solid one piece bamboo butt

desi2960

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
in my quest for the perfect cue, i will try just about anything once. this is my latest effort, the butt of this cue is a solid piece of laminated bamboo. i really do not like stainless but as bamboo is very light i used a 3/8 by 10 ss pin and a ss joint collar. the shaft is maple and has a bamboo ferrule. looks a bit funny, but it plays just like any other ss jointed cue.

chuck starkey
 

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18.1 oz

i had to add a bit of weight to the butt to keep a decent balance point [ 19 inches ] with the stainless at the joint and weight in the butt it still weights 18.1 oz.
 
i had to add a bit of weight to the butt to keep a decent balance point [ 19 inches ] with the stainless at the joint and weight in the butt it still weights 18.1 oz.
I was curious because I play pool with an old timer who has a 15oz McDermott from the early 80's I believe and he's always talking about wanting a new pool cue, but they're all too heavy.
 
just bamboo

if i used a wood pin and no weight i think i could make a bamboo butt that weights less than 10 oz
 
how does it play

chris, you know most of my recent cues have wood pins, so hitting with a stainless joint and ss pin feels funny to me, it has weight both back and front, so to me it hits like any other ss jointed cue. it has no weird sounds, clacks or clunks. i did not want to install a $20 laminated tip on an expermintal cue so i went with a triangle. i have a joss with a ss joint in my room for guest that have no cue, and i hit a ball or two with it then a ball or two with the bamboo, back and forth, they seemed to hit the same to me.
because of the weight, the next one will be fully cored with laminated maple.
 
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expermint only

i would not feel comfortable selling this cue because its so new, i have no idea how its going to hold up over the years, i think i want to spend a bit more time testing the bamboo before i sell one.
 
very cool

I like your cue its diffrent hell I would play with it, good luck on others.:thumbup:
 
Very cool! We, as humans, really should be thinking about sustainable natural products. I applaud you for stepping outside the box. I hope it works out.
 
I really dig your experimentation with bamboo. I look forward to the cored version. Will it have a wood pin?

By the way, the cue you have for sale in the for sale forum is spectacular!


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chopdoc

i am going to core the next bamboo cue, that will add a lot of weight. if i can, i will use the wood pin on that cue, but if i need the weight in front for balance i will have to use the steel pin.
and thank you, the for sale cue is much brighter in person than in the photos
 
Cool.

You might even core with something even more dense, like purpleheart or something, in order to get the weight up so you can use the wood pin.

Very dense laminates like dymondwood might even be considered for a core. That stuff is pretty darn stiff but perhaps in combination with bamboo such qualities might balance out and give the right feel.

Just some food for thought.


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Cool.

You might even core with something even more dense, like purpleheart or something, in order to get the weight up so you can use the wood pin.

Very dense laminates like dymondwood might even be considered for a core. That stuff is pretty darn stiff but perhaps in combination with bamboo such qualities might balance out and give the right feel.

Just some food for thought.


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exactly my thoughts.
 
just for the looks

i was thinking about a 13 inch forearm, a 12 inch handle, 4 inch butt, forearm and butt bamboo, handle ebony. cut each to length turn round, drill each and sleeve over a 5/8 or 3/4 inch maple laminated dowel. simple black fiber rings, from the joint back it would be black, bamboo, black, bamboo, black.
i think the maple dowel and ebony handle would make the right weight, but i have not yet done the numbers.
just more stuff rolling around in my head
 
I'm picturing that in my head and it really would make for a striking cue I think.

Perhaps the ebony could have a little figure to it as well. I don't know the different types of ebony well enough to name them but the ones with a little hint of blonde figure might work well with this look. You probably know what I mean.


The contrasts between the black and the bamboo would be really cool. With the full ebony handle and the maple core you just might make the weight. I don't know about the balance though since you would be relying on the ebony handle somewhat for making up weight.

And if you do the numbers and it does not add up then you perhaps consider a heavier core.
 
like others have said...i really enjoy the forward thinking. and The bamboo makes for a very interesting look.

Can't wait to find out how the bamboo holds up as a ferrule as the lower weight reduction has many positive attributes.
 
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