Old junk shaft

[cueguy]

I have a very good friend that would like me to replace a pin in a very old junk shaft - the reason is sentimental (from his grandfather). The shaft is one of the old cheap cues with the pin sticking out of the shaft:

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/cueguy/?action=view&current=Picture001.jpg

I know it isn't worth anything, I am just going to do it free for him.

The problem is that it seems like brass or something very hard.
What type of cutter would work on this? It seems like it might break the carbide - will it?

Thanks for your help.

Larry

 

[KJ Cues]

Hi Larry,
A couple of observations. I sincerely hope that you don't refer to this as a 'junk shaft' in front of your client. It means the world to him and he apparently thinks highly enough of your work to bring the repair to you. Maybe a little more respect would be a good place to start. I say that because your mental image/value of this shaft will be reflected in your work and how you go about executing a repair. Treat it like a $2 shaft and that's the level of repair you'll put into it. Treat it like gold and you'll have the client dancing when you're done. It goes to your state of mind.

OK, I've looked at the pic and it appears that the pin is part of the collar and yes they are brass. No way are you going to hurt carbide. The brass is WAY soft. This may be an easy repair. I'd use a carbide drill or center-cutting carbide end-mill as neither will flex as would a HSS drill bit. Bore-out the remains of the pin and install a new one leaving the collar intact. The only concern would be, is the collar sufficiently bonded to the shaft so that you can pull-off the repair. If it shows ANY sign of loosening it's grip on the wood then just re-install it using 2T epoxy and proceed with installing the new pin.

 

[cueguy]

shaft

Hi Larry,
A couple of observations. I sincerely hope that you don't refer to this as a 'junk shaft' in front of your client. It means the world to him and he apparently thinks highly enough of your work to bring the repair to you. Maybe a little more respect would be a good place to start. I say that because your mental image/value of this shaft will be reflected in your work and how you go about executing a repair. Treat it like a $2 shaft and that's the level of repair you'll put into it. Treat it like gold and you'll have the client dancing when you're done. It goes to your state of mind.

OK, I've looked at the pic and it appears that the pin is part of the collar and yes they are brass. No way are you going to hurt carbide. The brass is WAY soft. This may be an easy repair. I'd use a carbide drill or center-cutting carbide end-mill as neither will flex as would a HSS drill bit. Bore-out the remains of the pin and install a new one leaving the collar intact. The only concern would be, is the collar sufficiently bonded to the shaft so that you can pull-off the repair. If it shows ANY sign of loosening it's grip on the wood then just re-install it using 2T epoxy and proceed with installing the new pin.

KJ - Thank you very much for your response.

Also, you are correct, I would never mention to someone that what they have is junk. I was actually relaying what HE said it was ;-) I was mentioning it like that here letting you know that he understood it was a very cheap shaft (screw-in tip) but it was something he wanted to keep forever. Sorry if I put it across wrong... BTW, I'm changing out the ferrule too !!!

Larry

 

[KJ Cues]

Hey Larry,
Before you get too far along in your repair, do you happen to know the pin diameter and thread count? I'm guessing it's an import and I'll also guess that it has a matching brass collar on the handle joint. If so, those are odd-ball threads and you might want to confirm that you have pin-stock that will work. Oddly enough, it's a pretty close match-up to a Bludworth pin.

Pro Bono huh? (at no charge). Every once in a while I like to take on one of those jobs. It's pretty rewarding to get someone's dream back in the game.

Let me know if I can help you further. I may have a good shaft collar with pin attached.

 

[cueguy]

Yep, free ;-)

Hey Larry,
Before you get too far along in your repair, do you happen to know the pin diameter and thread count? I'm guessing it's an import and I'll also guess that it has a matching brass collar on the handle joint. If so, those are odd-ball threads and you might want to confirm that you have pin-stock that will work. Oddly enough, it's a pretty close match-up to a Bludworth pin.

Pro Bono huh? (at no charge). Every once in a while I like to take on one of those jobs. It's pretty rewarding to get someone's dream back in the game.

Let me know if I can help you further. I may have a good shaft collar with pin attached.

Yes, he is a good friend and this is to help me play with something different as well as to help him... I did check the pin and I'm lucky - it is a 5/16-18.
Hopefully I will be able to look at it some tomorrow.
I just might be asking for some more help soon ;-)
Thanks,
Larry

 

[Cue Crazy]

Does It look like any of these? I always pick them up from various sources. I saw a box full of cues in a box down the road one time that someone was throwing out so I grabbed them up, also had people give them to me over the years. I usually try match a decent butt with a shaft, and give the cues to some poor joe that doesn't have his/her own cue. Alot of times they get more into pool, and end up getting something alittle better, but It's a start for them, and something they can get used to, instead of going from one house cue to another each time they play. I also sometimes give the shafts to a customer that wants a shaft fixed, but that's really not worth the repair cost, or is too far gone to save. harder to come by the shafts, because most of them end up splitting below that brass.

