An obviously defective shaft should be dispatched expeditiously.:wink:
Frost's replacement tip OOPS
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Back in 2009 I had the opportunity to play Grady for a couple of days at his room in Lexington, SC. Grady, as always, was a gracious host.
The second day I was there a fellow came in and apologized to Grady for something that had happened the night before. I'm not sure, but I think it involved the breakage of a custom cue. Anywhos, all is forgiven and forgotten and we're having a good laugh and the fellow starts telling the story of another "incident," relating that in this case, a player who was shooting poorly got to the point of holding his $1000 custom at arms length and said to it, "One more, and that's it for you, Big Daddy."
Well, the line struck me as pretty funny and I just remembered it and was thinking about other memorable cue incidents. Ferinstance, I was told by the old timers around here that a pretty well known St. Louis player (not Louie) use to have a reputation for breaking sticks (as did a contemporary of his -- a much lesser known player). They said that in one month, the rail birds counted nine cue sticks broken by the better known player and ten by the other fellow. The final act in this 30 days of carnage was the lesser known fellow losing a set for a healthy wager, calmly leaving the pool hall, emptying out his rather large cue case on the sidewalk, carefully lining up five cues (with shafts) on the curbstone and driving over them as he left the pool hall, never to be seen again.
We also use to have in this area a well known, rather large (physically and figuratively) fish who liked to toss his pool cue around when defeat came his way. On one occasion, he threw his cue, javelin style, at a wall. A perfectly shaped cue-sized hole remains in the pool hall wall to this day. On another occasion, this player left the pool hall and, once again javelin style, threw his cue onto the pool hall roof and drove off to nurse his rage.
More recently, we had another fellow who owned a pretty expensive Meucci. He dogged a ball and stuck the butt of the cue into a corner pocket. His reputation for cue destruction was pretty well known, so several of the regulars yelled out, "Don't do it, I'll give you a hundred for the cue!" He just smiled at 'em and yanked sideways anyway, dismembering the cue.
I was in attendance the night this last fellow I mentioned took his frustrations out on another Meucci. To get the visual image on this one, you have to know that at this particular pool hall the bathrooms are in a small alcove a few feet away from the money table. This guy lost a set and calmly walked into the alcove towards the bathrooms. The next thing we knew there was the most incredible stream of epithets pouring out of the alcove, accompanied by the sounds of splintering wood from the Meucci being pounded against the floor. This went on for a fair period of time and, at one point, a part of the shaft came (dare I say it?) squirting out of the alcove, end-over-end at about 50 mph and almost impaled one of the regulars sitting against the wall. When it was over, the fellow came out, deposited the several pieces the cue was now in into a trash can, smiled at the regulars and said, "I feel much better now."
Thankfully, it's a lot calmer around here nowadays
Lou Figueroa
The second day I was there a fellow came in and apologized to Grady for something that had happened the night before. I'm not sure, but I think it involved the breakage of a custom cue. Anywhos, all is forgiven and forgotten and we're having a good laugh and the fellow starts telling the story of another "incident," relating that in this case, a player who was shooting poorly got to the point of holding his $1000 custom at arms length and said to it, "One more, and that's it for you, Big Daddy."
Well, the line struck me as pretty funny and I just remembered it and was thinking about other memorable cue incidents. Ferinstance, I was told by the old timers around here that a pretty well known St. Louis player (not Louie) use to have a reputation for breaking sticks (as did a contemporary of his -- a much lesser known player). They said that in one month, the rail birds counted nine cue sticks broken by the better known player and ten by the other fellow. The final act in this 30 days of carnage was the lesser known fellow losing a set for a healthy wager, calmly leaving the pool hall, emptying out his rather large cue case on the sidewalk, carefully lining up five cues (with shafts) on the curbstone and driving over them as he left the pool hall, never to be seen again.
