Snakewood-cue: Made to last?

Detlev Rackow

Detlev Rackow

Barbox addict
Silver Member
Hello,

I have ordered a cue with a snakewood-butt and snakewood-points. While I do love the appearance, I get my usual second thoughts about the whole idea.

I read at some places on the net that snakewood is a brittle wood and that there is always a risk of the butt to splinter.

Since the cue is due in 7-9 months, changing the order would be somewhat embarassing, but would probably not cost money right now.

My question to all who own a snakewood-cue or have built them for a while: Is the chance of damage to the wood really high, or is this more a theoretical possibility?

Regards,

Detlev
 
Detlev Rackow said:
I read at some places on the net that snakewood is a brittle wood and that there is always a risk of the butt to splinter.
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Since it's a pool cue and not an axe handle, I'd say that the chances of it splintering are slim to none, unless you are forced to use it as a club, a use at which most cues fail miserably anyway.

The forces put on the butt of a pool cue during normal use are not likely to stress the materials much at all. Shafts take a much bigger beating, since they are smaller in diameter and flex with every shot.

Are you concerned about the wood simply drying out and checking/splintering spontaneously?

Ken
 
I know a local cue collector extreme.
He ordered a snakewood forearmed cue from a maker in Florida.
It was cored of course.
The cue exploded one day.
Snakewood broke like crystal.
 
pretty poison

It is lovely wood, and unique in appearance. But, It moves a lot with humidity and is prone to cracking and checking. I think keeping the use of it to inlays and points is a far more prudent idea. There is less chance of problems when it's role in your cue is not structural.
 
olsonsview said:
It is lovely wood, and unique in appearance. But, It moves a lot with humidity and is prone to cracking and checking. I think keeping the use of it to inlays and points is a far more prudent idea. There is less chance of problems when it's role in your cue is not structural.
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I 100% agree.
 
Detlev Rackow said:
Hello,
My question to all who own a snakewood-cue or have built them for a while: Is the chance of damage to the wood really high, or is this more a theoretical possibility?
Detlev
Click to expand...


I made some pens using SnakeWood I have had laying around the shop for about a year.
So far two of the four have developed cracks.
These pens are made by drilling a 7 mm hole thru the wood blank and gluing in a brass tube much the same way you would core a forearm.
The wood blank is then turned down to a thickness of about .1" all the while being coated with thin super glue.
It is hard to believe that small amount of wood would move so much that it would break the epoxy bond with the brass tube and crack.

From my experience I would be reluctant to even use it as an inlay material.
I would much rather use highly figured Bocote.
 
Snakewood

WilleeCue said:
I made some pens using SnakeWood I have had laying around the shop for about a year.
So far two of the four have developed cracks.
These pens are made by drilling a 7 mm hole thru the wood blank and gluing in a brass tube much the same way you would core a forearm.
The wood blank is then turned down to a thickness of about .1" all the while being coated with thin super glue.
It is hard to believe that small amount of wood would move so much that it would break the epoxy bond with the brass tube and crack.

From my experience I would be reluctant to even use it as an inlay material.
I would much rather use highly figured Bocote.
Click to expand...

From what I have read about Snakewood it must season for Forty (40) years. Yes I said Forty Years.

I started building cues when I was 50 years old. Fifty plus Forty Equals - Forget it Arnot - Use other woods :).

Snakewood is for the 20 year old cuemaker to season until it is of age.

Now you know why Arnot does not use Snakewood in his cues :).

Good Cuemaking,
 
Arnot Wadsworth said:
From what I have read about Snakewood it must season for Forty (40) years. Yes I said Forty Years.

I started building cues when I was 50 years old. Fifty plus Forty Equals - Forget it Arnot - Use other woods :).

Snakewood is for the 20 year old cuemaker to season until it is of age.

Now you know why Arnot does not use Snakewood in his cues :).

Good Cuemaking,
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Will them to me. :)
 
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Hi, thank you for your advice.

As it was, my cuemaker read the question and got back to me even faster. He has had one problem with Snakewood in the past, and we have agreed on an alternative. I want a wood with a deep red colour and a prominent figure for the butt and half the points, and we worked something out that he's got on stock in a promising quality.

