Question, would 2x4's from pre 1970 ever be good for making shafts assuming wood is in good condition?
Old growth wood for shafts
- Thread starter BmoreMoney
- Start date
Where did you score 2x4s that are maple? How many growth lines per inch?
Haven't scored anything yet. Will be checking out next week. Only info I have is was used to build subdivision in 1970, so I guess that puts it at at least 1940's or 50's at least. Norrhest area so could be maple from that area??? Just wanna know should it check out further or have a huge bonfire. OK either way.
Probably unusable for shafts.
If they're not quartersawn or cut along the grains, forget it.
If they're not quartersawn or cut along the grains, forget it.
Not familiar about shaft construction. Could you elaborate please? It just came to MIMD all this wood might be worth saving because I am doing a complete demo on three properties I just got. Not worried at all about conserving or repurposing, other than if it could be used for pool
I've never seen maple used in construction. Too valuable, and nails like softwood a lot more. You're sure it's maple?
I have no idea as of yet. I have heard of others used - ASH etc. Plus while I really don't have any idea I think it could be possible what now is expensive was once cheap. That's why I'm asking, just didn't want to burn it if it could be used.
So old maple is the only thing worth saving then?
It's most likely soft maple, if it was used in construction.
Many years ago a buddy of mine who used to rehab houses had two occasions where he ran into an old house with hard rock maple being used for the spindles on the staircases. In both cases they were long gran and longer than 30". Unfortunately I didn't take the wood.. Hind sight is always 20/20..
So just for clarification being as I pretty much don't know shit about making shafts, what exactly should I be looking for that's worth keeping. Just need an idea and I can look up the specifics. Thanks.
They need to be hard rock maple . Not big leaf soft maple .
http://www.paxtonwood.com/HowLumberisSawn.aspx
If they are plain sawn ( which they probably are ) , they are more likely not good for shafts.
For shafts, you want straight grain. End to end of 30 inches if possible.
If they are wet, they will need to sit a long time.
And because they were harvested in the 70's, that doesn't mean they are old growth. They're just old.
Wood
Bowling alley lane wood salvaged from bowling alleys that are going out of business.
Bowling alley lane wood salvaged from bowling alleys that are going out of business.
Shaft wood
12 to 15 growth rings per inch minimum.
Straight grain maple .
You might just consider buying a 3rd turn shaft from Chris Hightower ( Cueman billiards.
If you do then I would tell him what taper you want.
I have used some of Chris Hightower's shaft wood before because I didn't have enough shafts in the process of being turned..
If you have never dealt with Chris, don't worry he is a extremely honest man.
I think member JazzPool sales shaft dowels.
You might consider making yourself a NON laminated LD shaft .
Shaft wood is not that expensive, and its pretty easy to make a couple making shafts at the same time.
If the GRAIN is not straight you might not want to waist your time and money.
12 to 15 growth rings per inch minimum.
Straight grain maple .
You might just consider buying a 3rd turn shaft from Chris Hightower ( Cueman billiards.
If you do then I would tell him what taper you want.
I have used some of Chris Hightower's shaft wood before because I didn't have enough shafts in the process of being turned..
If you have never dealt with Chris, don't worry he is a extremely honest man.
I think member JazzPool sales shaft dowels.
You might consider making yourself a NON laminated LD shaft .
Shaft wood is not that expensive, and its pretty easy to make a couple making shafts at the same time.
If the GRAIN is not straight you might not want to waist your time and money.
Legend or fact?
A good cuemaker friend of mine told me that Tad had TONS of shaftwood from the 1960's, as in a warehouse or shop.
That would be almost like the "barn finds" that get coverage when cars from yesterday are found.
Joey and other California folks - is this another cuemaker folklore or fact?
Ken
A good cuemaker friend of mine told me that Tad had TONS of shaftwood from the 1960's, as in a warehouse or shop.
That would be almost like the "barn finds" that get coverage when cars from yesterday are found.
Joey and other California folks - is this another cuemaker folklore or fact?
Ken
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I don't know if it is, but he had tons of shaft woods.
Tad's shafts are famous for staying straight.
Nobody's shafts are more stable than Tad's. imo.
The cuemaker that told me this was Rick Howard.
He said that was reason Tad shafts were so good is that it was from that old 1960's shaft wood.
Ken
Old growth has changed in definition over the years... The main reason old growth was considered better was because of the rings per inch caused by the tree growing in the last little Ice Age which ended in 1850.. Most of those trees were harvested by the early 20th century and finding wood from them is like striking gold.
You can still find trees old enough to go back into the little ice age but likely much of their growth has occurred in warmer temperatures of the 165 years since. Many people will still swear this is "old growth" and they are somewhat right but rings per inch and sugar lines are more important than how old the tree is anymore...
Most of the times I hear "old growth" I know the seller or cue maker is trying to light me up for an extra hunert or 2 and I put my money away and run as fast as I can. They only know it's "old growth" because the person who they got it from said so and that person only knows it because the person they got it from said so and... You get the picture....
The bowling boom was from 1957 forward so while the wood is old... It doesn't have to be "old growth"
You can still find trees old enough to go back into the little ice age but likely much of their growth has occurred in warmer temperatures of the 165 years since. Many people will still swear this is "old growth" and they are somewhat right but rings per inch and sugar lines are more important than how old the tree is anymore...
Most of the times I hear "old growth" I know the seller or cue maker is trying to light me up for an extra hunert or 2 and I put my money away and run as fast as I can. They only know it's "old growth" because the person who they got it from said so and that person only knows it because the person they got it from said so and... You get the picture....
The bowling boom was from 1957 forward so while the wood is old... It doesn't have to be "old growth"