Cue makers I need your help

PistolPat

PistolPat

Flip Strokin' since 91
Silver Member
I was ordering a cue to have made, but the cuemaker stated that the wood I chose ( Snakewood ) was one he will not use as a forearm for the cue. He stated that it's an unstable wood and was very hard to work with. So now my order is at a halt until I can decide what kind of wood I want for the forearm and butt. My question here is, what highly figured/burl wood out there would be excellent great for cue forearms not only in looks but in quality? Note that the cue maker refuses to core ANY of his forearms.
 
Uncored, no burl will be good. Highly figured woods are scarce in the stability department, too. Maybe try quilted or pomelle bubinga, or swirly cocobolo. High figure & burl means irregular &/or unpredictable grain, which is lacking the strength needed to be a forearm.
 
If he won't core then don't use any burl woods, as they are not stable enough. Birdseye or other highly figured maple is about as pretty as you can get and you can stain it a darker brown to give you a color close to snakewood. Maple also plays great for a forearm, so for a highly figured piece of wood that does not have to be cored and plays good go with highly figured maple. If you are doing inlays, he could put Snakewood into figured maple for a nice combination.
 
Thanks to you guys for the added input

cueman said:
If he won't core then don't use any burl woods, as they are not stable enough. Birdseye or other highly figured maple is about as pretty as you can get and you can stain it a darker brown to give you a color close to snakewood. Maple also plays great for a forearm, so for a highly figured piece of wood that does not have to be cored and plays good go with highly figured maple. If you are doing inlays, he could put Snakewood into figured maple for a nice combination.
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Looks liek I will definitely have to go with highly figured maple with a browner tone to it considering the other thing this cuemaker will not do is stian woods whcih is fine by me. I too like to keep the natural color of the wood. Thanks for the input.
 
woods...

PistolPat said:
I was ordering a cue to have made, but the cuemaker stated that the wood I chose ( Snakewood ) was one he will not use as a forearm for the cue. He stated that it's an unstable wood and was very hard to work with. So now my order is at a halt until I can decide what kind of wood I want for the forearm and butt. My question here is, what highly figured/burl wood out there would be excellent great for cue forearms not only in looks but in quality? Note that the cue maker refuses to core ANY of his forearms.
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What about highly figured bocote ?

12-29-08w17859.jpg

12-11-08w17705.jpg


Figured Imbuya ?

01-09-09w17939.jpg

08-22-08W16782.jpg


Cocobolo ?

12-16-08w17754.jpg

11-14-08w17467.jpg


Kingwood ?

12-29-08w17851.jpg


Honduras Rosewood ?

12-11-08w17701.jpg


Granadillo ?

10-10-08w17126.jpg

10-10-08w17127.jpg


Have fun choosing...

Tom Penrose
 
it can only be custom to a certain extent..the line is drawn when a design results in an unreliable product. he's not refusing to use snakewood because he cant, he's refusing to use it because he doesnt think it'll produce a stable enough cue for playing.
 
Without coring avoid any burls completely unless you want a nice looking cue that hits like a turd. I'd go with birdseye bocote as the figure in that species doesn't affect the integrity of the wood or a nicely figured rosewood with good tone. YMMV.

Martin


PistolPat said:
I was ordering a cue to have made, but the cuemaker stated that the wood I chose ( Snakewood ) was one he will not use as a forearm for the cue. He stated that it's an unstable wood and was very hard to work with. So now my order is at a halt until I can decide what kind of wood I want for the forearm and butt. My question here is, what highly figured/burl wood out there would be excellent great for cue forearms not only in looks but in quality? Note that the cue maker refuses to core ANY of his forearms.
Click to expand...
 
You may want to reconsider using another cue builder that would work with the woods that you are wanting. I understand not wanting to build a forearm out of Snakewood it is very hard to work with. There is several of us cue builders that will core everything. So you can use burls for forearms. Don't take me wrong here I am NOT saying anything bad about the builder you are talking with at all!!! All I am saying is that you have a lot of other options that sounds like would be a better choice for what you are looking for.
 
qbilder said:
Uncored, no burl will be good. Highly figured woods are scarce in the stability department, too. Maybe try quilted or pomelle bubinga, or swirly cocobolo. High figure & burl means irregular &/or unpredictable grain, which is lacking the strength needed to be a forearm.
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i've read this a couple of times on here. everyone says burls are too soft, or at least that's the impression i got
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i've read this a couple of times on here. everyone says burls are too soft, or at least that's the impression i got
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Not too soft. It's too unstable due to the swirly grain. It'll break very easy. It'll literally break in half during normal play if used as a forearm without coring.
 
I'm also in the same delemna (sp?). I love the look of the wood and want something similiar, hence my thread on Beefwood. Good luck to you in your search, please let me know how it goes...
 
Going with all the advice

The Kurly One said:
I'm also in the same delemna (sp?). I love the look of the wood and want something similiar, hence my thread on Beefwood. Good luck to you in your search, please let me know how it goes...
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I have to say i'm a little disappointed , but its ok, just gives me more time to see ALL my options for a great looking cue. Good luck to you too.
 
wood pictures...

Craig Fales said:
Those look like Gilmor pics.

To the OP: Me thinks this cuemaker doesn't understand CUSTOM cue making
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Dear Craig,

The pictures are from the Gilmer Wood Company. All the credits to them. They sell the wood and make pictures first so that customers can see what they'll get before having to pay.

Very best regards,

Tom
 
Penrose Cues said:
Dear Craig,

The pictures are from the Gilmer Wood Company. All the credits to them. They sell the wood and make pictures first so that customers can see what they'll get before having to pay.

Very best regards,

Tom
Click to expand...
And they do a good job too. I love drooling over their goodies. I have to keep myself from buying every time I go there.
 
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