Thus, I thank you all and also my cuemaker. He's a pretty nice guy and extremely responsive. When the cue's ready, I'll post pics in this nice forum. Since he estimated 8-10 months in April, that's still some time in the future. :o

Regards,

Detlev
 
Hello,
I built a snakewood cue for my wife 3 years ago. She uses this cue in weekly league play (3 nights a week) and daily practice. The cue has also traveled from PA to Vegas a few times with out any problems so far (knock on wood) The forearm is cored with maple which added to the stability and slow turned the forarm over a 9 month period. This cue was a real challange. I will resign myself to only use Snakewood in non structural areas as some of the others have mentioned because it is very unpredictable. www.gbccues.com is my website if you would like to check out this cue.

MikeG
 
Detlev Rackow said:
Hi, thank you for your advice.

As it was, my cuemaker read the question and got back to me even faster. He has had one problem with Snakewood in the past, and we have agreed on an alternative. I want a wood with a deep red colour and a prominent figure for the butt and half the points, and we worked something out that he's got on stock in a promising quality.

Thus, I thank you all and also my cuemaker. He's a pretty nice guy and extremely responsive. When the cue's ready, I'll post pics in this nice forum. Since he estimated 8-10 months in April, that's still some time in the future. :o

Regards,

Detlev
Click to expand...

Would you share what wood you are using?

FWIW - the Brits seem to use a bit of Snakewood on their
Snooker cues - they favor a "flame" at the bottom end of the butt
to give some color and contrast.

Dale
 
When it's ready, I will post some pictures :-)

All I will say for now is that it's a wood seldom seen on cues - it's a deep red with a nice figure. Searching for alternatives, I looked over many kinds of wood and found two alternatives which I liked - one is seen on az from time to time, the other is fairly seldom. Asking my cuemaker about the suitability, he assured me that both were fine, and we decided on the more seldom variety.

Stay tuned :-)

Regards,

Detlev
PS: I know that I'm behaving weird, but I'm really looking forward to the cue. The maker estimated 8-10 months, and that's still a fairly long time to go. I try to make the wait part of the fun :o
 
Detlev Rackow said:
When it's ready, I will post some pictures :-)

All I will say for now is that it's a wood seldom seen on cues - it's a deep red with a nice figure. Searching for alternatives, I looked over many kinds of wood and found two alternatives which I liked - one is seen on az from time to time, the other is fairly seldom. Asking my cuemaker about the suitability, he assured me that both were fine, and we decided on the more seldom variety.

Stay tuned :-)

Regards,

Detlev
PS: I know that I'm behaving weird, but I'm really looking forward to the cue. The maker estimated 8-10 months, and that's still a fairly long time to go. I try to make the wait part of the fun :o
Click to expand...

Quilted Bubinga or Sapelle has the same colorization and a very intense and unique figure. I like it almost the same as and maybe even more than Snakewood. Although pretty expensive, it still costs about a third as much as Snakewood and is very easy to work with.

Dick
 
GBCCUES said:
Hello,
I built a snakewood cue for my wife 3 years ago. She uses this cue in weekly league play (3 nights a week) and daily practice. The cue has also traveled from PA to Vegas a few times with out any problems so far (knock on wood) The forearm is cored with maple which added to the stability and slow turned the forarm over a 9 month period. This cue was a real challange. I will resign myself to only use Snakewood in non structural areas as some of the others have mentioned because it is very unpredictable. www.gbccues.com is my website if you would like to check out this cue.

MikeG
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum.
Kelly
 
i have a Samsara with alot of snake wood in it and just above the butt cap, there is a ring of snake wood that cracked to the point it cracked the finish, they are going to refinish the cue for free, but it can be a problem wood from my experiences and what i have been told etc.
 
Fatboy said:
i have a Samsara with alot of snake wood in it and just above the butt cap, there is a ring of snake wood that cracked to the point it cracked the finish, they are going to refinish the cue for free, but it can be a problem wood from my experiences and what i have been told etc.
Click to expand...

Hi Fatboy,

thank you for your advice. As written above, I have exchanged the wood - my cuemaker was still cutting the forearm made from ebony, and the snakewood was not yet touched :-)

Regards,

Detlev
 
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