Square cored cues?

M

Mellowyellow

New member
I've seen a curious looking cue with a square core revealed at the base of the joint. I tried to find some info on square cored cues but couldn't really find anything. My question is, why use a square as opposed to the more standard cylindrical core in cue making? Thanks in advance.
 
I may be missing something, but I do not know how one would do a true square bored core. I have seen people start with a square and glue 4 pieces of wood around it. That is a very strong way of building a cue.
 
I guess It is just his way of building a cue using different construction to achieve similar goals ...
What I don't like much in this method ... for example:
- those pieces of wood are glued to the square "core" so there are seams between them with common issues ... So when it comes to the look ... depends...
When it comes to playability and so on ... might be pretty solid hitting cue at the end.
- to build a cue with some nice rings at the handle will be also "out of box" stuff if it is a full length "core"...
Of course there are some benefits when it comes to the integrity ... and for example this method could be used for building a cue with a snakewood to reduce the risk of cracking...
So everyone makes his own decision how to have some fun I believe).
 
S.Vaskovskyi said:
I guess It is just his way of building a cue using different construction to achieve similar goals ...
What I don't like much in this method ... for example:
- those pieces of wood are glued to the square "core" so there are seams between them with common issues ... So when it comes to the look ... depends...
When it comes to playability and so on ... might be pretty solid hitting cue at the end.
- to build a cue with some nice rings at the handle will be also "out of box" stuff if it is a full length "core"...
Of course there are some benefits when it comes to the integrity ... and for example this method could be used for building a cue with a snakewood to reduce the risk of cracking...
So everyone makes his own decision how to have some fun I believe).
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Interesting concept that looks like it renders a sound core. Not sure what advantage it may have over a laminated core but from a construction standpoint I don't see anything inherently wrong with it. Plus it's on the unique side which has merits.
 
JC said:
Interesting concept that looks like it renders a sound core. Not sure what advantage it may have over a laminated core but from a construction standpoint I don't see anything inherently wrong with it. Plus it's on the unique side which has merits.
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I didn't mean there's something wrong from a construction standpoint. On the contrary I can see certain benefits.
In fact my good friend who builds great piramid cues ... well he experimented using similar concept to build a shaft blank for the further splicing. When building piramid cues whatever method is used for splicing ... a perfect square is used like when building a full spliced blank. So as my friend prefers as stiff cue for piramid as possible he experimented building a shaft blank with a stiff bloodwood square core and traditional for piramid hornbeam on the sides. He uses so powerful clamps for glueing during his building process to get as good integrity and thin seams as possible. He was quite happy with an experiment...
So it very much depends on the goals first of all ... this and that).
 
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I've seen hexagonal cores and difficult woods like snakewood cut and glued over the core, then turned round. I can see why that's done with difficult woods. You need a really accurate bandsaw or table saw if you want to attempt such a design, but I'm sure if you get the angles just right, the seam will be virtually invisible.
 
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Kim, you're right about possibilty to make the seam invisible if done right ... there will be also additional work after the blank is divided into pieces to assemble them perfectly so all the grain is back in place... So as I said depends on the goals and how good is the one to make all the work perfectly... nothing new here).
 
So, I believe these should not be called Square Cored cues. The term cored implies boring/drilling a hole and then in the case of cues, filling it with a different material. These have not been bored, nor drilled....Think of a cored apple, taking core samples, etc. all involve boring/drilling. I feel it's a bit misleading. IMO, a more accurate/true term would be a Laminated cue. Not knocking the method at all, just I feel the current name implies a falseness about the construction methods used.
 
I have been looking for a square drill but they are all sold out......................... instead of some crazy shit.......... why not just try to build a nice cue ?????

Kim
 
whammo57 said:
I have been looking for a square drill but they are all sold out......................... instead of some crazy shit.......... why not just try to build a nice cue ?????

Kim
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I have some, what size do you need?
 
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I have been looking for a square drill but they are all sold out.
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If that is true maybe covid related? i have not checked recently. But you can call direct.

(Watts manufacturing)
760 Airbrake Avenue, P.O. Box 335
Wilmerding, PA , 15148-1014
Phone: 412-823-7877

I use Slater tools for hex & square cuts in metal trim rings but you have to drill a round hole to start.

For wood there are hollow chisels, & even cleaner/faster, Maka.

Also have some hex & square pull broaches long enough to do a butt or forearm.

smt
 
cuecore.PNG


My English pool cue has a square ash core at the base with an SD joint through it, but apart from the Shuken cues, I've hardly ever seen them in American cues.
 
Mellowyellow said:
I've seen a curious looking cue with a square core revealed at the base of the joint. I tried to find some info on square cored cues but couldn't really find anything. My question is, why use a square as opposed to the more standard cylindrical core in cue making? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Not everyone is up to date on using gun drills. There are some that still build on shorter bed lathes with a smaller spindle bore like 7/8".
 
cueman said:
I may be missing something, but I do not know how one would do a true square bored core. I have seen people start with a square and glue 4 pieces of wood around it. That is a very strong way of building a cue.
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Accuracy is possible if they did the square on a lathe with centers in the square and a router on the tool post. There are some who do it this way for squaring up wood to use as points. The square core in the picture could also be tapered. I have seen a similar method but with 6 sides as a core for Snake wood.
 
Dave38 said:
So, I believe these should not be called Square Cored cues. The term cored implies boring/drilling a hole and then in the case of cues, filling it with a different material. These have not been bored, nor drilled....Think of a cored apple, taking core samples, etc. all involve boring/drilling. I feel it's a bit misleading. IMO, a more accurate/true term would be a Laminated cue. Not knocking the method at all, just I feel the current name implies a falseness about the construction methods used.
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Great point Dave But,
It's all in the wording.
So and so cores all of his wood.
And then there's,
All of his cues have a square maple center. People would still assume it was cored as we know it to be today. It doesn't really mean a gun drill was used. It's just what we have accepted as the normal. Our modern education has helped us but maybe it has also limited how we see things.
Years ago, people thought all points were Vee points. We have accepted that drop pocket points are still points too. Although some still refer to them as inlays.
It's a thin line but still accurate.
 
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Michael Webb said:
Great point Dave But,
It's all in the wording.
So and so cores all of his wood.
And then there's,
All of his cues have a square maple center. People would still assume it was cored as we know it to be today. It doesn't really mean a gun drill was used. It's just what we have accepted as the normal.
It's a thin line but still accurate.
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I see your point Mike, but to me they will always be a Laminated cue...no disrespect to them, as the work put into that is just as demanding as an actually Bored/cored cue.;)
Dave
 
whammo57 said:
I have been looking for a square drill but they are all sold out......................... instead of some crazy shit.......... why not just try to build a nice cue ?????

Kim
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Sounds like you don't know what you are looking for ... google "hollow mortise bits".

(oops, missed the reply by Ssonerai, never mind)

Dave
 
Kim, just for giggles sake, they do actually make a square cut drill. Used in furniture making. I have some, along with the machine to make a square cut hole, will sell it to you cheap, never used.
 
Greg M said:
View attachment 581820

My English pool cue has a square ash core at the base with an SD joint through it, but apart from the Shuken cues, I've hardly ever seen them in American cues.
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Looks like it's broached . Not a full length core .
I've dabbled in partial cores . I've seen x-rays of partial cores from two hall of fame cue makers .
One stopped doing it afaik .
From what I've seen and experienced, they are not as stable as full length core .
Using two pieces of contrasting woods as full length core ( after they've seasoned and joined core dowels ) is much much more stable.

Not even going argue 360* sweet spot for true round cores versus squares or hex cores. .
 
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