There's one from a split shaft in there so you can see how they thread into the shaft. Your welcome to one if you need It for this repair, as I have plenty, but Like KJ mentioned may be easier to face drill and tap for a new pin. Not sure Myself. I would recomend trying to heat the brass and back the whole thing out, and screw one of these into it, but I don't know if that would be a good idea, cause the wood the shafts are normally made from may not be able to take the heat without splitting. Also centering the new joint may be a problem unless i can find one with a larger diameter that you can turn down to match the butt joint.

Just let me know If you need one though.

Good Luck

Greg

 

[cueguy]

Yes - it is

Does It look like any of these? I always pick them up from various sources. I saw a box full of cues in a box down the road one time that someone was throwing out so I grabbed them up, also had people give them to me over the years. I usually try match a decent butt with a shaft, and give the cues to some poor joe that doesn't have his/her own cue. Alot of times they get more into pool, and end up getting something alittle better, but It's a start for them, and something they can get used to, instead of going from one house cue to another each time they play. I also sometimes give the shafts to a customer that wants a shaft fixed, but that's really not worth the repair cost, or is too far gone to save. harder to come by the shafts, because most of them end up splitting below that brass.

There's one from a split shaft in there so you can see how they thread into the shaft. Your welcome to one if you need It for this repair, as I have plenty, but Like KJ mentioned may be easier to face drill and tap for a new pin. Not sure Myself. I would recomend trying to heat the brass and back the whole thing out, and screw one of these into it, but I don't know if that would be a good idea, cause the wood the shafts are normally made from may not be able to take the heat without splitting. Also centering the new joint may be a problem unless i can find one with a larger diameter that you can turn down to match the butt joint.

Just let me know If you need one though.

Good Luck

Greg

Greg, I do believe it is the dark one on the left!
I will send you a PM.
Thank you!
Larry

 

[Cue Crazy]

Greg, I do believe it is the dark one on the left!
I will send you a PM.
Thank you!
Larry

I have a couple there that are around 5/16-18. They are Yours if you need them. PM returned.

Greg

 

[cueguy]

yes

I have a couple there that are around 5/16-18. They are Yours if you need them. PM returned.

Greg

You bet - I sent you a PM.
Thanks,

Larry

 

[cueguy]

Thanks!

I have a couple there that are around 5/16-18. They are Yours if you need them. PM returned.

Greg

I forgot to let everyone know that Greg had the shaft I needed. I shined it up, cleaned, sealed and waxed the shaft and changed out that pesky screw-on tip and ferrule. Plus, I have these extra shafts for practicing my joing work ;-)

Thank you for all your help.

Horrible pictures (phone) - I need to get a real camera...

Thanks again, Greg!!!

Larry Hale

 

[WilleeCue]

Hey Cueguy, from your photo it looks like you need a new belt on your Cue Companion lathe. ...

 

[Cue Crazy]

I forgot to let everyone know that Greg had the shaft I needed. I shined it up, cleaned, sealed and waxed the shaft and changed out that pesky screw-on tip and ferrule. Plus, I have these extra shafts for practicing my joing work ;-)

Thank you for all your help.

Horrible pictures (phone) - I need to get a real camera...

Thanks again, Greg!!!

Larry Hale

Cool Deal Buddy Glad It worked out for ya Larry, and You very welcome. Looks like that one shaft was a decent match. Also Looks like you did a nice job there, The customer should be pleased.

I'm working on a couple of cues right now for someone that are sentimental. The hardest thing for me Is trying to keep the cost reasonable for them. One of them is a custom & getting a new shaft, and that seems to be working out well, because the joint of the handle is true enough to work with. The other is a production that I'm converting a exsisting 3/8 shaft By installing a 5/16 insert, but looks like the pin needs pulled, and re-installed on the cue I'm trying to match that shaft to if he wants a perfect fit. That production cue, he is just going to use as a break cue though, so the match may not be off so much that It's a problem for him. I can fix the pin in the handle, just depends if He wants to spend the extra money.

Anywayyyy, Keep up the good work, Looks good

Greg

 

[Sheldon]

Right on, this is the kind of thing that really makes hangin out around here worthwhile.
I'm glad you didn't have to try boring out the old insert, it almost certainly would have fallen off, or seriously weakened it if you had. The primary attachment with those are the threads you would have drilled out.