Inside an OB shaft...

RBC said:
This is a great thread!

I thought it might be good for me to chime in and answer a few questions.

First, I should mention that the pictures are from an OB line cue shaft. The Classic line is a little different.

About the silicone rubber core. First, it's only on the OB line, and we call it our "Noise Dampening Core". It's a big part of what gives the OB's the quieter hit. The material is actually a silicone foam rubber, and it's intended to weigh about the same as the maple it replaces. The core extends from just above the joint to about 5 or 6 inches below the tip. To make room for it, we have to drill the cue shaft all the way from one end out the other. Drilling is the tricky part. It doesn't make the shaft "boingey", but it does quiet the hit. Those who like a softer quiet hit love it. We haven't talked about it much, but don't really consider it a trade secret or anything. Based on this thread, I think we'll put some pictures together and get it up on the website.

For those who want that "ping" or sound when they hit the ball, we have the Classic line. The Classic line is more stiff, and has that firm crisp hit that some players are looking for.


We use the same "tip end treatment" on all our cue shafts. Originally, it was a balsa core but we switched to a more consistent foam material. The balsa supply started to vary greatly in density and we spent too much time sorting and culling. The "mass reduction foam" is extremely consistent and helps us keep our prices down and still build them here in Plano Texas. The mass reduction fills that area between the tip and the noise dampening core.


Our goal is to offer extremely low cue ball deflection in shafts to suit all the different tastes out there. We have the softer quieter hit of the OB line as well as the more firm and crisp hit of the Classic line. And, of course, we offer two different tapers within each line. A more traditional 12.75mm with a modified pro taper, and a 11.75mm with a modified conical taper.
Click to expand...

So the OB Classic and OB Classic Pro are all glued wood behind the tip end foam?
 
RBC said:
This is a great thread!

I thought it might be good for me to chime in and answer a few questions.

First, I should mention that the pictures are from an OB line cue shaft. The Classic line is a little different.

About the silicone rubber core. First, it's only on the OB line, and we call it our "Noise Dampening Core". It's a big part of what gives the OB's the quieter hit. The material is actually a silicone foam rubber, and it's intended to weigh about the same as the maple it replaces. The core extends from just above the joint to about 5 or 6 inches below the tip. To make room for it, we have to drill the cue shaft all the way from one end out the other. Drilling is the tricky part. It doesn't make the shaft "boingey", but it does quiet the hit. Those who like a softer quiet hit love it. We haven't talked about it much, but don't really consider it a trade secret or anything. Based on this thread, I think we'll put some pictures together and get it up on the website.

For those who want that "ping" or sound when they hit the ball, we have the Classic line. The Classic line is more stiff, and has that firm crisp hit that some players are looking for.


We use the same "tip end treatment" on all our cue shafts. Originally, it was a balsa core but we switched to a more consistent foam material. The balsa supply started to vary greatly in density and we spent too much time sorting and culling. The "mass reduction foam" is extremely consistent and helps us keep our prices down and still build them here in Plano Texas. The mass reduction fills that area between the tip and the noise dampening core.


Our goal is to offer extremely low cue ball deflection in shafts to suit all the different tastes out there. We have the softer quieter hit of the OB line as well as the more firm and crisp hit of the Classic line. And, of course, we offer two different tapers within each line. A more traditional 12.75mm with a modified pro taper, and a 11.75mm with a modified conical taper.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I love my OB Classic. Great shaft!!
 
Most definitely informative. Many thanks.
Hopefully this won't happen outside experimentation purposes/curiosity.
 
risky biz said:
So the OB Classic and OB Classic Pro are all glued wood behind the tip end foam?
Click to expand...

Risky

The Classic and the Classic Pro are built using the same construction methods as the OB line, but without the Noise Dampening Core. So, yes, they are solid behind the tip end treatment with no hole drilled through the center.
 
McChen said:
there is a slight mistake in the article....they said the first few inches at the tip end was filled with foam, but it's actually balsa wood.
Click to expand...

i stand corrected, article is correct! Royce has stated that the newer OB shafts do use foam now, instead of balsa wood on the older OB shafts.

Royce....a few questions:

did the change from balsa to foam change the hit at all? does this affect anything with repair procedures, like gluing on a new pad? wondering if the change from balsa to foam would give a less solid gluing surface or anything like that.

did you guys ever try making an OB-1 without the silicone filling? if so, what did it hit like?

have you guys changed the ferrule material on the classic shafts? i noticed the web page says the material is XTC, but the classic shaft I have (one of the initial ones) has a ferrule that doesn't appear to be XTC. If there was a change in ferrule material, any change in deflection or hit?
 
McChen said:
i stand corrected, article is correct! Royce has stated that the newer OB shafts do use foam now, instead of balsa wood on the older OB shafts.

Royce....a few questions:

did the change from balsa to foam change the hit at all? does this affect anything with repair procedures, like gluing on a new pad? wondering if the change from balsa to foam would give a less solid gluing surface or anything like that.

did you guys ever try making an OB-1 without the silicone filling? if so, what did it hit like?

have you guys changed the ferrule material on the classic shafts? i noticed the web page says the material is XTC, but the classic shaft I have (one of the initial ones) has a ferrule that doesn't appear to be XTC. If there was a change in ferrule material, any change in deflection or hit?
Click to expand...

McChen

The change from balsa to the "mass reduction foam" didn't really change the cue shafts much. Play wise, they actually squirt the cue ball a little less because it's a little lighter. The hit is the same, and repairs are the same as well. Our pad really attaches to the ferrule and the shaft tenon that comes through to the tip so what's in the center doesn't really matter.

