MythBusting about wooden cues and moisture.
It has come to my attention that some people are spreading the idea that a case which is sealed or otherwise hugs the cues and does not allow a free flow of air around the cue is somehow able to warp the cue.
This idea is patently false.
Before discussing the science I will discuss the common sense evidence. From the 40’s until today there have been cue cases in use which seal the cavity, these include Harvey Martin cases, Gina Cases, Fellini cases, Centennial Cases, It’s George, and GTF Cases to name a few. Other cases which hug the cue and surround it with fabric, i.e. cutting off airflow are the plethora of soft cases out there and the O’Neil suitcase style cases. I have been active as a player since I was 12 years old. That was in 1980. I didn’t however start taking an active interest in my equipment until I was 16 years old. I made my first cue case when I was 22.
During my time as a pool player and a case maker I have come across no epidemic of cues being warped when kept in sealed or well padded cases. So common sense tells us that the case is not the culprit when a cue warps. Everyone has some story about a cue warping and usually they are looking for anyone to blame other than themselves and the cue maker.
The fact is that the largest factor in whether a cue will warp or not is due to its construction. If the wood itself was not properly dried and seasoned then it’s likely to warp. If the cue is put together with loose tolerances which allow huge moisture swings through the end grain then it’s likely to warp and develop noises. It’s not magic, a pool cue takes time to build it properly and that includes cutting the wood a little bit at a time and allowing it to move, then cutting it again, allow it to move and so one until it reaches the point where it won’t move any more.
Cue makers who follow this procedure have very few issues with warpage. Cue makers who don’t and try to take shortcuts often have cues that are prone to warping.
Now, of course the situation can be made worse by the way the cue is handled once it leaves the cue maker’s shop. If you subject the cue to extremes of heat and cold then the wood will expand and contract and moisture will work with the heat and cold against the wood. In this situation any cue case is better than no cue case just for the insulation factor alone. If the case goes further and wraps the cue in a dry cloth then that’s another layer of protection. If the case is sealed and protects further against more moisture getting in then so much the better.
Now, some people will contend that if you put a cue up “wet” i.e. put it in the case in an already moist environment and seal it up then that moisture inside will act on the cue negatively. This contention is unproven and goes to the heart of the matter than NO ONE KNOWS what happens to pool cues in cases in regards to moisture because no one has ever studied it.
Going back to the fact that sealed cases have been in use for more than 60 years though I have to say that the evidence points to NO PROBLEM.
Now, SOME case makers will contend that their case is “better” because the cues are held loosely and allow airflow around the cues. This is malarkey. First of all there is no significant airflow happening in their case when it is closed. If the case is not sealed then of course latent moisture can evaporate out of the case if the opening is UP. If the case is laying on its side then the moisture condenses at the uppermost part. There is normally not enough heat applied to create a convective atmosphere. But let’s look at the flip side of their argument. Since they contend that their unsealed loose case allows airflow then doesn’t that mean that it allows air (and moisture along with it) IN to the case as well? So if one were to go from say an 8% moisture environment to a 50% environment wouldn’t the case which is allows so much airflow be inviting the moisture INTO IT?
The fact is that in just about every situation where high end equipment is to be stored it is stored in form-fitted cases which restrict airflow. A lot of those cases come with gaskets to seal the case and make it air and water tight. This applies especially to guitar cases where the very best of them have many barriers to moisture.
So please don’t believe the nonsense when someone tries to tell you that a cue case which hugs your cue is bad for it. 60 years of continuous use of these types of cases proves otherwise.
Ok, so now let’s add in one more myth to bust.
Some people have the idea that a padded interior adds too much pressure to the cue and can warp it.
This is not true for the cases we build. Our padded interiors hold the cue gently at the top and bottom and have zero padding in the center. When the cues are placed into our cases the foam at the top and bottom conforms to the shape of the cue and holds the parts snugly but not tightly. There is no chance whatsoever that any pressure is applied to the center of the cue parts and thus no chance that warpage can occur.
While it’s certainly “possible” that a cue case “could” be built which theoretically could have so much foam rubber through out the case that the parts could get bent in the middle, and here I am referring mainly to the shafts, I feel that such a case has never been made to date and probably never will be made because it would quite apparent to the case maker that it was not practical to use. In my 20 years in the business I certainly have never seen any case which would apply enough pressure through the center to harm a cue.
So I count both of these myths as BUSTED.
Do your homework people before you start spreading falsehoods. All the information you want to know is out there for you learn the facts before repeating what some "dealer" who happens to sell competing brands of cases has to say about it.
Listen to what we say, listen to what they say and go verify it for yourself. Study the subject rather than take someone's word as gospel. It's likely that they don't know what they are talking about and have an ulterior motive for spreading misinformation. My CLEAR motive is to get you to see the facts for yourself because I am confident that what I say to you will bear out as the truth.
