Retired cues

[luke]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

 

[pocket]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

I would think laminated shafts would be most susceptible to wearing out, due to some being hollow, and more of a process to put them together.

That's just thinking about it, haven't had any cue or shaft long enough to wear out.

 

[Cardigan Kid]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

Somewhere, I have a book on my bookshelf that tackled this very question. I can't for the life of me remember which one, but the author did explain that over time, on each hit the shaft does flex ever so slightly and there is an ensuing vibration. This eventually separates the fibers of the wood down at the microscopic level, and what results is a more flexible shaft.

In my experience, I played a second generation predator Z shaft for a while and I surely noticed the whippy effect it took on over time. Being real thin 11.75mm so less wood probably accelerated this result.

So yes, I do believe over time, you will have to retire a shaft eventually.

 

[Bavafongoul]

It depends on the type of construction, ex. wood joint versus piloted steel joint. but setting aside factors like that, the answer is no.....the cue should last ......."if properly cared for".

My Palmer cue is from 1972 and it is in great shape and straight as a string.......piloted steel joint.
My Runde Schon is in great shape and ditto on straightness.........both cues have original shafts.
MY Scruggs is from 2006 and has a flat ivory joint and is laser straight. All my other cues are newer.

Those are my oldest cues so that's my experience but my comments are also shaped by my knowledge of pool cues. All my cues are straight and have original shafts but I take care of them.

Matt B.

 

[Shooter08]

Book

Somewhere, I have a book on my bookshelf that tackled this very question. I can't for the life of me remember which one, but the author did explain that over time, on each hit the shaft does flex ever so slightly and there is an ensuing vibration. This eventually separates the fibers of the wood down at the microscopic level, and what results is a more flexible shaft.

In my experience, I played a second generation predator Z shaft for a while and I surely noticed the whippy effect it took on over time. Being real thin 11.75mm so less wood probably accelerated this result.

So yes, I do believe over time, you will have to retire a shaft eventually.

I think you may be referring to Mark Wilson's book.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Do they retire old guitars ? Old violins ? Old pianos ?
Cal Ripken had a baseball bat that lasted him a long time . It was so ugly from all the tar . He would not replace it.

I was told by cuemaker Bob Flynn, Brazilian rosewood actually sounds better as it ages .
I don't doubt it .

 

[SilverCue]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

If you use an abrasive like sand paper or steel wool to clean it with,. it will.

 

[BHQ]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

us cuemakers give out long before the cue does :frown:

 

[hang-the-9]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

Only time I've seen a cue need to be replaced is if it was cheaply made to begin with or was not taken care of.

Many/most people think that aged shafts play better due to quality of wood and/or "aging/breaking in" of the wood.

 

[pdcue]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

Not if they are well made and well maintained.

 

[measureman]

Do cues and shafts wear out and need to be periodically replaced? Does the feel or hit change over time? Do the adhesives and fasteners break down eventually?

Do you own a Meucci.
they fall in that scenario.