Perhaps You May Be Able To Recommend or Possibly Help Me?

[Bavafongoul]

Earlier this year, I embarked on another fruitless search which is not an uncommon experience for me. I spent years searching for a Hercek pool cue in vain and did the same thing looking for Black Speck Cortland Linen. I offered a substantial finders fee for any successful referral.

Alas, it was in vain despite my best efforts and so you just move in. Recently, I attempted another search that similarly turned into looking for another Golden Fleece. I want to get a KW shaft that matches the weight of my cues original maple shafts.

Last October, I purchased my 1st KW shaft from Superior Cues.it weighs 3.81 ozs, 29,5”, 12.85mm which happens to be the weight of my lightest maple shaft. It plays great but Cory doesn’t build anything but radial threads. I want to add 3/8x10 and 3/8x11 Kielwood shafts but weighing close to 4 ozs.

KW shafts are lighter because of the torrification process, however, with a heavier blank, producing a KW shaft like I want made is doable. There is a modified 3/8 x10 Ned Morris 13 mm KW shaft listed on eBay weighing 4.3 ozs. I’m looking to get two 12.75mm KW shafts. What I want built can be done but it requires the right wood and cue maker. I previously wrote I had located someone. I was wrong because they were wrong. I was told this could be done but just learned today the first shaft turned out almost a 1/2 oz ( 0.4 ) lighter than anticipated. The cue maker will merely sell the shaft as I’m not obligated to purchase it. However, I am back to square one again.

I posted a thread in the Cue Maker’s Section asking if anyone is up to building what I want. If you happen to know of a builder that can make a heavier KW shaft like I want, please do send me a PM. I mostly play with my Scruggs cue because it is my only cue with a radial joint that is what my Barnhart KW shaft is. I have five other wonderful cues in my case and I’d like to get two KW shafts so all my cues can play with a KW shaft rather than only my Scruggs cue. Any help you might be able to offer is very much appreciated. There is only 1 KW shaft in my case but I’d like to get 2 more KW shafts so all my cues have one.

 

[JasonATX]

Since you like the one you have, perhaps you could order the shafts from Superior without being cut for the pin and have a local cue maker tap it for you to your specs.

Otherwise: Jim Pierce builds a good KW shaft, and the Diveney Trans K is good as well. Perhaps one of them can build one out for you.

Hsunami is probably the best, but they are expensive.

 

[Chicagoplayer]

Earlier this year, I embarked on another fruitless search which is not an uncommon experience for me. I spent years searching for a Hercek pool cue in vain and did the same thing looking for Black Speck Cortland Linen. I offered a substantial finders fee for any successful referral.

Alas, it was in vain despite my best efforts and so you just move in. Recently, I attempted another search that similarly turned into looking for another Golden Fleece. I want to get a KW shaft that matches the weight of my cues original maple shafts.

Last October, I purchased my 1st KW shaft from Superior Cues.it weighs 3.81 ozs, 29,5”, 12.85mm which happens to be the weight of my lightest maple shaft. It plays great but Cory doesn’t build anything but radial threads. I want to add 3/8x10 and 3/8x11 Kielwood shafts but weighing close to 4 ozs.

KW shafts are lighter because of the torrification process, however, with a heavier blank, producing a KW shaft like I want made is doable. There is a modified 3/8 x10 Ned Morris 13 mm KW shaft listed on eBay weighing 4.3 ozs. I’m looking to get two 12.75mm KW shafts. What I want built can be done but it requires the right wood and cue maker. I previously wrote I had located someone. I was wrong because they were wrong. I was told this could be done but just learned today the first shaft turned out almost a 1/2 oz ( 0.4 ) lighter than anticipated. The cue maker will merely sell the shaft as I’m not obligated to purchase it. However, I am back to square one again.

I posted a thread in the Cue Maker’s Section asking if anyone is up to building what I want. If you happen to know of a builder that can make a heavier KW shaft like I want, please do send me a PM. I mostly play with my Scruggs cue because it is my only cue with a radial joint that is what my Barnhart KW shaft is. I have five other wonderful cues in my case and I’d like to get two KW shafts so all my cues can play with a KW shaft rather than only my Scruggs cue. Any help you might be able to offer is very much appreciated. There is only 1 KW shaft in my case but I’d like to get 2 more KW shafts so all my cues have one.

I know Joe Gold has some Kielwood shafts, but am unsure about thread matchup from Cog to something else, as his threads are 7/16ths 11 pin .437x 11 tpi

 

[Black-Balled]

I only read op once, but isn't Ned your guy for the shafts?

He is certainly a competent cue man and can do whatever man can do with a cue, man.

 

[billiards_watch]

Play with them like you always did before.

Don't let, not being able to get a certain shaft, prevent you from playing with them. What did you do before you bout a KW shaft?

 

[Iwishiwasrich]

Contact Sickles Custom Cues. Google or Facebook several people local to me play with his KW shafts and speak highly of them. Jim Sickles has been building custom cues for years and does high quality work.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Since you like the one you have, perhaps you could order the shafts from Superior without being cut for the pin and have a local cue maker tap it for you to your specs.

Otherwise: Jim Pierce builds a good KW shaft, and the Diveney Trans K is good as well. Perhaps one of them can build one out for you.

Hsunami is probably the best, but they are expensive.

Cory is very particular about selling his wares and won’t tap his KW shaft for a different pin. I don’t think he’ll sell a untapped shaft unless he was desperate but he isn’t. Richard Hsu’s shafts are pretty but he hasn’t built many 4 oz shafts, the wait is crazy long, the price is absurd and his shafts don’t play any better than Cory’s. A couple of my friends have Tsunami Kielwood shafts (even the newer 2.0) and handsome indeed but play the same as Barnhart’s that are 1/2 the price.

