Phenolic vs Ivory
- Thread starter Jodacus
- Start date
People are too hung up on ferrule material. The construction of the ferrule is what is most important. A threaded on thick walled solid slug with a thick cap, is completely different then a thin walled driller all-the-way through ferrule even if made from the same material. Then you add to that you and make the ferrule anywhere from 3/8 inch long to as much as 1 1/2 inch long.
What do I prefer? I like a shorter, very thin walled ferrule (Little more then a sleeve) drilled all the way through so the tip is glued directly onto the end wood of the shaft, sort of the no ferrule at all theory. But hay, that's just me, others may want something much different but.
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personal preference
if i had to use a ferrule i would use elk as it plays like ivory, but is much cheaper, it is renewable [ we use sheds ] it is much stronger. my 2nd choice would be bamboo, very light and strong.
but at this time most of my cues are sold without a ferrule as you do not need a ferrule on a shaft. a carbon fiber pad and a tip is all that is required.
if i had to use a ferrule i would use elk as it plays like ivory, but is much cheaper, it is renewable [ we use sheds ] it is much stronger. my 2nd choice would be bamboo, very light and strong.
but at this time most of my cues are sold without a ferrule as you do not need a ferrule on a shaft. a carbon fiber pad and a tip is all that is required.
I prefer Ivory. Ivory has a classic look to it, and it stays clean. I've never had a single problem with my Ivory ferrules and I've used them for 25 years. I recently had some shafts made with 0.6" ivory ferrules and I really like those a lot. I think 0.6"-0.75" ivory is the perfect ferrule. I've had the old yellow mircarta and those were just as good as ivory. The melamine ferrules I have play good too.
It's all a matter of feel, and in that respect tip and ferrule are the most important part of the hit. I like playing with different feels for different cues. Most ferrules have a cap, but if you play without one(cap) like macguy you will feel the hit the strongest....it's a very "raw" hit, ie no cap no buffer, and it will feel hard. I have one cue with a short ivory sleeve and that sucker feels very HAAARD.
Any material that closely resembles wood will give you a soft hit. The old Meucci ferrules (I don't know about today)were very soft. My faves are old micarta(feels like a tighter lively house cue ferrule) and ivory. The least appealing hit are aegis(which feels ceramic-y) and the stuff on house cues which are used mainly because they last forever( I forget the name).
Any material that closely resembles wood will give you a soft hit. The old Meucci ferrules (I don't know about today)were very soft. My faves are old micarta(feels like a tighter lively house cue ferrule) and ivory. The least appealing hit are aegis(which feels ceramic-y) and the stuff on house cues which are used mainly because they last forever( I forget the name).
Speaking only for myself, I want the Ferrule and tenon to be as light as possible, while still holding up to years of play. The lightness increases the low deflection accuracy.
What do these elk and buckhorn ferrules look like?
I'd like to have something that's white, like a "normal" ferrule, so it's not distracting.
Anyone have some up close pics of different ferrule materials?
Gary Johnson uses a linen-based ferrule material, but I'm not sure what it's called. FWIW, I've had no issues with it.
I'd like to have something that's white, like a "normal" ferrule, so it's not distracting.
Anyone have some up close pics of different ferrule materials?
Gary Johnson uses a linen-based ferrule material, but I'm not sure what it's called. FWIW, I've had no issues with it.
Like dull ivory.
You can see darker spots in it. I was told that there is a process you can do to make them as white looking as the Ivory.
Obviousy one is better than the other.
Not necessarily, it depends on what you are looking for in the cue. Some people like a soft quiet feel, others may like a ping when they hit the ball and anywhere in between. What is better is too subjective. If you asked a cue maker or repairman you may get an answer more relating to how easy it is to work with, or how clean it stays. There are a lot of different materials out there that are all very suitable for cue ferrules.
Your not too quick are ya ?
It is your use of the term "Better". There is no better, just different. You changed your question from the original post.
That is what I was referring to.
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You may be lost. I changed nothing.
I'll give you a pass an changing and deleting your posts tho. (They still made it to email notification in case you forgot what you wrote.
) But before you get your panties all in a bunch, I'll slow it down for you sparky.
I said one is better than the other.
You said no and then wrote a paragraph stating why certain conditions might make one better than the other.
I never said which one was better....that was my point.
:grin-square:
FWIW, I like a little "ping" with my cue hit. And what I would call firm.
What material is firm and ping-y? :smile:
What material is firm and ping-y? :smile: