Predator ferrule on reg shaft?

D

dirtydog48

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Broke off ferrule on a quality custom shaft by accident and have access to factory qualified predator repairman. Considering having it bored, filled and capped with a predator ferrule to see if it will improve performance. Anyone have experience doing this?? Posted same question on 'ask the cuemaker' forum.
 
Indeed I have. I tried drilling a hole down the center, many years ago, on a finished shaft. If memory serves it was 1/4 inch by 5 inches and I did it twice. The first one was successful, the second not so successful.
The problem is heat. When drilling into a blind hole without a hollow bit that can be air cooled, you run the risk of overheating part of the wood, which is precisely what happened. The excess heat caused a warp. Remember now, these were finished shafts.
You can, however, pre-drill a hole in a shaft blank (1inchx30) prior to the turning down process, but even then there are no guarantees.
The reason Predator, OB, and others can get away with the hole in the middle is because of the structural strength afforded them by the laminated pieces.
 
Thanks Tramp

I will watch for heat buildup, but I think my man has hollow bits. One reason I would try this with this shaft is that it is very tightly grained, 40 grains/inch. Also he uses Gorilla glue for the filler and that should reinforce the grain?
 
You do realize that you would be violating Predator's patent, right.

I don't recommend or condone infringing on another person or companies intellectual property.
 
Predators original patents are just about expired. I expect other companies to knock them off soon, and legally do it.

JMO
 
I'm with Royce on this one, you are best off buying an OB Classic shaft, it's kind of the nuts!
 
RBC said:
You do realize that you would be violating Predator's patent, right.

I don't recommend or condone infringing on another person or companies intellectual property.
Click to expand...

Royce,

I am just curious, would it be a violation of the patent if you are filling the hole with a different material than what Predator uses, or if you used a different ferrule material or a different tip.

Thanks
-don
 
coats,

Predator doesn't fill the hole with anything.

I understand your curiosity, but I don't think it would be right for me to get into this conversation. I just wanted to let the OP know that he might want to think about it.

thanks!
 
RBC said:
coats,

Predator doesn't fill the hole with anything.

I understand your curiosity, but I don't think it would be right for me to get into this conversation. I just wanted to let the OP know that he might want to think about it.

thanks!
Click to expand...

No problem, I have no clue what they do to the end of the shaft, I know I like the was it makes the shafts play. I cannot wait to try your OB classic.

Thanks
-don
 
Ob?

Have played with originals and did not care for the dull hit. Am not really interested in paying another couple hundred when I feel I can repair and maybe improve my $400 shaft. Have not yet played with the new OB.
 
dirtydog48 said:
Have played with originals and did not care for the dull hit. Am not really interested in paying another couple hundred when I feel I can repair and maybe improve my $400 shaft. Have not yet played with the new OB.
Click to expand...

You may improve or turn it into a $450 dull hitting piece of $%@$. If you like the hit now, you might not after the modifications.
 
Just a personal opinion.

I wouldn't do it.

First off if it's truly a 40gpi shaft you'd be nuts to drill a hole down it. Try it on an off the rack throw away first.

Second , I can't see filling it with Gorilla glue. Wouldnt' that put all the weight or more right back into it ?

Lastly , I wouldn't worry about patent issues unless your planning on selling these retail.
 
Taking chance

"Second , I can't see filling it with Gorilla glue. Wouldnt' that put all the weight or more right back into it ? "

because I never have really liked the hit of original ferrule anyway and I have a second shaft. My repair guy says Preds are filled w/foam like material and so does their promo materiel.
Jewett's ferrule looks like a brass one on snooker cues. Kind of counters lowering mass at tip theory.
 
dirtydog48 said:
"Second , I can't see filling it with Gorilla glue. Wouldnt' that put all the weight or more right back into it ? "

because I never have really liked the hit of original ferrule anyway and I have a second shaft. My repair guy says Preds are filled w/foam like material and so does their promo materiel.
Jewett's ferrule looks like a brass one on snooker cues. Kind of counters lowering mass at tip theory.
Click to expand...


I'd say you're probably right about filling the hole with gorilla glue, Dog. Their weights probably cancell each other out.
Also, Predators are filled with foam, at least the early ones were.
If you look closely at the end of Jewett's cue shaft, notice the diameter. My guess is it's somewhere near 10mm which, in it's self would make it very low deflection shaft. In addition, the brass ferrule is not solid, but is a thin sleeve which is probably lighter than a common ferrule.
 
Predators are not filled with foam. There is a thin foam pad at the end of the hole which is there to prevent anything from going into the hole, but that is it. The rest of the hole is empty.
 
there are a few other problems with using gorilla glue:

1) it expands quite a bit, could blow out the shaft or do something else you dont really want...

2) it needs moisture to cure - while framing and treated woods have plenty of ambient moisture to cure gorilla glue, furniture grade woods often need moistening for the glue to cure, im pretty sure you dont want to add moisture to your shaft

3) it's not rated as a gap fller - if you wanted to fill the gap, you would be better off with an epoxy with a gap-filling additive like this:

http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...e=WEST+System+403+Microfibers+Adhesive+Filler
 
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