We also use to have in this area a well known, rather large (physically and figuratively) fish who liked to toss his pool cue around when defeat came his way. On one occasion, he threw his cue, javelin style, at a wall. A perfectly shaped cue-sized hole remains in the pool hall wall to this day. On another occasion, this player left the pool hall and, once again javelin style, threw his cue onto the pool hall roof and drove off to nurse his rage.
More recently, we had another fellow who owned a pretty expensive Meucci. He dogged a ball and stuck the butt of the cue into a corner pocket. His reputation for cue destruction was pretty well known, so several of the regulars yelled out, "Don't do it, I'll give you a hundred for the cue!" He just smiled at 'em and yanked sideways anyway, dismembering the cue.
I was in attendance the night this last fellow I mentioned took his frustrations out on another Meucci. To get the visual image on this one, you have to know that at this particular pool hall the bathrooms are in a small alcove a few feet away from the money table. This guy lost a set and calmly walked into the alcove towards the bathrooms. The next thing we knew there was the most incredible stream of epithets pouring out of the alcove, accompanied by the sounds of splintering wood from the Meucci being pounded against the floor. This went on for a fair period of time and, at one point, a part of the shaft came (dare I say it?) squirting out of the alcove, end-over-end at about 50 mph and almost impaled one of the regulars sitting against the wall. When it was over, the fellow came out, deposited the several pieces the cue was now in into a trash can, smiled at the regulars and said, "I feel much better now."
Thankfully, it's a lot calmer around here nowadays
Lou Figueroa
True words. Getting a new shaft takes time and cost money. I will never break a shaft again. I did probably 15 years ago. I would have liked to last week after losing a match I shouldn't have. I'm still angry 4 days later.
This one is a local classic that gets reminisced here a lot. I'm at the hall after league night and another local who drinks quite a bit challenges me to some 50 a game 9 ball. He plays a little better than me so we go back and forth about the spot. Anyway we come up with some crazy spot that he gets the 6 ball and i get the 7-8. Well he thinks he has me trapped. But he's also drunk and can't get to the 6 ball... After losing a few games he decides i'm much too sober and he can out drink me and beat me that way. Good plan.. He offers to buy but i don't drink....lol well he throws a little hissy when i decline a beverage and inform him i don't drink and now he's aware he's in trouble.
After thinking he has the nuts regardless, we continue to play and after him dogging to many shots i'm up seven games. After missing a pretty easy 6 ball he starts screaming and grabs two big hand fulls of hair and pulls them straight out of his head! Well we are all dropping our jaws at this incredible feat and he takes his real nice Predator and hits it on the edge of the table at the joint but it doesn't break. Knowing the owner was about to toss him he takes his stick outside and we can hear him wearing it out on the corner of the cinder block building. A few mins later comes back in without his cue, calmly pays me and leaves. So we go outside and he must have busted that thing in a hundred pieces. And lost two clumps of hair he couldn't afford to loose. lol We didn't see him for a year after that....
After thinking he has the nuts regardless, we continue to play and after him dogging to many shots i'm up seven games. After missing a pretty easy 6 ball he starts screaming and grabs two big hand fulls of hair and pulls them straight out of his head! Well we are all dropping our jaws at this incredible feat and he takes his real nice Predator and hits it on the edge of the table at the joint but it doesn't break. Knowing the owner was about to toss him he takes his stick outside and we can hear him wearing it out on the corner of the cinder block building. A few mins later comes back in without his cue, calmly pays me and leaves. So we go outside and he must have busted that thing in a hundred pieces. And lost two clumps of hair he couldn't afford to loose. lol We didn't see him for a year after that....
More cue snapping
A couple of years ago, a local "angry" gambler in NYC was playing one of his rival opponents, whom he played on a routine basis. Angry gambler was always trying to give his opponent a spot, even though they were close in speed.
After one night of continued losses, Angry gambler couldn't take it anymore and smashed his brand new Steve Klein on the rail of the table, splinters flying everywhere. As the entire room paused in astonishment, he calmly walked over to his case, took out his break cue, and demolished it on the rail in the same fashion.
