Retapering Shafts

S

Shevek

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If you have a shaft that you almost like but is maybe just a little too stiff, how unusual is it for people to actually go to the extent of having it retapered? Is it one of those things where you just keep trying different cues until you find "The One"?

It seems to me that tweaking your shaft this way is possibly a very touchy endeavor, not requiring much removal of wood to make a significant change in the way a shaft plays. I'd think extending the length of the taper just a little would have as much of an effect as reducing the diameter a lot. Are there any guidelines for this? Is this something cue makers get much experience with? Is it discussed in Chris Hightower's book? It must be a real art.

Along the same lines, would it be recommended to not do this unless you were using CNC? It seems to me that if this is a touchy operation, it would be made all the more "hit and miss" doing it by hand.

Do cuemakers commonly get such requests? Would it be considered offensive to ask a cue maker to retaper one of his own creations?

PS. Just looking for information here from the board at large - not trying to get into anything controversial.

Thanks
 
I live in an area where a lot of players use smaller sized shafts, so this is a repair that I do on a regular basis. Over the years I've made charts of every brand of Q, that came into the shop. If someone wants a shaft like their old Joss, I can copy it. If they want a longer taper I make a chart of their new taper & then I can copy that too. Taking a little off here & there is something that is a hand operation & has to be learned on the job, so to speak...JER
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
I live in an area where a lot of players use smaller sized shafts, so this is a repair that I do on a regular basis. Over the years I've made charts of every brand of Q, that came into the shop. If someone wants a shaft like their old Joss, I can copy it. If they want a longer taper I make a chart of their new taper & then I can copy that too. Taking a little off here & there is something that is a hand operation & has to be learned on the job, so to speak...JER
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply Jerry. I've been wondering about something like this. I'd think that by analyzing these charts over the years, you probably have a good idea of how to make tweaks. I don't live too far away from you. I might pay you a visit someday soon.

Don
 
Some shafts are harder to re-taper than others, and it could affect the value of the cue, but a lot of people do it. I know one guy that puts his own taper on every cue he gets, and they play very well. This is one of the better reasons to have more than one shaft for a cue. Some cue builders use what looks to me like a "universal" taper and the people that buy their cues typically have them re-tapered. Personally
I feel that the shaft taper is part of the cue builder's "signature" and certain ones like Ernie Martinez who recently got his old taper bar back, are famous for it. Normally though, if I don't like the shaft taper, then I don't like the cue.
 
I have done a few retaper jobs for people who wanted to extend the taper. It is something that can be done on a lathe by hand with sand paper. As Jerry said it does take some know-how to do it properly.

Dave
 
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