help identifying joint type for an Orchid cue

lvlss42190

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Everything I have come across says this company uses 5/16x18 on their cues but this is not like any I have seen. It's some type of quick release pin.

I currently only have this one poor quality picture. I will attach an additional one as soon as I get a chance to take one myself. Just seeing if anyone may know anything that I don't because nothing I've found even says Orchid uses this type of pin.

Any specs would be greatly appreciated. Trying to get a new shaft for this cue, which is proving to be a bit of a research project
 

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Your pic is a bit blurry so I can only provide a guess.
If the very front of the pin is cone-shaped : Uni-Loc
If the first 3/16" is straight-sided : Accu-Loc
There's no guarantee that it's the stock pin.
 
Not a cuemaker but:

Early Orchids used a 5/16x14 pin, piloted, like a Joss. Later many used the 18 pin you found when researching, which is probably the most common. My own Orchid example has the 18 pin.

Orchid has been around a long time and is in fact still in business as far as I know, but I don't know if they currently are imported.

I have seen this pin used in them as well as several other cheaper Asian brands like Kaiser. I think it's some kind of a cheap version of a Uni-Loc. I don't know any formal name for that pin though and will be interested to see if any of the cuemakers know what it's called.

One of the cue makers might have something laying around.

Whether or not anybody like J&J, Seyberts, etc, etc has a shaft on the shelf for that might be something to check since they sell imports.


.

.
 
Your pic is a bit blurry so I can only provide a guess.
If the very front of the pin is cone-shaped : Uni-Loc
If the first 3/16" is straight-sided : Accu-Loc
There's no guarantee that it's the stock pin.

This is neither. This one has a ball on the end. I've seen them before on Orchids. Strange Asian pin. Cheapo.

Something like this I think:

picture.php



Sorry- Not a cuemaker. Just saw this and thought I could help.



.
 
Last edited:
This is neither. This one has a ball on the end. I've seen them before on Orchids. Strange Asian pin. Cheapo.

Something like this I think:

picture.php



Sorry- Not a cuemaker. Just saw this and thought I could help.



.

Thanx Doc,

What you've shown is the Tru-Loc and yes it is Asian.
The Schmelke QR is similar but different. It's based on 3/8x16 tpi.
I think we could probably stand a few more bastard pins about now, don't you ?

PS - You don't have to announce that you're not a CM, we know that.
What we also know is that you are courteous and helpful. Thanx.
 
Thanx Doc,

What you've shown is the Tru-Loc and yes it is Asian.
The Schmelke QR is similar but different. It's based on 3/8x16 tpi.
I think we could probably stand a few more bastard pins about now, don't you ?

PS - You don't have to announce that you're not a CM, we know that.
What we also know is that you are courteous and helpful. Thanx.



Thanks. I am getting a cue lathe soon. Then I'll just say I am just a guy with a cue lathe. :D You guys blow me away, I wouldn't want a reader to think I was pretending to be a cuemaker.


Bastard pins? Yeah, I am just waiting for a left handed pin. I have often thought to have one made just so I could argue it shoots better. LOL! I'll bet a few would believe it. :D
 
This is neither. This one has a ball on the end. I've seen them before on Orchids. Strange Asian pin. Cheapo.

Something like this I think:

picture.php



Sorry- Not a cuemaker. Just saw this and thought I could help.



.

That looks pretty spot on to what I'm working with.
Now that I know what it is, could anyone point me in the direction of where I might be able to find the specs needed to try and make the female portion of this?

Friend of mine has some sentimental attachment to the cue albeit sort of beat up and appears to be cheaply made and wants to upgrade to an OB shaft from the what seems to be solid maple he currently has.
 
That looks pretty spot on to what I'm working with.
Now that I know what it is, could anyone point me in the direction of where I might be able to find the specs needed to try and make the female portion of this?

Friend of mine has some sentimental attachment to the cue albeit sort of beat up and appears to be cheaply made and wants to upgrade to an OB shaft from the what seems to be solid maple he currently has.

Why not just change the pin to a common 3/8x10 and buy a stock shaft?
I'm not a cue maker.
 
If all you want is a 2nd shaft, the most efficient and effective solution is to find (or make) an insert.
Changing a pin is do-able but is considered surgery; there's heat involved (240*+).
Pins turn red, wood gets charred and plastic can melt. But it's an option.
Your cue has the parts. The insert can be measured. It's Asian, meaning likely Metric. Probably common.
Is there anything really wrong with the pin/insert set that you have ? Do they function properly ?
Want a 3rd-4th shaft ? Have a few inserts made. They should be cheap; they're brass.
 
If all you want is a 2nd shaft, the most efficient and effective solution is to find (or make) an insert.
Changing a pin is do-able but is considered surgery; there's heat involved (240*+).
Pins turn red, wood gets charred and plastic can melt. But it's an option.
Your cue has the parts. The insert can be measured. It's Asian, meaning likely Metric. Probably common.
Is there anything really wrong with the pin/insert set that you have ? Do they function properly ?
Want a 3rd-4th shaft ? Have a few inserts made. They should be cheap; they're brass.


Right, I work as a machinist, I could more than likely make the insert, but having a hard set of dimensions is always easier than trying to do precision guess work.

Everything functions as it should, I've actually pondered the idea of removing the brass insert from the current shaft to have it installed in a partial and then have it finished for the new one.

I appreciate all the help here by the way guys and/or girls(?)
 
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