Finally, he walked back over to his pool case with the same calm pace. Angry took out his jump cue, held it high over his head over the rail, and paused - after a change of heart, he lowered the jump cue, unscathed. He slowly walked over to the garbage pail, and lovingly placed it inside along with his case before sauntering out the door.
Angry quit pool for over a year and just started coming around again. He plays a few tournaments but I don't see him gambling anymore.
A couple of years ago, a local "angry" gambler in NYC was playing one of his rival opponents, whom he played on a routine basis. Angry gambler was always trying to give his opponent a spot, even though they were close in speed.
After one night of continued losses, Angry gambler couldn't take it anymore and smashed his brand new Steve Klein on the rail of the table, splinters flying everywhere. As the entire room paused in astonishment, he calmly walked over to his case, took out his break cue, and demolished it on the rail in the same fashion.
Finally, he walked back over to his pool case with the same calm pace. Angry took out his jump cue, held it high over his head over the rail, and paused - after a change of heart, he lowered the jump cue, unscathed. He slowly walked over to the garbage pail, and lovingly placed it inside along with his case before sauntering out the door.
Angry quit pool for over a year and just started coming around again. He plays a few tournaments but I don't see him gambling anymore.
Back in 2009 I had the opportunity to play Grady for a couple of days at his room in Lexington, SC. Grady, as always, was a gracious host.
The second day I was there a fellow came in and apologized to Grady for something that had happened the night before. I'm not sure, but I think it involved the breakage of a custom cue. Anywhos, all is forgiven and forgotten and we're having a good laugh and the fellow starts telling the story of another "incident," relating that in this case, a player who was shooting poorly got to the point of holding his $1000 custom at arms length and said to it, "One more, and that's it for you, Big Daddy."
Well, the line struck me as pretty funny and I just remembered it and was thinking about other memorable cue incidents. Ferinstance, I was told by the old timers around here that a pretty well known St. Louis player (not Louie) use to have a reputation for breaking sticks (as did a contemporary of his -- a much lesser known player). They said that in one month, the rail birds counted nine cue sticks broken by the better known player and ten by the other fellow. The final act in this 30 days of carnage was the lesser known fellow losing a set for a healthy wager, calmly leaving the pool hall, emptying out his rather large cue case on the sidewalk, carefully lining up five cues (with shafts) on the curbstone and driving over them as he left the pool hall, never to be seen again.
We also use to have in this area a well known, rather large (physically and figuratively) fish who liked to toss his pool cue around when defeat came his way. On one occasion, he threw his cue, javelin style, at a wall. A perfectly shaped cue-sized hole remains in the pool hall wall to this day. On another occasion, this player left the pool hall and, once again javelin style, threw his cue onto the pool hall roof and drove off to nurse his rage.
More recently, we had another fellow who owned a pretty expensive Meucci. He dogged a ball and stuck the butt of the cue into a corner pocket. His reputation for cue destruction was pretty well known, so several of the regulars yelled out, "Don't do it, I'll give you a hundred for the cue!" He just smiled at 'em and yanked sideways anyway, dismembering the cue.
I was in attendance the night this last fellow I mentioned took his frustrations out on another Meucci. To get the visual image on this one, you have to know that at this particular pool hall the bathrooms are in a small alcove a few feet away from the money table. This guy lost a set and calmly walked into the alcove towards the bathrooms. The next thing we knew there was the most incredible stream of epithets pouring out of the alcove, accompanied by the sounds of splintering wood from the Meucci being pounded against the floor. This went on for a fair period of time and, at one point, a part of the shaft came (dare I say it?) squirting out of the alcove, end-over-end at about 50 mph and almost impaled one of the regulars sitting against the wall. When it was over, the fellow came out, deposited the several pieces the cue was now in into a trash can, smiled at the regulars and said, "I feel much better now."
Thankfully, it's a lot calmer around here nowadays
Lou Figueroa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv0onXhyLlE
First two piece cue I ever owned was a cheapo decal cue - I think the name was Crest. I didn't realize it had a screw on tip/ferrule until one day I was breaking the tip and ferrule shattered into 50 pieces and the only thing left was the threaded end of the shaft.