John Barton - Case Maker on a Protection Soapbox
It has come to my attention that some people are spreading the idea that a case which is sealed or otherwise hugs the cues and does not allow a free flow of air around the cue is somehow able to warp the cue.
This idea is patently false.
Before discussing the science I will discuss the common sense evidence. From the 40’s until today there have been cue cases in use which seal the cavity, these include Harvey Martin cases, Gina Cases, Fellini cases, Centennial Cases, It’s George, and GTF Cases to name a few. Other cases which hug the cue and surround it with fabric, i.e. cutting off airflow are the plethora of soft cases out there and the O’Neil suitcase style cases. I have been active as a player since I was 12 years old. That was in 1980. I didn’t however start taking an active interest in my equipment until I was 16 years old. I made my first cue case when I was 22.
During my time as a pool player and a case maker I have come across no epidemic of cues being warped when kept in sealed or well padded cases. So common sense tells us that the case is not the culprit when a cue warps. Everyone has some story about a cue warping and usually they are looking for anyone to blame other than themselves and the cue maker.
The fact is that the largest factor in whether a cue will warp or not is due to its construction. If the wood itself was not properly dried and seasoned then it’s likely to warp. If the cue is put together with loose tolerances which allow huge moisture swings through the end grain then it’s likely to warp and develop noises. It’s not magic, a pool cue takes time to build it properly and that includes cutting the wood a little bit at a time and allowing it to move, then cutting it again, allow it to move and so one until it reaches the point where it won’t move any more.
Cue makers who follow this procedure have very few issues with warpage. Cue makers who don’t and try to take shortcuts often have cues that are prone to warping.
Now, of course the situation can be made worse by the way the cue is handled once it leaves the cue maker’s shop. If you subject the cue to extremes of heat and cold then the wood will expand and contract and moisture will work with the heat and cold against the wood. In this situation any cue case is better than no cue case just for the insulation factor alone. If the case goes further and wraps the cue in a dry cloth then that’s another layer of protection. If the case is sealed and protects further against more moisture getting in then so much the better.
Now, some people will contend that if you put a cue up “wet” i.e. put it in the case in an already moist environment and seal it up then that moisture inside will act on the cue negatively. This contention is unproven and goes to the heart of the matter than NO ONE KNOWS what happens to pool cues in cases in regards to moisture because no one has ever studied it.
Going back to the fact that sealed cases have been in use for more than 60 years though I have to say that the evidence points to NO PROBLEM.
Now, SOME case makers will contend that their case is “better” because the cues are held loosely and allow airflow around the cues. This is malarkey. First of all there is no significant airflow happening in their case when it is closed. If the case is not sealed then of course latent moisture can evaporate out of the case if the opening is UP. If the case is laying on its side then the moisture condenses at the uppermost part. There is normally not enough heat applied to create a convective atmosphere. But let’s look at the flip side of their argument. Since they contend that their unsealed loose case allows airflow then doesn’t that mean that it allows air (and moisture along with it) IN to the case as well? So if one were to go from say an 8% moisture environment to a 50% environment wouldn’t the case which is allows so much airflow be inviting the moisture INTO IT?
The fact is that in just about every situation where high end equipment is to be stored it is stored in form-fitted cases which restrict airflow. A lot of those cases come with gaskets to seal the case and make it air and water tight. This applies especially to guitar cases where the very best of them have many barriers to moisture.
So please don’t believe the nonsense when someone tries to tell you that a cue case which hugs your cue is bad for it. 60 years of continuous use of these types of cases proves otherwise.
Ok, so now let’s add in one more myth to bust.
Some people have the idea that a padded interior adds too much pressure to the cue and can warp it.
This is not true for the cases we build. Our padded interiors hold the cue gently at the top and bottom and have zero padding in the center. When the cues are placed into our cases the foam at the top and bottom conforms to the shape of the cue and holds the parts snugly but not tightly. There is no chance whatsoever that any pressure is applied to the center of the cue parts and thus no chance that warpage can occur.
While it’s certainly “possible” that a cue case “could” be built which theoretically could have so much foam rubber through out the case that the parts could get bent in the middle, and here I am referring mainly to the shafts, I feel that such a case has never been made to date and probably never will be made because it would quite apparent to the case maker that it was not practical to use. In my 20 years in the business I certainly have never seen any case which would apply enough pressure through the center to harm a cue.
So I count both of these myths as BUSTED.
Do your homework people before you start spreading falsehoods. All the information you want to know is out there for you learn the facts before repeating what some "dealer" who happens to sell competing brands of cases has to say about it.
Listen to what we say, listen to what they say and go verify it for yourself. Study the subject rather than take someone's word as gospel. It's likely that they don't know what they are talking about and have an ulterior motive for spreading misinformation. My CLEAR motive is to get you to see the facts for yourself because I am confident that what I say to you will bear out as the truth.
John Barton - Case Maker on a Protection Soapbox
