Question about Micarta Identification

gluton1

gluton1

Schaller Custom Cues
Silver Member
I recently purchased the shop of a very well know cue company from the 80's to the 90's and today when I was going through one of the boxes I stumbled on all these white/yellow rods that are ferrule size. I compared it to some of the non asbestos micarta I have and it feels like it but doesn't have the same pattern to it. It feels like juma but I don't think that was around back then and when I took a cut on it it didn't cut like juma. I know these pictures won't help to positively identify it but somebody might have a better idea to what this material is. Is there somebody I could send a piece out to be definately identified? Thanks in advance, Todd
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First do a search on Micarta here and in the wanted for sale section. Much has already been written on the topic that may help you. If you still want to send a piece to someone for ID, PM PDCUE (Dale.) Also, I have joint and ferrule sized pieces of Dale's asbestos based Micarta that I can give to Rick if you would like to see them.
 
Thanks for everybody that replied. It's confirmed that it's grice. Thanks again, Todd
 
gluton1 said:
I recently purchased the shop of a very well know cue company from the 80's to the 90's and today when I was going through one of the boxes I stumbled on all these white/yellow rods that are ferrule size. I compared it to some of the non asbestos micarta I have and it feels like it but doesn't have the same pattern to it. It feels like juma but I don't think that was around back then and when I took a cut on it it didn't cut like juma. I know these pictures won't help to positively identify it but somebody might have a better idea to what this material is. Is there somebody I could send a piece out to be definately identified? Thanks in advance, Todd
DSC01559.jpg

DSC01558.jpg
Click to expand...

Todd,

Of the Micarta materials with asbestos used by cue makers there are to my knowledge two basic types. Flat laminated sheets like was used by Kerschenbrock and Southwest in the past and rods with the sheet material wrapped in a spiral during production.

The flat sheets are the most common and were made by Westinghouse. The spiral rods where made by General Electrical and is not as yellow as the Westinghouse stuff. Of the two it was explain to me by Stew (Stupendis) Mortenson that the spiral stuff has a slightly stiffer hit because the sheets are wound around a point and get very tight during the manufacturing process.

The 1" stuff is laid flat and laminated. Of the two the stuff you got is more widely accepted as the good micarta and everyone knows that distinctive color. The GE stuff is not as recognized because not much of it has reached a secondary market due to strict EPA remideation requirement put on the power industry and GE due the the asbestos law and cases.

The giant 3" X 16" rod I have in my shop is GE Micarta and was used for insulators on high tension power transmission lines up to 345,000 kvw. It is almost impossible to find today.

I think the piece in your picture is a rod that was made fro the 1" sheet that were cut, centers installed and turned.

This is great and expensive stuff. Just remember to use a very good vaccum system and wear a mask. Just one spec of that stuff lodged in you lung can kill you in the future through Mesothelioma.

Good find, good luck and be safe.

Rick
 
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