Jim Pierce is definitely an option because I’ve seen some of his KW weighing 3.9 ozs and I can live with that. But I’ve also seen some lighter Pierce KW shafts so I am always looking for one in the resale market. Most cue makers are disinclined to guarantee that the cue will be the weight you ordered or you don’t have to buy it or pay anything. Buying in the resale market, which I patrol all the time, is very different. You only have to buy what meets your specifications.

Look at the shaft Ned Morris built that’s listed on eBay right now. A 4 oz. Kielwood shaft is not a fool’s errand and IMO,
I should not have to settle for less than what I want. And as most of friends know, I won’t so I’ll keep looking and trying.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Play with them like you always did before.

Don't let, not being able to get a certain shaft, prevent you from playing with them. What did you do before you bout a KW shaft?

Played with 4 oz. original maple my cue shafts made by Bob Runde, Tim Scruggs, Ed Prewitt, Bob Owen & Jerry Rauenzahn. Kielwood wasn’t around when my cues were made. If it had been, then very likely this thread wouldn’t have been composed.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Pat Diviney might be a possibility. There is a Kielwood shaft listed on eBay right now that weighs 3.6 ozs but the shaft is only 12 mm. So a 12.75mm shaft will be naturally heavier than a 12mm shaft and I’d accept a 29 1/2” length with a 1/2” ferrule. So with those additional allowances, Pat might be able to knock it out of the park on my weight requirement.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Since you like the one you have, perhaps you could order the shafts from Superior without being cut for the pin and have a local cue maker tap it for you to your specs.

Otherwise: Jim Pierce builds a good KW shaft, and the Diveney Trans K is good as well. Perhaps one of them can build one out for you.

Hsunami is probably the best, but they are expensive.

Thanks Jason for the suggestions. I’ve contacted Pat and Jim and asked if they felt up to tackling
what I want built. Now it’s wait and see what they think. Jacoby is no longer being considered.

 

[PNWLocal]

I had a local builder plug and tap my Barnhart KW to a 3/8×10 modified pin. Works great and plays the same as it did before.That's always an option if you have someone you trust to do the work.

 

[Bavafongoul]

I only read op once, but isn't Ned your guy for the shafts?

He is certainly a competent cue man and can do whatever man can do with a cue, man.

Just wrote to Ned asking if he can build two heavier version KW shafts like the one on eBay that weighs 4.3 ozs.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Contact Sickles Custom Cues. Google or Facebook several people local to me play with his KW shafts and speak highly of them. Jim Sickles has been building custom cues for years and does high quality work.

What I’ve found is lots of cue makers can build or will sell you a KW shaft but very, very few can build one the way I want. I’ve been waiting 3 months for the two I ordered from Jacoby that was optimistic they could build a heavier KW shaft. Just learned today the first shaft came in weighing 3.6 ozs. which is really just the average weight for a KW shaft. So despite their eagerness and confidence to build the KW shafts, it did not turn out as expected or how I was hoping.

So if cue maker is not already making a KW shaft that is heavier than average, I am not disposed to just call every cue
maker someone knows unless they had already built a KW shaft that is heavier than average KW shaft & I know the #s.
I already did that months ago making many calls which taught me to be more selective about cue makers to contact.

 

[straightline]

If you add the required weight, who's gonna know?

 

[JohnnyOzone]

Just get a 30" shaft. I would go with BD360 or Diviney

 

[Bavafongoul]

Just got off the phone with Ned Morris. What a thoroughly enjoyable and informative conversation I had with a absolutely forthright, congenial, expert in cue making and restoration. BTW, the Ned Morris 4.3 oz. Kielwood shaft listed on eBay has 1/2 oz. extra weight added towards the collar. Anyway, it was a genuine treat and my distinct pleasure to speak with Ned.

 

[Bavafongoul]

If you add the required weight, who's gonna know?

Other than the cue maker and myself, no one. Never having tried that before, I am ambivalent about doing it unless it was absolutely necessary or I tried playing with a shaft with its weight increased artificially and played unnoticeably. Ned just splendidly explained this option to me in detail. It’s too soon to default to that approach without at least checking more.

 

[Black-Balled]

Just got off the phone with Ned Morris. What a thoroughly enjoyable and informative conversation I had with a absolutely forthright, congenial, expert in cue making and restoration. BTW, the Ned Morris 4.3 oz. Kielwood shaft listed on eBay has 1/2 oz. extra weight added towards the collar. Anyway, it was a genuine treat and my distinct pleasure to speak with Ned.

I'm not a fan of his output and have spoken with/ been around him enough to know he's a solid dude and a real artisan.

 

[boogieman]

Other than the cue maker and myself, no one. Never having tried that before, I am ambivalent about doing it unless it was absolutely necessary or I tried playing with a shaft with its weight increased artificially and played unnoticeably. Ned just splendidly explained this option to me in detail. It’s too soon to default to that approach without at least checking more.

Please don't take this the wrong way, I spoiler-ed it to not encourage thread derailment. I'm not giving you shit, just trying to help.

Kielwood is maple that is baked. Baking removes weight. Moisture and sugars leave the wood. You know this, I know this. If you took the heaviest tightest grained maple and baked it, it's probably going to lose a lot of weight. It's just the nature of the process.

They do make torrified purple heart. Here's one. I have no idea how it plays or if the weight would be right. Just some food for thought.

I really hope you're able to find one. If it were me I would just buy one from the maker that is making them and have another cuemaker plug and re-thread to the size you need. It would be trivial for a cuemaker to do. Likely a 30 minute to an hour job, not counting the time for the adhesive to dry.

 

[straightline]

There's another process that involves pressure cooking wood that results in higher density, molded stock that retains it shape. Strong as steel by some claims.