Cue Butt Construction

[Catalin]

Cuemakers! I have a cue butt made from one piece of wood by a minor cue maker. I've been wondering how that compared to all the construction techniques touted by the major manufacturers, power core, cross core etc etc In my mind if the weight is correct and it stays straight, the one piece is the simplest and purest form of construction and not much can go wrong. The weight is naturally evenly distributed, can there be any disadvantage compared to the more complicated constructions?

And if two cuemakers, one prestigious and the other unknown make one piece cue butts from the same tree and the pin is soundly installed, could they play differently or would they be identical?

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[billsey]

The biggest risk in building it from a single piece of wood is potential warpage over time. That's not a big risk when the wood has been properly aged, but that takes years and many beginner cue makers don't have that much patience.
There is a lot more to the playability of a cue than the butt and joint. I'd expect a higher end builder would have potentially better tapering on both the handle and shaft than a beginner would have. Typically they start with blanks made by others, where an established cue maker will usually make their own from scratch.

 

[Sheldon]

The type of wood used, and weight distribution will probably be the most noticeable factors.
As long as it doesn't warp on you, there is no disadvantage. And no A-joint to create any issues. (Which is rare, but possible.)

 

[thoffen]

The biggest risk in building it from a single piece of wood is potential warpage over time. That's not a big risk when the wood has been properly aged, but that takes years and many beginner cue makers don't have that much patience.
There is a lot more to the playability of a cue than the butt and joint. I'd expect a higher end builder would have potentially better tapering on both the handle and shaft than a beginner would have. Typically they start with blanks made by others, where an established cue maker will usually make their own from scratch.

I'm struggling to see why that would be an inherently bigger risk except for the fact that it would be harder to find a larger blank that is straight grained with little runout. Otherwise I wouldn't see a one piece cue being objectively better or worse. Less choices in suitable wood and less you can do to affect weight balance but simpler construction with less to possibly go wrong.

 

[cuetrip]

I needed to throw together a new break cue for myself after someone just HAD to buy mine the other day. Found a 30" piece of bocote in my wood stash and figured, why not? Rough cut from square, tapered, built, and finished in three days. If it warps on me, no biggie. Don't really like bocote anyway.

 

[kling&allen]

I'm struggling to see why that would be an inherently bigger risk except for the fact that it would be harder to find a larger blank that is straight grained with little runout. Otherwise I wouldn't see a one piece cue being objectively better or worse. Less choices in suitable wood and less you can do to affect weight balance but simpler construction with less to possibly go wrong.

I don't think it's a better or worse question. If you want burls or other high movement woods, you will need to use a cored or other more complex construction.

 

[JoeyInCali]

I'm struggling to see why that would be an inherently bigger risk except for the fact that it would be harder to find a larger blank that is straight grained with little runout. Otherwise I wouldn't see a one piece cue being objectively better or worse. Less choices in suitable wood and less you can do to affect weight balance but simpler construction with less to possibly go wrong.

If you turn woods, you would realize fast that long pieces have more chances of warping than short pieces.
Contrasting woods , when done right, resonate more than a single piece.
Imagine a 30 maple butt that's going to need a lot of weight added to get it up 15 oz than one maple with bocote or purple heart handle.

 

[Renegade_56]

I needed to throw together a new break cue for myself after someone just HAD to buy mine the other day. Found a 30" piece of bocote in my wood stash and figured, why not? Rough cut from square, tapered, built, and finished in three days. If it warps on me, no biggie. Don't really like bocote anyway.
View attachment 627572

it probably will, but who cares if you don't.

 

[kevoka]

I needed to throw together a new break cue for myself after someone just HAD to buy mine the other day. Found a 30" piece of bocote in my wood stash and figured, why not? Rough cut from square, tapered, built, and finished in three days. If it warps on me, no biggie. Don't really like bocote anyway.
View attachment 627572

That is a gorgeous piece of Bocote.