An OB shaft without the Noise Dampening core? I think this is where I say "no comment". At least for now.

Yes, we did change the ferrule material very early on. The change was all about durability. The original material didn't break, but if the tip was way too thin, it would spread or mushroom a little. I didn't find any change in squirt or hit though.

Good to hear from you.
 
RBC said:
For those who want that "ping" or sound when they hit the ball, we have the Classic line. The Classic line is more stiff, and has that firm crisp hit that some players are looking for.
Click to expand...

I finally had a chance to play with OB Classic and OB Classic Pro last week, for the first time. I had expected it to have more deflection, somewhere between an OB-1 and a regular maple shaft, but it didn't. At least not to any appreciable degree. I could simply put it on my cue and play without making any adjustments.

It's also worth mentioning that the Classic line uses a regular white ferrule, unlike the OB-1/OB-2.
 
shinobi said:
I finally had a chance to play with OB Classic and OB Classic Pro last week, for the first time. I had expected it to have more deflection, somewhere between an OB-1 and a regular maple shaft, but it didn't. At least not to any appreciable degree. I could simply put it on my cue and play without making any adjustments.

It's also worth mentioning that the Classic line uses a regular white ferrule, unlike the OB-1/OB-2.
Click to expand...

Yep.... it does exactly as advertised. I only wish the folks at OB were more "pushy" and thus I would have changed years ago instead of only a few months ago :)
 
Glad everyone enjoyed the post and pics (and thank you Royce for the clarifications!). It was a shame that the package got mangled in the process of delivery, but I must admit I really do enjoy seeing what is inside of these shafts and understanding the building process. Plus, it gives me something interesting to blog about that isn't just a thinly veiled sales pitch. :smile:
 
mikefeiman said:
Glad everyone enjoyed the post and pics (and thank you Royce for the clarifications!). It was a shame that the package got mangled in the process of delivery, but I must admit I really do enjoy seeing what is inside of these shafts and understanding the building process. Plus, it gives me something interesting to blog about that isn't just a thinly veiled sales pitch. :smile:
Click to expand...
Thank you for putting out the article! Additionally, thank you for everything else you do for the pool community.
 
RBC said:
McChen

The change from balsa to the "mass reduction foam" didn't really change the cue shafts much. Play wise, they actually squirt the cue ball a little less because it's a little lighter. The hit is the same, and repairs are the same as well. Our pad really attaches to the ferrule and the shaft tenon that comes through to the tip so what's in the center doesn't really matter.

An OB shaft without the Noise Dampening core? I think this is where I say "no comment". At least for now.

Yes, we did change the ferrule material very early on. The change was all about durability. The original material didn't break, but if the tip was way too thin, it would spread or mushroom a little. I didn't find any change in squirt or hit though.

Good to hear from you.
Click to expand...

Hey Royce,

Thanks for the answers and good to hear from you again as well.

Can you tell us when the change from balsa to foam and from the original classic ferrule to XTC happened? Trying to figure out which shafts I have might have which materials, some of them I haven't replaced the pad at all, so I haven't seen what's underneath.

Thanks!
 
Couple of questions for Royce, if you don't mind.
I currently use a Universal Smart Shaft(RS). Would you know which of your line is closest and what I could expect for shaft weight.
I like shafts on the heavier side, over 4oz. Can one of your shafts come in higher than 4oz?

Thanks,
Koop
 
Informative post and I will not be buying. I thought about it but I don't really like the idea of foreign objects inside the shaft.

I am probably more of a purist and I doubt there is any difference in how the dampening system can help you improve.
 
Koop said:
Couple of questions for Royce, if you don't mind.
I currently use a Universal Smart Shaft(RS). Would you know which of your line is closest and what I could expect for shaft weight.
I like shafts on the heavier side, over 4oz. Can one of your shafts come in higher than 4oz?

Thanks,
Koop
Click to expand...

Koop

There are a few variables in shaft weight. The first is what joint it has in it. A joint with a brass insert can automatically weight .2 to .3 ounces more than one with a radial or 3/8-10 joint. The second is the taper. Obviously, the larger diameter shafts will weight a little more than the thinner ones.

Having said that, our OB-1 shafts with a brass insert usually come in around 3.8 ounces or so. Our Classic shaft with a brass insert often goes well over 4 ounces.
 
dom_poppa said:
Informative post and I will not be buying. I thought about it but I don't really like the idea of foreign objects inside the shaft.

I am probably more of a purist and I doubt there is any difference in how the dampening system can help you improve.
Click to expand...

dom_poppa

I completely understand!

However, if you haven't tried one, then you really don't know for sure. I recommend that you try one to see for yourself.

Our OB line has the noise dampening core, but the Classic is solid through the middle. The OB does definitely hit quieter or softer. The Classic line really has more of a "Classic" type of feel. But with the advancement of our technology, of course.
 
Great shafts, Royce, how do you go about buying the carbon pad and replacement ferrules for the classic.
 
RBC said:
Koop

There are a few variables in shaft weight. The first is what joint it has in it. A joint with a brass insert can automatically weight .2 to .3 ounces more than one with a radial or 3/8-10 joint. The second is the taper. Obviously, the larger diameter shafts will weight a little more than the thinner ones.

Having said that, our OB-1 shafts with a brass insert usually come in around 3.8 ounces or so. Our Classic shaft with a brass insert often goes well over 4 ounces.
Click to expand...

Thanks Royce, much appreciated.

Koop
 
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