tropical hardwood

[JazzMatt]

I posted this in another part of the forum but it seemed to be largely ignored. Now I'm hoping the master cue makers here will see and offer an opinion.

I have two Belian / Billian / Borneo Ironwood / eusideroxylon zwageri walking sticks.

Just wondering if the expert cue makers here can advise if this wood is suitable to be turned into a cue. It is extremely hard and heavy. This wood is not for export but I'm local so I can still get my hands on it.

Thinking of sending it to a cue maker in PI but since I already have a custom cue from him was wondering if anyone can recommend a reasonably priced cue maker in the US.

Since the wood comes from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo am also thinking of getting a local craftsman to do some tribal carvings on it first...

Any advice welcome, thanks.

 

[Mase]

I posted this in another part of the forum but it seemed to be largely ignored. Now I'm hoping the master cue makers here will see and offer an opinion.

I have two Belian / Billian / Borneo Ironwood / eusideroxylon zwageri walking sticks.

Just wondering if the expert cue makers here can advise if this wood is suitable to be turned into a cue. It is extremely hard and heavy. This wood is not for export but I'm local so I can still get my hands on it.

Thinking of sending it to a cue maker in PI but since I already have a custom cue from him was wondering if anyone can recommend a reasonably priced cue maker in the US.

Since the wood comes from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo am also thinking of getting a local craftsman to do some tribal carvings on it first...

Any advice welcome, thanks.

We would need to know the size of the wood first. Primarily how thick the wood is. Almost any wood can be turned into a cue if there is enough of it.

 

[JazzMatt]

Thanks for the reply Mase.

The sticks are in Kuching while I'm in KL at the moment.

Both sticks are roughly round already.

First stick is over 3' height. Diamiter at thickest is about 1 1/2", tapering down to about 1/2". This stick is about 50yrs old and has a natural layer of "oil" coating it. This stick might be "cutting it a bit thin" but should have enough wood. But I have no idea how much "spare" wood a cue maker would need to work around.

Second stick is about 4' height. Tapers from 2" down to about 1". Quite sure this 2nd piece is more than sufficient. This stick is about 20yrs old, and doesn't have the layer of "oil" yet.

I was actually a bit worried about the weight. The wood is less of an issue since I can get more.

 

[Mase]

Thanks for the reply Mase.

The sticks are in Kuching while I'm in KL at the moment.

Both sticks are roughly round already.

First stick is over 3' height. Diamiter at thickest is about 1 1/2", tapering down to about 1/2". This stick is about 50yrs old and has a natural layer of "oil" coating it. This stick might be "cutting it a bit thin" but should have enough wood. But I have no idea how much "spare" wood a cue maker would need to work around.

Second stick is about 4' height. Tapers from 2" down to about 1". Quite sure this 2nd piece is more than sufficient. This stick is about 20yrs old, and doesn't have the layer of "oil" yet.

I was actually a bit worried about the weight. The wood is less of an issue since I can get more.

Heavy wood can be cored to reduce the weight. This is drilling a hole through the wood and glueing a lighter piece of wood inside it. With the sizes you have given, you certainly would have enough to have a cue built.