice and are complementary to the other wood, rings, and caps in the cue. It's not any more complicated than that.

Kim

 

[Penrose Cues]

Hi.
I want to ask our AZ cuemakers how they choose their wood. Suppose you have 10 pieces of 1.5x1.5x18 purpleheart, what characteristics or factors do you consider during selection?
I want to know your answers for these specific woods:

• purpleheart

• bocote

• cocobolo

• east indian rosewood

• bird's-eye maple

• curly maple

• african blackwood

• gaboon ebony

• tulipwood

i'm more interested on the technical side of wood selection. i mean, aside from the aesthetic side like choosing the BEM with the most "eyes" or choosing the blackest ebony or the bocote with the most figure.
thanks in advance. :smile:

All woods should be chosen on humidity. No wood above 15% humidity. Ask for it...

Purpleheart can be chosen for straight grain or weight. Once in a while you can chose a nice figured piece. But try to buy dowels as turning it is a hell...
Bocote is purely chosen for it's figure...
Cocobolo can be chosen for the color or the figure. Tight figure will show more details when turned to a cue...
Indian rosewood is very dry and stiff and is very light in weight. Chose the heavier pieces for the hit...
Bird's eye Maple; chose the pieces with eyes on four sides...
Curly maple; go for Hard Maple...
African blackwood easily cracks so chose pieces which are not cracked or you'll end up with totally cracked pieces within six months...
Gabon Ebony; ask for the pieces to be planed before buying them as the wood will reveal important flaws which you cannot see when the pieces are rough...
Tulipwood; Cues are small pieces of round turned wood. Go for figure which is well pronounced. You'll see the sharp pink lines through the pale yellow wood...

Just my two cents...

Greetz,

Tom Penrose

 

[arps]

Hey Tom, thanks for the detailed answer. I appreciate it.

Kim, good point there buddy.

 

[whammo57]

All woods should be chosen on humidity. No wood above 15% humidity. Ask for it...

Purpleheart can be chosen for straight grain or weight. Once in a while you can chose a nice figured piece. But try to buy dowels as turning it is a hell...
Bocote is purely chosen for it's figure...
Cocobolo can be chosen for the color or the figure. Tight figure will show more details when turned to a cue...
Indian rosewood is very dry and stiff and is very light in weight. Chose the heavier pieces for the hit...
Bird's eye Maple; chose the pieces with eyes on four sides...
Curly maple; go for Hard Maple...
African blackwood easily cracks so chose pieces which are not cracked or you'll end up with totally cracked pieces within six months...
Gabon Ebony; ask for the pieces to be planed before buying them as the wood will reveal important flaws which you cannot see when the pieces are rough...
Tulipwood; Cues are small pieces of round turned wood. Go for figure which is well pronounced. You'll see the sharp pink lines through the pale yellow wood...

Just my two cents...

Greetz,

Tom Penrose

Just a quest..... do u use wood at 15% moisture...... I won't use it above 8%.....

Kim


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