"Taper Roll"

Standbykid

Standbykid

Results or excuses?
Silver Member
Am I correct in assuming that all shafts have some kind of taper roll? Even brand new ones?

Seems like I always see cues for sale and the seller puts in a description of "slight taper roll". Seems that they would all have that just based on the fact that shafts don't have a perfect conical taper.

Am I correct, or crazy? Or both (LOL)

Posting this in the "Ask the Cuemaker" section as well.

Thanks,
Jeremy
 
The taper roll comes from uneven "sanding" (for lack of using 5 different terms) usually done off a lathe by the owner in attempt to clean and smooth a shaft. You can't rule out it came off a lathe from the builder in that condition also.
Most people use the term taper roll, when usually it is movement in the wood itself...IMO of course.
 
Standbykid said:
Am I correct in assuming that all shafts have some kind of taper roll? Even brand new ones?

Seems like I always see cues for sale and the seller puts in a description of "slight taper roll". Seems that they would all have that just based on the fact that shafts don't have a perfect conical taper.

Am I correct, or crazy? Or both (LOL)

Posting this in the "Ask the Cuemaker" section as well.

Thanks,
Jeremy
Click to expand...

Many of the older house cues had conical tapers as do most of the small 11.75 mm tip LD's do today. As for the taper roll, I think it would depend on the manufacturing process or if the shaft has been turned on a lathe for some reason after that. If it was turned perfectly it should roll perfectly. But if it was not perfectly centered on the lathe there will be a slight 'offcenteredness' to the taper (I know that's not a word but you get the idea) A little 'taper roll' is 'okay' but if U roll a stick or a shaft & the tip leaves the table it is really crooked. Hope I helped
 
Another thread on this subject.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=269054

Not sure if there is really an overall consensus but I made a couple posts in the above thread with my opinion.

Wood will move after cutting it's just a matter of how much. So in my opinion a slight taper roll in a shaft is perfectly acceptable as long as the joint or tip don't leave the surface of the table when it is rolled.

Since wood is affected by moisture it is even more likely to warp/shrink/grow. I would argue there is no such thing as perfect shaft. Just closer to perfect than others.

A high quality video with the shaft/cue rolling on a flat surface (like a pool table) is the best way to describe the amount of taper roll as a seller in my opinion.

Dud
 
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To some, it flat out means.....WARP! I'm not one of those guys. To me if I roll a shaft and there is light under the center of it that changes thickness slightly when rolling it, its taper roll. The joint and tip never even come close to leaving the table. Now, if I roll a shaft and the tip leaves the table it's warped.
That's my .02
 
Its just a good way of saying (favors the seller) that the shaft is warped!
Which would you rather hear - its warped .020 or it has a taper roll?
Lets not forget usually they never put a number on how far its out, just that it has a taper roll.

A taper roll does exist but in most cases that's not what is happening.
If I was buying a cue or shaft and the seller mentioned taper roll, I would ask for a number. Problem is very few sellers could tell you the amount.
So there you go, I'd make sure it could be returned or run it through escrow.

Rod
 
Taper roll is uneven sanding as in a flat spot on a shaft. The shaft is not round.

Rod
 
SkiCop said:
Can a slight "taper roll" be removed by retapering a shaft from say 13mm to 12.5mm, assuming that amount is enough to theoretically remove said "taper roll?"
Click to expand...

Sure if its slight. 12.5 to 13mm is .020 appx. If it is a taper roll - meaning out of round - and no more than .010 out of round it will clean up.

Rod
 
Dudley said:
in my opinion a slight taper roll in a shaft is perfectly acceptable as long as the joint or tip don't leave the surface of the table when it is rolled.
Click to expand...

but if the joint or tip leave the surface its not a taper roll, its warped.

if someone don't want a taper roll, get a conical taper...because with pro taper it seems to me almost inevitable
 
deadnutz said:
To some, it flat out means.....WARP! I'm not one of those guys. To me if I roll a shaft and there is light under the center of it that changes thickness slightly when rolling it, its taper roll. The joint and tip never even come close to leaving the table. Now, if I roll a shaft and the tip leaves the table it's warped.
That's my .02
Click to expand...

I agree with this answer.
 
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