For Grice sake!

[jazznpool]

I learned yesterday that Prather no longer is able to supply Grice. I was looking to buy buttplate and joint ring material. I like the whiteness of Grice and I understand it is durable and machines and glues well. Can anyone recommend other suppliers of this material where I could make a small order? Does Grice rod or tube have a generic or trademarked name? Lastly, what would be a good substitute that has similar properties and whiteness?

Thanks in advance and, I might add, hats off to the forum cuemakers/others who share helpful information on all aspects of cue building and repair.

Martin

 

[cueman]

My guess is Grice was made by the company that made my White linen ferrule material because the company went out of business. Once I run out I will have to find something else myself. But my material is much prettier than Grice. Since grice had such course linen you might want to try Atlas Ivorine 3. To me it is very similar to Grice and a little better looking.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[rhncue]

My guess is Grice was made by the company that made my White linen ferrule material because the company went out of business. Once I run out I will have to find something else myself. But my material is much prettier than Grice. Since grice had such course linen you might want to try Atlas Ivorine 3. To me it is very similar to Grice and a little better looking.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

Yeh, the manufacturer I was getting all of my phonelics from has sold out to another corp. They said that they would still sell to me but their minimum order went to 1,000.00 per item and they raised the prices to hire than Atlas, who is not even a manufacturer but a middle man. Kind of letting me know they no longer was interested in my business and that if they had to put up with me they were going to be paid well to do it.
Dick

 

[Mase]

Yeh, the manufacturer I was getting all of my phonelics from has sold out to another corp. They said that they would still sell to me but their minimum order went to 1,000.00 per item and they raised the prices to hire than Atlas, who is not even a manufacturer but a middle man. Kind of letting me know they no longer was interested in my business and that if they had to put up with me they were going to be paid well to do it.
Dick

Atlas is actually a manufacturer also. The retail/wholesale cue parts business is a spin off.

 

[rhncue]

Atlas is actually a manufacturer also. The retail/wholesale cue parts business is a spin off.

No, Atlas is not a manufacturer of phonelic. Atlas is a very large user of phonelics in manufacturing but they do not make it and never have. It's true that the billiards end is a small part of their business that was started by Julie, in the mid to late 80's. If I remember right she told me that she was one of the vice-presidents of the companies daughter.
Dick

 

[Cue Crazy]

No, Atlas is not a manufacturer of phonelic. Atlas is a very large user of phonelics in manufacturing but they do not make it and never have. It's true that the billiards end is a small part of their business that was started by Julie, in the mid to late 80's. If I remember right she told me that she was one of the vice-presidents of the companies daughter.
Dick

To the best of My knowledge that is correct. Atlas is a supplier verses a manufacturer. They are basically a supplier/machine shop/fabricator from My understanding. They could have some materials subbed out under their name, but I don't know how much they actually make, if any. Alot of parts they sell could be machined by them though.

I have done a few good searches, and found what looks to be some manufacturing companies of many kinds of materials that look to be really good for cuebuilding, altough have not contacted them for info yet, and have no idea of the minimum orders they expect. Some prices seem better on some materials, and others run about the same price. One of them may be the same manufacturer of alot, because they have all the different type weaves of phenolic I have seen in cues, where most places only have a couple of types. They also have several of the "G" types. I have even seen those & other materials in threaded form to My suprise when in deep thought about My options in the "a" joints, until I can start threading My own.

There are alot of manufacturers out there. The nice thing about atlas or prather is they have everything in one place & specific to cuebuilding & repair. I can't see me ordering $1000 worth of rod to make the minimum, but I could see It at a place such as those where they have many products I need.

Greg

 

[Jon]

Hmmmmm....
http://www.atlasfibre.com/page1.htm

 

[bob griffin]

madison bob

Atlas is actually a manufacturer also. The retail/wholesale cue parts business is a spin off.

Yes you are correct but they buy alot of the stuff they can not make there self,s leaving us to pay higher prices because they get exclusives because of there buying power sure hurt,s the poor man!! madison bob

 

[Cue Crazy]

Hmmmmm....
http://www.atlasfibre.com/page1.htm

You threw the monkey wrench in on Me there,I knew someone would come up with that link , guess It depends on how you look at Jon. I was thinking about raw material, and that is supplied to them I believe. I have seen that link before, but Read page 4. The raw material is supplied by their affiliat then fabricated. They turn and grind It to specs. They do seem to consider that manufacturing, and they do manufacture parts from those materials, so could be seen either way I suppose. I tend to see that as fabrication, but then again could be considered manufactured also, just that the raw materials seem to come from their suppliers.
Either way, does'nt matter to me, because alot of what they have fits My needs, and I buy from them anyway. They are a good company to deal with, and their minimum is as reasonable as most suppliers in the billiard industry.

 

[Jon]

Just a quick note, the "Hmmmmmm" wasn't signifying that everybody is wrong and that link says so.
I was just pointing out what they say on their website.
I've read pretty much all of it and it all sounds confusing in a way.

our affiliate, Standard Grinding and Manufacturing Co., supplies the most critical requirements of the aerospace and defense industry.

That statement is confusing.
Just what does the affiliate supply?
"Critical requirements of the aerospace and defense industry."
That really doesn't make much sense.
LOL
They should just spit it out, either they make the stuff or they don't.
What it would appear to someone just reading their website, they are saying that they make the phenolic and their affiliate is the one grinding and manufacturing/working with the material.
Someone should just call them and ask

Thanks,

Jon

 

[Cue Crazy]

LOL, I could'nt aggree more, there are several statements that could be looked at several ways. It is confusing to Me as also, and was the reason I attempted to clarify Myself. Heck, I Was confusing Myself trying to explain It. Could just be that My understanding of a few key words in there are incorrect.
I should of done the smart thing like you, and just posted that link, so each could figure it for theirselves.

You know something funny, I'm not positve, but I believe I have seen simular statements like the one you posted on some of the other suppliers sites also . Are alot of them affilated or something?

It does not change the fact they can supply me alot of what I need, usually in a reasonable amount of time, so not an issue with me. Also most of the material we use is re-machined by Us anyhow. My dealings with them have been good, and really all I care about.

The only reason I have researched other suppliers for material, is looking into alternative products to try out, that to my knowledge they don't have. Just looking to try out new things.