Rare or in short supply materials, which one would you want?

Chopdoc

Chopdoc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was thinking about the rare or in short supply materials that we see in custom cues and was wondering which one a cue maker would want if it were possible to make it available in unlimited supply with no environmental issues, legal issues, ethical issues, etc at all.

If your dream could come true, which would you choose?

1. High growth ring maple, "old growth"
2. Gaboon ebony
3. Macassar ebony
4. Brazillian rosewood
5. Elephant ivory
6. Cortland linen
7. Pearlescent plastics like was found in some Balabushkas etc
8. Micarta (lets not argue about what it is, I think you know the stuff I mean)
9. Brunswick KU bumpers (OK, not a material per se, but in short supply)
10. Some other material?

I have my ideas about that. I suspect the cue makers would choose the maple hands down, but I wonder if some have other ideas. Perhaps one has a good stash of maple or a good supplier and would choose something else?

Perhaps the rarity of certain materials that you have or can get helps keep the value higher and hence the marketability of certain cues you make stronger and you wouldn't want to change that?

Maybe there is some special material not on the list that you personally simply like to work with because of its qualities and it happens to be in short supply or difficult to get?

The sky is the limit, if you could have what you wanted, which would it be? And if you please, tell me why.

Thanks in advance for any responses. :)
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I would like to get my hands on the old brown/orange phenolic for butts and joints. I really like the way it looks but can't find anybody to part with some.
 
Hi,

Great select maple shaft wood.........everything else is not as important to me.

The Good Doctor is correct in his observations about maple, IMO.

Rick
 
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Not on the list! Need more time. Not enough time in the day to do all I need to do and play with cues too!

Larry
 
63Kcode said:
Not on the list! Need more time. Not enough time in the day to do all I need to do and play with cues too!

Larry
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LOL!

OK, I didn't expect that one, but a very good point. Let's say that fits under #10 "other". :)
 
I was thinking somebody would come up with some odd material I didn't know about....some unobtanium cue maker's catnip material that I have not heard of.....

Maybe we will still here from somebody?

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Chopdoc said:
I was thinking somebody would come up with some odd material I didn't know about....some unobtanium cue maker's catnip material that I have not heard of.....

Maybe we will still here from somebody?

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Click to expand...

Rolled black G-10 rods.
 
Chopdoc said:
I was thinking somebody would come up with some odd material I didn't know about....some unobtanium cue maker's catnip material that I have not heard of.....

Maybe we will still here from somebody?

.
Click to expand...

thanks for the laugh.....to funny....cue makers catnip....:smile2:
 
This could be an interesting thread. For us, I would choose #2 and #4.

#2 is getting more and more difficult. When we once were able to buy 1,000 sticks at a time, it's not reality anymore although we're working on it.

#4 would be nice but I don't think that's possible anymore.

#1 is a scarcity but not to us as we generate a lot of high growth by the sheer volume that goes through our shop.

#5 would be nice too but that would have to come with absolute control over the supply.

Something that is not on the list would be high grade Birdseye as that's a dwindling commodity these days.

Did someone say rolled & molded black G10 -- that would be nice but we bought the last run of that stuff before the company producing it went out of business. We had to buy 1,000 feet of it in order for them to sell it to us. We still have most of it and no it's not for sale but will be one day. (no emails or calls please)
 
Chopdoc said:
I was thinking somebody would come up with some odd material I didn't know about....some unobtanium cue maker's catnip material that I have not heard of.....

Maybe we will still here from somebody?

.
Click to expand...

Add these to the list
Carbon fiber and bronze radial screws.
Laminated bubinga handles.
!" and 1 3/8 melamine tubes.
Masoncarta tubes as well.
 
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Joe Barringer said:
This could be an interesting thread. For us, I would choose #2 and #4.

#2 is getting more and more difficult. When we once were able to buy 1,000 sticks at a time, it's not reality anymore although we're working on it.

#4 would be nice but I don't think that's possible anymore.

#1 is a scarcity but not to us as we generate a lot of high growth by the sheer volume that goes through our shop.

#5 would be nice too but that would have to come with absolute control over the supply.

Something that is not on the list would be high grade Birdseye as that's a dwindling commodity these days.

Did someone say rolled & molded black G10 -- that would be nice but we bought the last run of that stuff before the company producing it went out of business. We had to buy 1,000 feet of it in order for them to sell it to us. We still have most of it and no it's not for sale but will be one day. (no emails or calls please)
Click to expand...


Thanks for responding Joe.

It's interesting you mention the birdseye, that was glaringly absent in my list I think, though I mentioned Maple, I didn't mention figured maples.


I guess we know where the G-10 is! :grin: I guess you da man where that is concerned!


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JoeyInCali said:
Add these to the list
Carbon fiber and bronze radial screws.
Laminated bubinga handles.
!" and 1 3/8 melamine tubes.
Click to expand...


Bubinga. I had a beautiful bubinga cue...nice wood. I didn't realize it had value in laminated form as a handle wood.

Carbon fiber and bronze radial screws? Never thought of it.

...and the melamine tubes...never thought of it.

Thanks for your input. :wink:




Hey guys, what about certain varieties of phenolic linen. I have seen mentioned that certain ones are scarce now, is that so?


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I have 4 pieces of Brazilian. I will keep one or two for myself.

I have never used Cortland nor have a cue with it. I would love to walk into a fishing shop one day and see a few rolls of it sitting on the discount table.

The Cortland line company seems to have a working web site. They mention that they will make custom line for many different uses. How hard would it be for them to start making it again? I have emailed them twice with no answer. I'm sure there is a good reason otherwise they would make it and we would buy it.

I bought a box of KU bumpers for $60 on EBay. I keep searching every few days but have not found another.
I was going to hoard all 12 but Kim did me a huge favor and I sent him one.

How about the foil wrap that Palmer and George B used to use on their cues under the clear acrylic.

If I remember, someone posted a link where you could buy foil and an engraver type kit. I don't know how they did it or if the kit could reproduce the same results. Seems to me that Ryan can do this.
Either way, I like the look.

Maybe I could use the heavy duty bar b cue foil and a Sharpie.
 
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I just passed up 6 fifty yard spools of antique Cuttyhunk No.9, 27 pound test natural linen, $46 total for the six spools.

Should I have grabbed that? :confused:



NOTE: I didn't start this thread because I am looking for such materials but I do keep my eye out for linen. I just thought there might be some interesting comments since I see scattered comments about such materials.

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