Predator ferrule problem

[stickman]

I have a friend that has an early Predator cue. It was the top model for it's time. The first Predators used a 1 1/4" ferrule. As far as I can tell, the original ferrule replacements aren't available. The ferrules don't appear to be anything unusal to me. They are uncapped, unthreaded, and a white material, I'm guessing either fiber or PVC. They are soft, and scratch easily. The cue has considerable collector value, so he doesn't what to do anything that would decrease the value. I welcome and appreciate your ideas or suggestions.

 

[Teddy Harris]

I have a friend that has an early Predator cue. It was the top model for it's time. The first Predators used a 1 1/4" ferrule. As far as I can tell, the original ferrule replacements aren't available. The ferrules don't appear to be anything unusal to me. They are uncapped, unthreaded, and a white material, I'm guessing either fiber or PVC. They are soft, and scratch easily. The cue has considerable collector value, so he doesn't what to do anything that would decrease the value. I welcome and appreciate your ideas or suggestions.

They are not fiber or pvc. They are not uncapped. They are not white. They do scratch easily, and show chalk. I believe predator ferrules are proprietary. My advice would be to send it back to predator if there is something wrong. Otherwise, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[stickman]

They are not fiber or pvc. They are not uncapped. They are not white. They do scratch easily, and show chalk. I believe predator ferrules are proprietary. My advice would be to send it back to predator if there is something wrong. Otherwise, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

They look white to me, or maybe blue. Anyway they appear much whiter than those with a ivory cast to them. My memory must be bad on them being uncapped. It's been a while since I replaced a tip for him. My friend tells me that he can get Predator ferrules, only not the 1 1/4" length. He said that they are no longer available. Maybe, he needs to contact Predator again and verify his information. If Predator can replace them, perhaps he should let them replace them. Thanks for the advice, Ted.

 

[Michael Webb]

If your friend says he can get Predator ferrules he must be pretty special because they don't give them up easily unless it's to craftsmen that are qualified in their eyes.

 

[stickman]

If your friend says he can get Predator ferrules he must be pretty special because they don't give them up easily unless it's to craftsmen that are qualified in their eyes.

I think I'll try to contact Predator myself to see if they can re-ferrule his shafts. I have an e-mail address, and a toll free number for customer service. If I'm told that they can replace them, I'll tell my friend to send them to the company. Thanks for the reply.

 

[stickman]

I think I'll try to contact Predator myself to see if they can re-ferrule his shafts. I have an e-mail address, and a toll free number for customer service. If I'm told that they can replace them, I'll tell my friend to send them to the company. Thanks for the reply.

I e-mailed them and was told that they can only replace 3/4" ferrules.

 

[Michael Webb]

That's true, I talked to them also. Your only option is the newer 3/4" ferrule

 

[stickman]

That's true, I talked to them also. Your only option is the newer 3/4" ferrule

Thanks, Michael. You don't feel you can suggest a suitable replacement? I now know that the ferrules are 1 1/4", white, (unless I'm color blind), capped, probably threaded, and made of a soft material that scratches easily, and shows chalk. Is there anything else? I feel comfortable with my qualifications to do a professional job with ferrule replacement, unless there is more to this one than I realize. I have a lathe, digital calipers, dial indicators, and various other necessary tools, and have been doing cue repairs for several years. I am disabled and do this in a home shop for a little extra income, (pool money) and enjoy anything that has to do with pool. The ferrules are scratched pretty badly. The cues have been very heavily used, and I suspect that possibly a tip shaper or some other user tool scratched the ferrules. They are beyond polishing with micro burnishing paper. They would require sanding and significantly decrease the diameter. I won't do that. He would prefer that the shafts looked as they were originally. With the original 1 1/4" ferrules the old shafts are unique. There is nothing unique with the new replacements. No recommendations? Thanks for your time, Jim

 

[Sheldon]

You are pretty much stuck with replacing them yourself if they are to be replaced. I know of no material that is quite like the predator ferrules, I might suggest you look at Atlas billiards' XTC ferrules though, they are fairly close in color, I think.
http://www.cuestik.com/cuestik/cata...mid=4553&secid=249&linkon=category&linkid=389
I have not had any of the old predator ferrules off a shaft, but have done pleny of the shorter ones. The ferrule is un-threaded, VERY thin-walled and has a VERY thick cap on it. I usually thread a tenon into the hole that is there and then add a regular ferrule. This will make the shaft play slightly different though, and your friend may want to consider this.

