I am using a radial pin in my cues. I purchased both the radial tap and the undersized tap from Atlas. I drilled and tapped a shaft this week with the undersized tap and couldn't get the pin to go in. I re-tapped about 8-10 times and still no-go. So I ran the regular tap in once and now the shaft is a little loose. I dropped a little water in the shaft and it helped for about 24 hours until the wood dried out again and it was back to where it was. Any ideas on how to snug up the hole, short of plugging and re-drill and tap?
Loose pin
- Thread starter RSCue
- Start date
I don't think that you have any choice at this point, you could also try and apply a little Super Glue to the threads inside the shaft and re tap it.
Other than that plugging and re-drilling / tapping are your only choice, but I would use a Phenolic Dowel in the shaft, the same type of material used for a jump break ferrule. The Phenolic will hold the threads better, and it will give you tighter fit.
Hope this helps.
Where did you buy the radial pins from ? The ones from Atlas work perfect with the undersize tap for me and did you drill the hole or drill and then bore the hole ?--Leonard
I think the threads are ruined. They are ruined when that tap hits bottom while tapping under power.
Been there, done that.
I tap now with the chuck released from the spindle.
You also drill/bore that hole about half an inch longer than the tap and stop about a 1/4 over.
I don't like superglue on the shaft threads.
I'd rather have water thin CA on the pin itself then wax over it. It's easily reversible.
Thanks guys. I drill and then bore the hole. Also Joey, I try to make sure that I don't bottom out the tap for fear that it will ruin the threads. I get my pins from Tommy. I have noticed that the stainless pins are nice and snug, this particular pin is brass.
I have not noticed the brass being tighter than SS.
Uniqueinc.com sells those phenolic inserts.
http://uniqueinc.com/joint_inserts
I've been using the undersized pin with a 5/16 drill since the '90's and the only thing you should have done is wax the screw before you put the cue together. Plugging with a phenolic insert is total overkill for a Uni-Loc radial screw and if you are using the undersized tap. you probably will not be able to get the cue to screw together at all as there is zero compression of the phenolic. The undersized tap produces a fit that lasts for years without getting sloppy.
Of the 1,000+ shafts I've built with radial screws I've only messed one of them up by bottoming the tap and that was because the tap was too tight in the chuck and didn't spin when the tap bottomed out. Hand tighten the tap in the chuck and tap the shaft slowly and soap the tap.
Of the 1,000+ shafts I've built with radial screws I've only messed one of them up by bottoming the tap and that was because the tap was too tight in the chuck and didn't spin when the tap bottomed out. Hand tighten the tap in the chuck and tap the shaft slowly and soap the tap.
Hey Russ,
I've got some 1" black phenolic rod if that will help - a little bigger than you need for this, but useful for other things.
I got it locally.
Let me know,
Gary