Funny Looking Ears!

jazznpool

jazznpool

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A cuemaker in my network recently purchased 2 so-called "elephant ear" wraps from a leading billiard supplier at $75.00 each. They are approximately .045 thick (have fun installing and brutalizing the wrap channel!). Now it is possible that the leather came from the back of the elephant ear or somewhere else on the elephant, but it is certainly not the same as real elephant ear also pictured, which has a smoother texture with little if any creasing. Note the smoother ear is split to an even
.024" thickness which is not really possible if the ear leather has prounounced and deep creasing. A whole flat elephant ear will yield, at best, 50% pieces with uniform and semi-smooth texture. The rest, while still very good and usable will have a various amount of texture and light creasing as wraps are cut away from the center of the inside of the ear. YMMV. Just wanted to share this information. Martin

AtlasEar1.jpg

WesterncueEar.jpg
 
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i wouldn't want to fool with a skin as thick as .045",but on the other hand elephant at .024" whether it is smooth or wrinkled is too skinny for me.you can see holes through the skin and the handle will be visible through the holes.i like elephant to be in between and cut the wrap groove slightly deeper.
 
jazznpool said:
A cuemaker in my network recently purchased 2 so-called "elephant ear" wraps from a leading billiard supplier at $75.00 each. They are approximately .045 thick (have fun installing and brutalizing the wrap channel!). Now it is possible that the leather came from the back of the elephant ear or somewhere else on the elephant, but it is certainly not the same as real elephant ear also pictured, which has a smoother texture with little if any creasing. Note the smoother ear is split to an even
.024" thickness which is not really possible if the ear leather has prounounced and deep creasing. A whole flat elephant ear will yield, at best, 50% pieces with uniform and semi-smooth texture. The rest, while still very good and usable will have a various amount of texture and light creasing as wraps are cut away from the center of the inside of the ear. YMMV. Just wanted to share this information. Martin

AtlasEar1.jpg

WesterncueEar.jpg
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yes some ears look like that.... that why its so nice to pick through them.

and youd be supprized what can be cut 0.024" thick.
 
No holes in these at .024 or so because they were good and flat ears to begin with. In fact, they're perfect and worth all the hassle and expense (thanks also to Kenny K). I do have quite a few ear wraps from last year that look like swiss cheese as they were split too thin for the quality of ear it was. At least half of them belong in the trashcan. It was a very expensive lesson. There are so very few vendors of exotic leathers that only the fortunate few can hand pick them. BTW, I respect the people at the leading billiard supply place but the ear wrap they vend leaves something to be desired.

Martin

masonh said:
i wouldn't want to fool with a skin as thick as .045",but on the other hand elephant at .024" whether it is smooth or wrinkled is too skinny for me.you can see holes through the skin and the handle will be visible through the holes.i like elephant to be in between and cut the wrap groove slightly deeper.
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I am not the supplier of either of the above Elephant Ear blanks, nor do I sell Elephant Ear blanks. But over the years I have seen them on cues and what I have seen usually looks like the top picture. That is the look I would see and think Elephant Ear wrap when seeing it. The bottom picture might leave me guessing as to what kind of wrap it is. The smoother wraps would definately be easier to split to .024". But I would not call the other blanks low quality because of the thickness as many would prefer that look over the smooth. Like you I would prefer not to cut a wrap groove that deep either, but I would not say doing so is absolutely wrong either. It might create more whip in the butt of the cue, but that is also known to create more cue ball English, Draw and Follow. So some might like the extra cue ball action and the deep texture. Both set of wraps look fine to me and both have their places in cues. It just depends on what the customer wants in this case.
 
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I like both textures myself but if I had my choice for my personal cue I would go with the top texture. I don't think the "billiards supplier" knows much about elephant ear if they left it at .045 thick. The deeper texture is easily cut down to .027-.028 with no extra holes blown through but occasionally you may lose one. I have one that is waiting a special application that is from the tail section.


<~~~thinks elephant leather is the nutts..........
 
I remember the Justis case that is covered in elephant ear. It looked like the top pic. I personally like it over the smoother one. As a wrap on a cue the extra tactile feel is better to me.
 
My point was that I don't think the top one is really elephant ear. It doesn't look like any of the 10 or so ears I've cut up and I thought it was worthwhile to share the info. Its like paying for a Porterhouse and being served chuck steak. Chris makes a good point, lots of people are happy with the thicker wrap (not knowing what had to be done to their cue to install it) and who knows how many cuemakers have come to understand the product as elephant ear. It does have a nice feel. Nevertheless, leather wraps thicker than about .027" aren't really cue worthy in my opinion. Over and out! Martin


BarenbruggeCues said:
I like both textures myself but if I had my choice for my personal cue I would go with the top texture. I don't think the "billiards supplier" knows much about elephant ear if they left it at .045 thick. The deeper texture is easily cut down to .027-.028 with no extra holes blown through but occasionally you may lose one. I have one that is waiting a special application that is from the tail section.


<~~~thinks elephant leather is the nutts..........
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it looks like elephant to me.i have bought 2-3 ears over tha last 7-8 months and on the outside of the ear,that is what it looks like.they just have wrinkles near the edge and the center looks like the 2 thin ones you have posted.i like either and the feel of elephant is unmistakeable.

i am not sure if the pieces below are more desirable or more valuable,but if they are i might start keeping the wrinkled ones and selling the tight ones.when i get it it is about .060-.070" and i have a local guy thin it,and he recommended .030-.035" to me even thought i did try to talk him into .025".
 
jazznpool said:
My point was that I don't think the top one is really elephant ear.
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Hey Martin...........not saying it is for sure, but I believe it could very well be ele ear. Not sure what makes the different ears have different textures (maybe the difference between a Kenyan and Nigerian elephant?) but I have seen and cut up ears that look exactly like the top texture.
I have also looked at hide panels and they can look exactly like this also but the graining is much deeper than in the ear and would definitely require a thicker finished piece.

<~~~much agreed on the thicker than .027-28.........hate eating chuck...
 
Construction Zone???

Maybe a thick ears may have come from "HEARD HEAD AREA" only find them in the construction zone???:D :D :D Dont have big enought hat for the elephant and just required thicker skin:p :p :D
 
FLYINGSNAIL said:
Maybe a thick ears may have come from "HEARD HEAD AREA" only find them in the construction zone???:D :D :D Dont have big enought hat for the elephant and just required thicker skin:p :p :D
Click to expand...

I was thinking they were the male ears. That way when they folded them over they could block out the Mrs. Ele better.
 
merylane said:
yes some ears look like that.... that why its so nice to pick through them.

and youd be supprized what can be cut 0.024" thick.
Click to expand...

I don't believe you.......why not show us with some pictures!


<~~~thinks he's looking for his camera right now..............
 
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