How to lighten a cue AND shift it's balance toward the back
- Thread starter DJ14.1
- Start date
With that shaft weight I assume it has an insert (5/16x14 or 5/16x18).
But on the off chance it is a big pin cue I would suggest changing the pin to a G10.
Should save around an ounce and push back the balance noticeably.
gr. Dave
But on the off chance it is a big pin cue I would suggest changing the pin to a G10.
Should save around an ounce and push back the balance noticeably.
gr. Dave
ElCorazonFrio
Banned
What pin is in the cue?
If it is a big SS pin, I've done exactly that by making a plastic pin cast around a CF tube. The new pin weighed about the same amount as a penny.
If it is a big SS pin, I've done exactly that by making a plastic pin cast around a CF tube. The new pin weighed about the same amount as a penny.
I'll doublecheck my weight readings, it's possible my scale's off. It's the Nova in my picture. Overall weight about 20.5 oz.
Wanted to take about an oz out, but it's already pretty forward balanced, so removing the weight bolt probably isn't the ticket. Tried it and it didn't feel good. So I was thinking of buying a new lighter shaft for it.
Wanted to take about an oz out, but it's already pretty forward balanced, so removing the weight bolt probably isn't the ticket. Tried it and it didn't feel good. So I was thinking of buying a new lighter shaft for it.
Or titanium, if you want to keep the metal look and feel. I've done that change-out a number of times over the years. If you have a cuemaker who is willing to do the work I'll be happy to sell him a titanium joint collar for whatever it was I paid for them.
TW
ElCorazonFrio
Banned
A generous offer.
That said, I expect any change in the weight of the joint will result in a different feel to the cue. The lighter material will create less of a node in the wave transmission.
I didn't even think about titanium, good call TW...
How easy does it machine and polish up?
Dave
???? Don't understand the 'Less of a node in the wave transmission' statement (Sounds like a Rick comment) I will say that changing the collar will make a change in the feel of the hit of the cue, but IMO, not anything more than going to, say, a 3.9 or 4.2 oz shaft. Changing key parts like this will usually change the hit somewhat, but right now the customer is not happy with the way it is anyways. Changing a 5/16" pin to aluminum or as suggested, a plastic cast one, will not achieve the 1 - 1.5 oz change the OP wants. I actually wonder if there has been weight added before installing the insert on the shaft?.
Dave
I don't get the "node" reference either.. Nodes are points at minimum already so do you mean the distance between the nodes is less? I play a little guitar, very little I might add, but the node in vibration control are the frets.. That and using them for manipulating vector drawings is my limit...
TW, please chime in...
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ElCorazonFrio
Banned
Basically, yes, the node positions will change because the natural frequency of the cue will change.
The nodes are very influenced by a heavy weight in the middle of an unsupported length of vibrating mass. Not a real correlation to frets on a guitar string because that is an endpoint. This would be like putting a weight in the middle of the string and comparing to a lighter or a heavier weight in the same spot.
This is why I'm hesitant to try "anything drastic" to the stick from my original post....unless there's no trouble undoing it. The vibration characteristics (feel) would undoubtedly change if the joint is changed, though it does does accomplish what I was asking for so I can't complain.
That's why I was thinking of just trying a lighter shaft since my Nova shaft is so heavy to begin with (over 5 oz.). Anybody know a common shaft that may fit a Nova that I could test with.....maybe a light shaft for a common production cue that would fit it? I think the Nova is 5/16-14 piloted.
Thanks again for all the help.
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The "hit" of a cue travels down the length of the cue (from tip to bumper) in the form of a sound wave. Far less important that the weight of a joint is its material's tendency to absorb (or not) those vibrations. For example, lead may be much heavier than steel, but the difference in feel between a lead joint and a steel joint will be influenced far more by its sound-wave transmitting qualities than by its weight.
I might help to understand this by considering that steel is heavier than water, and vibrations (sound waves) travel through steel faster than through water... BUT lead is heavier than steel, and yet those same vibrations travel through steel faster than through lead - even though the lead is heavier than the steel.
So the real point it that any particular joint material's sound transmitting/absorbing characteristics are far more important to how a cue "hits" than simply its weight.
That said, the only way to judge how a cue will hit with any given joint material is to try it. All the scientific facts piled up on top of each other cannot change that simple truth.
TW