Predator Shaft Query

Kim Bye said:
Just post a picture.
Samsara tips can pop off if they aren't prepped right.
You are using very confusing language, that doesn't help.
Predator shafts isn't more difficult to work on than any other brands, granted you know what you are doing.
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Posted pictures
 
Kim Bye said:
It's there to spread the impact forces. It's a pretty common design, Predator aren't the only ones using that design. OB shafts used a similar pad and many CF shafts with very short ferrules uses a pad to spread the load and also dampen vibrations.
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Yes - I “shattered” 2 OB cue shafts, resulting in the switch to Predator. That’s why this is so important to me.
 
Kim Bye said:
It's there to spread the impact forces. It's a pretty common design, Predator aren't the only ones using that design. OB shafts used a similar pad and many CF shafts with very short ferrules uses a pad to spread the load and also dampen vibrations.
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Does the added information and pictures clear this up some?
 
garczar said:
One last thing: if we're talking about a wood BK2 shaft that plate is just called a 'tip plate', never heard 'boilerplate' used in regards to these shafts. Should not be hard to fix.
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That’s the response that I was looking for. The tech knew it was there, but couldn’t figure out why. I didn’t explicitly ask him to remove it.
 
It defiantly shows they didn't sand the tip flat before installing. You keep referring to them as the professional, they are not a professional, just an incompetent worker.
 
Kjackxon said:
Sorry - It “functions” like a boilerplate according to their website.
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Ok, so whomever did this, didn't do good prep and he also removed the tip plate. You can even see some glue starvation there, so either he didn't use enough glue or possibly the ferrule was poorly faced off. Any competent cue maker can fix this for you and it will be as good as new.
 
Did you buy this brand new? The reason I ask is that EVERY BK2 I've worked on has a carbon fiber pad on top of the 'ferrule' and If the pad is removed, you will see an exposed carbon tube end and the exposed ferrule edge....I have NOT seen one that has a Capped ferrule. The wood shaft BK's have an embedded Carbon fiber tube about 7 or so " deep. The Carbon fiber pad is an essential part to the front of the cue to not explode when breaking....you have a capped ferrule, that is NOT original. The picture I've attached is from a bk2 that someone changed the whole assembly to a polycarbonate ferrule/tip combo, please note the carbon fiber tube that is exposed. The next picture is what it should look like when it properly installed with the actual Ferrule material that Predator used on those. I have done dozens of BK repairs unfortunately I don't have a picture of what it looks like with the tip removed and the carbon fiber pad but hopefully you get what I'm talking about. The first picture you posted actually shows a crack in it runs around the top of the ferrule.....that cannot happen on the original material.....
 

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Kjackxon said:
It seems like we don’t have a response from a knowledgeable Predator cue tech. The technician told me that it “appeared” to have been a carbon fiber customization. For those who have believed that a Predator shaft is no different than any other, you are WRONG.
I paid for parts and labor. My expectation is that the cue technician is being paid for a service.
Regardless of consent, would you want to find out why that carbon fiber collar belonged on the cue?
Only one who knows nothing about Predator would respond like that.
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In my line of work, we teach the youngins, if you don't know what happens when you press the button...don't press the button.
If you were unsure of the construction on the business end of your shaft, and you didn't have an experienced repair person immediately available...in my opinion you should have either contacted Predator to obtain the information you needed, or reached out to an authorized/qualified repair person, prior to moving forward.
Just my two cents.
 
A picture is still worth a thousand words. After seeing the pictures you posted, it's apparent that the install was poorly done. Putting a new carbon fiber pad back on the ferrule is not a big deal though, any decent cue mechanic can get you back up to speed.

Alan
 
Dave38 said:
Did you buy this brand new? The reason I ask is that EVERY BK2 I've worked on has a carbon fiber pad on top of the 'ferrule' and If the pad is removed, you will see an exposed carbon tube end and the exposed ferrule edge....I have NOT seen one that has a Capped ferrule. The wood shaft BK's have an embedded Carbon fiber tube about 7 or so " deep. The Carbon fiber pad is an essential part to the front of the cue to not explode when breaking....you have a capped ferrule, that is NOT original. The picture I've attached is from a bk2 that someone changed the whole assembly to a polycarbonate ferrule/tip combo, please note the carbon fiber tube that is exposed. The next picture is what it should look like when it properly installed with the actual Ferrule material that Predator used on those. I have done dozens of BK repairs unfortunately I don't have a picture of what it looks like with the tip removed and the carbon fiber pad but hopefully you get what I'm talking about. The first picture you posted actually shows a crack in it runs around the top of the ferrule.....that cannot happen on the original material.....
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Best reply so far!
Thanks Dave
 
j2pac said:
In my line of work, we teach the youngins, if you don't know what happens when you press the button...don't press the button.
If you were unsure of the construction on the business end of your shaft, and you didn't have an experienced repair person immediately available...in my opinion you should have either contacted Predator to obtain the information you needed, or reached out to an authorized/qualified repair person, prior to moving forward.
Just my two cents.
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Total Agreement
I got that fuzzy feeling when the cue tech told me that he couldn’t burnish the ferrule. I looked at him like “what are you scared of?”
Look - From one who shattered a couple of OB shafts (defective) maybe I should have looked first. I made the call, and they knew that it was a Predator shaft. I’m calling BS on all of you who thought that brand does not matter.
 
Michael Webb said:
Best reply so far!
Thanks Dave
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YES!
FINALLY - Someone knows what they’re talking about.
The cue tech did bring out the cue to show me something that puzzled him. He’d told me that it appeared to be a CF tube that fitted into the ferrule. I did not see it again until he handed back the shaft. I’m surprised too that the ferrule was solid.
I did buy the shaft brand new from Pooldawg. They handled the OB shafts, and were well aware of my concern. The only change that was made was swapping out the stock tip for the Samsera tip.
Seeing the ferrule like that has me shocked.
 
dendweller said:
lovely
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I’ve watched countless videos of tip installs. If no sanding was required, it’s contrary to what we’ve seen and heard.
I did get the specs that I was looking for in a cue that’s been around for around 15-20 years.
When the tip got blown off, I immediately saw 2 things:
- The tip replacement was
botched.
- The ferrule tube did not
look like it had a CF tube.

I’m not guessing any longer.
 
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