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I've never broke a cue.....never found one that gambled.
i've only broken one, whilst breaking....a Norwela.....was pretty, played somewhere between a mcdermott and a meucci.....pin was crooked and was high figured B.E. maple......man was i pissed lol.
don't break your cues...the gods frown on such childishness.
-Greyghost
Anger Issues
While I admit I have anger issues I haven't ever PURPOSELY broken a cue in anger. 25 years ago I missed a shot with my first decent cue (Joss) and kind of whipped the cue over my head. Unfortunately, I was wearing a cap, didn't see the smoke eater and well, the rest is history. The shaft went bouncing down the aisle in pieces. Back then you couldn't just jump online and order another. The last one was this year. Killing a guy in league. Only needed a couple of balls for APA 9 and the joint just gave. I was as shocked as everyone. Ooops. Don't know my own strength.
While I admit I have anger issues I haven't ever PURPOSELY broken a cue in anger. 25 years ago I missed a shot with my first decent cue (Joss) and kind of whipped the cue over my head. Unfortunately, I was wearing a cap, didn't see the smoke eater and well, the rest is history. The shaft went bouncing down the aisle in pieces. Back then you couldn't just jump online and order another. The last one was this year. Killing a guy in league. Only needed a couple of balls for APA 9 and the joint just gave. I was as shocked as everyone. Ooops. Don't know my own strength.
Attachments
Actually, that looks like a grain run-out issue to me...
Even with perfectly quartered wood, because of the way some trees grow (in a slight spiral), the grain on the "flat" side will travel at a slight angle. This is not always detectable by eye, and the only way to ensure the grain is straight in that direction is to split the billet. This is not done usually because the yield is a lot lower and is done by hand, not cut by machine.
So basically in the "flatsawn" side of the shaft, the grain is actually angled to the axis of the shaft, thus when the joint was stressed, it split short instead of going up the shaft's axis. It was a weak point.
If the wood truly fractured you'd see steps more or less 90 degrees to the break. You can see in your pic the grain following exactly in the direction of the split.
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You publicly humiliate and belittle a fellow cue mechanic, and for something that happens to all of us. Your words say a whole lot more about your character than they do his skill level. I don't know if the guy is a local competitor of yours or what, but nothing good will come of this for you.
I've had a tip come off once in my lifetime and it was attributed to the shelf life of the glue being expired. My cue repair guy takes all steps required to ensure longevity and I would never question him on his workmanship.
When I see someone that smacks their cue off the rail and it comes off breaking the next rack it's hard to side with him saying the repair guy was at fault.
Here's the guy that I deal with for reference.
https://youtu.be/qHw-F4PQyLM
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I have no idea either and I've been a red seal cabinetmaker for 9 years and in the trade since high school.
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When the stakes are high, and visibility is high, any failure is quite open to the public.
I don't know the guy at all, but I know for certain that if my customer were playing for $200,000 immediately following the repair, I am going to the store for a new bottle of glue and charging triple to ensure the jobs gets every second it needs to guarantee no failures in an extremely visible situation.
Your soapbox is noble, but it was the wrong time to let old glue bite someone in the ass. I don't even particularly care for Scott's antics, but the look on his face when the tip popped off during a routine warm-up stroke was saddening.
If I have the best body shop in the world help restore an old car that I take to a show, and the chrome bumper falls off while I'm there, I look like an idiot.
I started as a cabinetmaker's apprentice, and even had my own business a long while back. Currently my woodworking focus is on guitar building.
On an acoustic, the top wood is about .100" thickness, and the bracing is only about 1/4" thickness by about 5/8" height. And this has to counteract about 180lbs of string pull, while still being flexible enough to move and produce sound at a good volume. The lighter the parts the better generally, and zero-runout wood gives the maximum strength got a given size.
One way to check runout is to look at a piece of wood under light, looking at a flatsawn side, then spin it 180 degrees and see if the shimmer of the wood "shifts" color.
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