Cue Makers Only Please!

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?
 
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?
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There is an Ask the Cuemaker section.............
 
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?
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Why don't you just have it cored with maple?

BVal
 
Thanks for the heads up

PinoyRomeo said:
There is an Ask the Cuemaker section.............
Click to expand...

I'll keep one here just in case the other one isnt checked out.
 
Here's why...

BVal said:
Why don't you just have it cored with maple?

BVal
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Good question. The cue maker does not core ANY of his forearms. He refuses to.
 
PistolPat said:
Good question. The cue maker does not core ANY of his forearms. He refuses to.
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Even coring snakewood is risky. IF it does break in the coring process you have just lost a very expensive piece of wood. Look around, there are very very few snakewood forearms out there.

It is not uncommon for a cue maker to turn down a job due to snakewood forearm request.
 
cbi1000 said:
Even coring snakewood is risky. IF it does break in the coring process you have just lost a very expensive piece of wood. Look around, there are very very few snakewood forearms out there.

It is not uncommon for a cue maker to turn down a job due to snakewood forearm request.
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was just a thought :) Good luck!

BVal
 
Find a maker that will build exactly what you want, which may be difficult to find. Although I have seen some cues with Snakewood forearms, they are few and far between.

As another poster said, this question should be in the cuemaker section.
 
You obviously trust the builder or trust his expertise. So let him introduce you to some of his ideas. Maybe you'll come to an agreement. Otherwise, move on to another builder.
 
you would be wise to use ebony,with figured wood for inlays.your other choices are fraught with peril

dc
 
double refund cue

the double refund cue has a cored forearm of snakewood. the wood was suppose to be ready to use when i built the cue. after 5 years the cue still develops a hairline crack every now and then. i have refinished the cue 4 times. its a easy fix, but i will never try to sell anyone a solid snakewood cue. i believe its o.k. for inlays. i will just keep this cue for myself. i love the look and the way it plays, but cannot give any guarentees, so its not for sale. chuck starkey
 
I have made them both cored and solid but I do not anymore as the risk is just not worth it. I have 5 of them with solid forearms but I have been sitting on them for years as I can just invision selling one only to have it explode when someone breaks with it. I have not had any of the ones I sold years ago come back but it is just so unstable I cannot trust it for a forarm. I only use it for inlays or buttsleeves now.
I would suggest you contact Kent Davis as his laminated forearms may be the best route if you have your heart set on snakewood. I do not know if he even works with it but that would be my first choice if I wanted that look. Chris.
 
Chris Byrne said:
I have made them both cored and solid but I do not anymore as the risk is just not worth it. I have 5 of them with solid forearms but I have been sitting on them for years as I can just invision selling one only to have it explode when someone breaks with it. I have not had any of the ones I sold years ago come back but it is just so unstable I cannot trust it for a forarm. I only use it for inlays or buttsleeves now.
I would suggest you contact Kent Davis as his laminated forearms may be the best route if you have your heart set on snakewood. I do not know if he even works with it but that would be my first choice if I wanted that look. Chris.
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I made one Snakewood forearm cue in 1992 and swore I would never do it again. I have seen a number of snake wood cues over the years built by non recognized cue builders and every single one had checks in the wood. Well known builders have already been there and done that and now know better. Coring doesn't help. The wood takes 50 years or more to properly dry so even if it's cored it continues drying and shrinking causing checks and cracks. Pretty wood for inlays but not for structure.

Dick
 
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?
Click to expand...


Snakewood in the forearm can be accomplished by using the snakewood as point material:

azbSnkwd-PH.jpg

azbSnkwd-PH1.jpg
 
Thanks everyone for all the input.

I will definitely shy away from the snakewood. Now the only thing is....what wood I want to use for the forearm and buttsleeve?? hmmmmm
 
Dan Dishaw made an all snakewood cue a few years ago; saw it at the DCC. You may want to contact him.
 
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