 

[buddha162]

The whole point of Predator's technology resides in the first 4 inches of the shaft, and that includes the ferrule. Replacing it yourself with whatever material other than predator ferrules (and maintaining their specific structure) will render the shaft non-Predator.

Threading a tenon in the space or filling the hollow with any material will not make it play "slightly" different, it will ruin the reduced-deflection properties of the shaft altogether.

-Roger

 

[stickman]

You are pretty much stuck with replacing them yourself if they are to be replaced. I know of no material that is quite like the predator ferrules, I might suggest you look at Atlas billiards' XTC ferrules though, they are fairly close in color, I think.
http://www.cuestik.com/cuestik/cata...mid=4553&secid=249&linkon=category&linkid=389
I have not had any of the old predator ferrules off a shaft, but have done pleny of the shorter ones. The ferrule is un-threaded, VERY thin-walled and has a VERY thick cap on it. I usually thread a tenon into the hole that is there and then add a regular ferrule. This will make the shaft play slightly different though, and your friend may want to consider this.

Thanks for the reply. I have not replaced any predator ferrules and was curious about the specifics. Unthreaded, and thin walled, huh? I would be prone to leave the hollowed tenon just as it is. I was aware of the hollowed tenon through literature and graphics, and understand the reasoning for it. I just can't understand what is so special about the specific properties of the propriety material in the ferrules. This may well be one of those things where you are better leaving well enough alone, but I'd still like to understand why. LOL

 

[Michael Webb]

Thanks for the reply. I have not replaced any predator ferrules and was curious about the specifics. Unthreaded, and thin walled, huh? I would be prone to leave the hollowed tenon just as it is. I was aware of the hollowed tenon through literature and graphics, and understand the reasoning for it. I just can't understand what is so special about the specific properties of the propriety material in the ferrules. This may well be one of those things where you are better leaving well enough alone, but I'd still like to understand why. LOL

Very well said but I feel the only one who could answer your questions with the respect they deserve is Predator. There is a lot of knowledge on this forum but only the person who actually designed the product can answer correctly.
Sheldon:
You should try and get some predator ferrules to keep their product in line for what it was designed for.

 

[stickman]

Very well said but I feel the only one who could answer your questions with the respect they deserve is Predator. There is a lot of knowledge on this forum but only the person who actually designed the product can answer correctly.

Thanks for all the numerous replies. I think I'll clean the shafts, remove the dings, and burnish them. I have a better understanding of the specifics even if I still don't have an answer for repairing them. Thanks, Jim

 

[Sheldon]

You should try and get some predator ferrules to keep their product in line for what it was designed for.

Not worth the bother.

I don't buy the hype, but if my customers do, then they can get the work done by predator. So far no one has been displeased by any ferrule replacements I have done on them.

 

[buddha162]

Not worth the bother.

I don't buy the hype, but if my customers do, then they can get the work done by predator. So far no one has been displeased by any ferrule replacements I have done on them.

I'm not sure what you mean by "hype." Is it A.) Predator shafts do not reduce deflection, or B.) reducing deflection is not a meaningful endeavor?

I've shot with Predator shafts since I started playing 7 years ago, and if I gave my shaft to you and you performed your little surgery by plugging in the hollow I will definitely notice a huge difference.

I'm actually looking to get out of using Predator shafts, since I've shot with many stock custom shafts that hit a whole lot better, more lively and solid. But the fact remains that Predator's products perform as advertised.

-Roger

 

[Rich R.]

Not worth the bother.

I don't buy the hype, but if my customers do, then they can get the work done by predator. So far no one has been displeased by any ferrule replacements I have done on them.

Because we are on the internet and you cannot hear my voice, I must first assure you, that this is an honest question and it is not intended to be any kind of insult to you.
I am just curious.

It is obvious that your method of repair will change the engineering of the Predator shaft in some way.
When a customer comes to you with a Predator shaft and needs a ferrule replaced, do you tell them, ahead of time , that your repair will change the way their cue hits?

BTW, I have tried Predator cues and I'm not crazy about them.

 

[Michael Webb]

Sheldon:
I always respect your opinions as a fellow cue maker but I have to disagree with your views on Predators. Their shaft does what all of our cues do and that is offer a choice for people. And respectfully doing what you do makes you responsible for the shaft.