Shaft taper/re-taper / ferrule question?

ddadams

Absolutely love this cue.
Silver Member
I have a local player I know of whom has a shaft that he's used for years upon years, and I noticed that it's shockingly small even compared to my OB2

I asked him about it and throughout the years and re-tapering it's down to less than 11.25mm.

The thing I was curious about is how do cuemakers re-work ferrules to new tapers? Do they simple "shave down" the outsides of these? Replace them or something?

Is it different for each type of material vs what happens to the ferrule?
 
My Schon started out with 13.25 shafts in 1991. Now,those 2 shafts are 11.83 and 11.9 respectively. They feel a little small these days,but still totally playable and they're no different in straightness.

21 years of use and shaft cleanings does that.

These days,12.75 is perfect because I have scar tissue built up in the 2nd joint of my bridge hand index finger from using a tight,anchored bridge.

I've seen way worse than this from people jacking their shafts off with 400 sandpaper or green Scotch Brite within a year or 2. Tommy D.
 
Last edited:
My Schon started out with 13.25 shafts in 1991. Now,those 2 shafts are 11.83 and 11.9 respectively. They feel a little small these days,but still totally playable and they're no different in straightness.

21 years of use and shaft cleanings does that.

These days,12.75 is perfect because I have scar tissue built up in the 2nd joint of my bridge hand index finger from using a tight,anchored bridge.

I've seen way worse than this from people jacking their shafts off with 400 sandpaper or green Scotch Brite within a year or 2. Tommy D.

Well I see nothing wrong with the size it's at I was just wondering what a cuemaker does to the ferrule to compensate for how thin the wood becomes, how they get the ferrule to match.

Hell, I think 11.25 or so would be better for me, on a cue I have being made I'm going to 11.6 then if I still like it better than 11.75 I may try 11.25.
 
Its actually pretty simple. When the shaft is smaller than the ferrules. You just turn down the ferrule to match the shaft. After years of cleaning and the good old green pad that players use on there shafts. You can do this to match ferrule to shaft.
 
Its actually pretty simple. When the shaft is smaller than the ferrules. You just turn down the ferrule to match the shaft. After years of cleaning and the good old green pad that players use on there shafts. You can do this to match ferrule to shaft.

Every material is the same in this? Even the odd ball ones like walrus ivory?
 
Well I see nothing wrong with the size it's at I was just wondering what a cuemaker does to the ferrule to compensate for how thin the wood becomes, how they get the ferrule to match.

Hell, I think 11.25 or so would be better for me, on a cue I have being made I'm going to 11.6 then if I still like it better than 11.75 I may try 11.25.

You match the bottom of the ferrule with the top of the shaft that is exposed.
It gets tough on shafts that are no longer round .
Most ferrules come around 14.25MM and are turned down after installation.
It gets machined close to final size ( tool bit , router bit or end mill are used ) then are sanded and polished.
 
Well I see nothing wrong with the size it's at I was just wondering what a cuemaker does to the ferrule to compensate for how thin the wood becomes, how they get the ferrule to match.

Hell, I think 11.25 or so would be better for me, on a cue I have being made I'm going to 11.6 then if I still like it better than 11.75 I may try 11.25.

Not to digress, but I always find it interesting when players are talking about the differences in parts of a millimeter like it is significant.

The difference between 11.75mm and 11.25mm is a whopping 0.019685 inches.

I'm not saying you can't tell the difference, but I believe the significance is mostly in people's minds.

Just sayin'

Gary
 
1/2 mm doesn't matter? To who?

Gary- If I ever gave a shaft back to a customer that had been 12.75 before a re-tip and is now 12.25 there would be a lynching...mine!
I would flip out if someone did that to my equipment.
Half a millimeter in shaft size is a HUGE deal to everyone I know who plays pool.
Robin Snyder

PS- Hey Gary, send me all your shafts...I'll give 'em all a massage for ya. You'll never notice, I promise! :D:D:D
 
Last edited:
Gary- If I ever gave a shaft back to a customer that had been 12.75 before a re-tip and is now 12.25 there would be a lynching...mine!
I would flip out if someone did that to my equipment.
Half a millimeter in shaft size is a HUGE deal to everyone I know who plays pool.
Robin Snyder

PS- Hey Gary, send me all your shafts...I'll give 'em all a massage for ya. You'll never notice, I promise! :D:D:D

Hey Robin,

Umm . . . I guess I didn't make myself clear. I agree with you that the cuesmith should not be altering ANY dimension on a customer's cue unless requested to do so.
What I was referring to was the OP's contention that he wanted a cuesmith to intentionally turn down his ferrule from 11.75mm to 11.6mm to see if he liked the difference and then possibly 11.25mm after that.

Hope I have made myself more clear now.

BTW, that moisture meter that you reccomended is great!!

Gary
 
Hey Robin,

Umm . . . I guess I didn't make myself clear. I agree with you that the cuesmith should not be altering ANY dimension on a customer's cue unless requested to do so.
What I was referring to was the OP's contention that he wanted a cuesmith to intentionally turn down his ferrule from 11.75mm to 11.6mm to see if he liked the difference and then possibly 11.25mm after that.

Hope I have made myself more clear now.

BTW, that moisture meter that you reccomended is great!!

Gary

12mm to 11.75mm was significant feeling to me. 11.75->11.6 might not be but I'd rather try something in the middle before going to a pencil sized tip like 11.25.
 
Gary- I get you now.

Aren't those Ryobi moisture meters the nuts? Best I've run into, and for $40.
 
Back
Top