I put my cues in the trunk of my car and drove to a different poolhall, it took about 30 minutes because of traffic. The weather was about 50 degrees F at the time. When I got my cues out and brought them in, they felt ICE cold. They seemed to hit a little differently for a while. Does the cold make them stiffer and change the hit? And can it warp or damage a shaft?
Effect of Cold Weather on Cues?
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
cuetechasaurus said:
Yes, drastic temperature change in wood can and does cause warpage. Next time, you'll want to put your case in the passenger compartment of the car so the heater can keep it closer to a normal temperature.
Russ
I'm not sure how much the properties of wood change with that measly little difference in temperature. I may have to give you bad rep for being a wimp 
. Tonight it's about -4F (-20C), not terribly cold, and my cue will cool down considerably on the drive to the pool hall. My cue is still as straight as ever. Of course around here it's a dry cold 
Dave
. Tonight it's about -4F (-20C), not terribly cold, and my cue will cool down considerably on the drive to the pool hall. My cue is still as straight as ever. Of course around here it's a dry cold Dave
DaveK said:I'm not sure how much the properties of wood change with that measly little difference in temperature. I may have to give you bad rep for being a wimp
Dave
I'm with ya Dave. For the last ten years, i've shot for extended times (through at least one whole winter) with a Schuler, a Schon, a Jacoby, a Schon/predator, and shorter periods with other cues. While I've been a little careful in the summertime, I have always not worried about the wintertime. I have many times for each of these cues taken them out of a car they've been in for hours at -10 to -20 F and played with them a few minutes later. None of these has warped. Sometimes I'll warm the joint with my hands for a minute or so. I don't screw it together real tightly at first. Anyway I think the effect of cold on cues has been exaggerated.
wood expands in hot weather and contracts in cold. where this can be highly detrimental is with the finish. it being not as expandable will give greater chances for it to "ghost" or pull away from the wood along the ring work and where its been cut in by the wrap and such. i guess it's not that big of a deal for players cues but you sure don't want your $6,000 Gina seeing these issues. i realize sometimes you don't have any choice and in those cases you just do the best to keep it out of direct sunlight in the summer and keep it in the case wrapped in a blanket in the winter.
When travelling to and from a shoot, I lay my case up on the back set in my car. Since the heating vents tend to cook the floorboard area, I found that the back seat is the perfect place to keep the case at an even temp within the car.
In the summer, I'll take a white or light colored towel and cover the case with it, this way the sunlight is reflected back off the towel, and not cooking the case in the back seat.
I never carry my cue in the trunk of my car...not so much for temperature reasons, but I cringe to think of a rear-ender taking place.
Lisa
In the summer, I'll take a white or light colored towel and cover the case with it, this way the sunlight is reflected back off the towel, and not cooking the case in the back seat.
I never carry my cue in the trunk of my car...not so much for temperature reasons, but I cringe to think of a rear-ender taking place.
Lisa
The biggest concern I've heard is with ivory ferrules. They should be allowed to warm up and adjust to room temperture before you really whack anything with them.
ridewiththewind said:but I cringe to think of a rear-ender taking place.
Lisa
Now that is funny. I have thought of the same thing.
Just like putting your baby in one of those car seats in the rear rear of a van.
Just curious if anyone has ever considered putting your dogs in a seat belt? If so, how about a pool cue?
I must be nuts because that thought has crossed my mind also. Visualizing my baby flying all over the car, out the window, and under a moving truch is to too much for me.
whitewolf said:Now that is funny. I have thought of the same thing.
Just like putting your baby in one of those car seats in the rear rear of a van.
Just curious if anyone has ever considered putting your dogs in a seat belt? If so, how about a pool cue?
Lol...nice to know I am not the only one!!
Lisa
Also, if the cue is cold when you walk in the room. Allow it to adjust to room temperature before you start tightening it down.
Otherwise, you're going to end up having it fully tight cold, it'll warm up, expand, and cause problems with the joint...just my 2 cents.
Otherwise, you're going to end up having it fully tight cold, it'll warm up, expand, and cause problems with the joint...just my 2 cents.
I want to move next door...
..if 50 at the end of November is "cold weather"
tho other comments about drastic temp change effects on wood are true,
it doesn't sound to me like temp was your problem
and a temp of 50 degrees should not be a cause for concern.
your comment about feeling "ice cold" is a clue,
I would guess humidity as the culprit, esp where you said the cue seemd to play dif for a while
Dale<semi-educated guesses at no charge>
cuetechasaurus said:
..if 50 at the end of November is "cold weather"
tho other comments about drastic temp change effects on wood are true,
it doesn't sound to me like temp was your problem
and a temp of 50 degrees should not be a cause for concern.
your comment about feeling "ice cold" is a clue,
I would guess humidity as the culprit, esp where you said the cue seemd to play dif for a while
Dale<semi-educated guesses at no charge>
I live in SoCal in an area that does get humid sometimes. During this time of year if I park my car for an hour the windows are fogged up, so there is moisture floating around definately. I think the coldest weather I've ever felt is like 40F, that's because I've lived here my whole life LOL.
cuetechasaurus said:
Hello Partner, any and all cue sticks should be kept in a temperature controlled environment because of the following reason's.
1. While one poster has brought up the point that in the cold shrinkage will occur due to the temperature change, where ever there is this shrinkage, there will also be expansion when the cue warms up again. Shrinkage and expansion are never going to be certain to stop were they began.
2. The problem occurs due to the different hardness of materials used in construction of the cue. These materials will expand and contact differently at the location where they are joined or attached. For instance, if you have a cue where Ebony is in lay-ed into maple with time the ebony inlays will crack the maple surrounding them because they are harder. Another material that you see cracked on a lot of older cues is Ivory or Mother of Pearl inlays for the same reason.
3. Ivory, is a organic material that will expand and contract due to Temperature, and Humidity. If you bring you cue in out of the cold and just begin playing and you have an Ivory Ferrule or Joint you stand a good chance of cracking it due to the sudden temperature change. Even Brunswick use to tell people to let their Ivory balls adjust to room temperature for up to 24 hrs if they have been exposed to major differences in temperature and humidity.
4. This process also works on the inside of the cue, it will effect locations where rings join to wood or even the metal dowels that attach Forearms and butts to under wraps.
The best practice is kept your cues in a temperature controlled environment, where temperature stays within 5 degrees above or below normal and 70 degrees with low humidity is perfect for long term storage.
Good Luck
Manwon