Flat face shaft w/piloted butt?

[Donny Lutz]

Can you use a flat-faced shaft with a piloted butt, without affecting the hit and the strength of the connection? I'm concerned about the empty space where the pilot would be, and whether the reduced bite on the pin would risk damage? I'm assuming the larger (wider and deeper) the pilot, the more the hit might be affected, and piloted butts with short pins might create a risk because of the "weaker" connection.
Would a solution be to simply create a pilot, by taking a few millimeters off the face of the collar?

Donny L
BCA/ACS Instructor
Gainesville, Fl

 

[claymont]

I've a cue that was 5/16-14 flat faced that I had the cuemaker make it a piloted joint, so I could use some of my other shafts with it. I don't use it a whole lot, but I haven't damaged it yet As far as hit, I did this so I could use my LD shafts with this cue and they play the same(at least to me) as on my other cues they fit.

 

[danutz]

As long as you have a few threads to screw down on, it will be fine as is.

 

[dave sutton]

No problems.

 

[opiesbro]

I have seen problems before

I have seen a problem with this before. If the threads in the shaft have been put in with an insert like brass or phenolic it could suck it out. I have had this happen on a cue i shoot with now and also i spotted this on a pro players cue i worked on. Pm me and i will give you some ideas on how to correct.

Allen