Wanted information on the NEW Predator 314-2

cashin

cashin

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I would like to ask anyone who has tried the new Predator 314-2 if you think it is an improvement over the 314 or is it just a marketing ploy. I play with 314s and I love the way they play. I have 8 of them that I use with different cues with different male pins.
I was told that they have a different taper.. a thicker one.
Please let me know your thoughts.. Thanks in advance..
 
I have played with the Predator 314 shafts for about 6 years now and I have tried the Z shaft, but couldn't get used to the skinny taper. I bought one of the new 314-2 shafts and love the thicker feel and spin IMO. I am able to control the cue ball more with the new shaft. The Everest layered tip hits great. Yes, I have puchased one of every joint pin so I can play with any of the cues I own. I love them all. I have practiced about 25 hours a week for the past 3 weeks and have fallen in love with the stroke I am able to attain with the newer 314-2. I recommend you contact Joe Neilsen (JoeRackem) from eBay. He has great pricing!!
John
 
Last edited:
Thank You John for taking the time to reply to my post. Yes I do know Joe Neilson.. I just ordered a regular 314 blank from him ..so I can have it matched to a Nitti cue that I own. He is the one that told me that the new 314-2 has thicker taper.. but I have always likes a long taper like on the original 314s. Maybe i will have to give one of the new ones a try.. but I hate to .. because i own soooo many of the others and don't want to have to start all over with the new ones.. Thanks again.

David
 
How do you like the new Titan ferrule?

I was spinning it on my lathe and it melt!

It is not as easy to melt as the old Predator though, but it did melt.

I also noticed some of those lines on the ferrule that I got when I was using the old 314, I think they were from the tip following through on the table causing the ferrule to melt/scratch. They kind of make the ferrule go smaller and pointed at the top.

I noticed that it also gets dirty and is quite easy to scratch, although it is not as fragile as the original ones.

The new ones are all covered with black phenolic at the joint. They said on their site this phenolic will make a difference in the hit.

I wonder if I buy a blank, will they come covered with phenolic at the joint? If not, does that mean a custom made 314 will not play as well as a regular 314 off the shaft. I don't understand this.

Richard
 
Richard.

I have a cue lathe and YES you can melt the Predator ferrules very easily if you hold the sand paper or polishing material on for too long. You have to be very patient and do a little at a time and then let the ferrule cool off .
You can only sand or clean for seconds at a tiime with very measured pressure and then stop and wait. Then go at it again after the ferrule cools. Take your time and don't get in a hurry and you will be fine.

David
 
Richard,

I just spoke with Predator and was informed that there will be a plug of phenolic offered with the new 314-2 in Oct. to go with the blanks. I guess the custom cue makers will have to incorporate it into the shaft. Sounds like a lot of trouble and expense..

David
 
I have not tried the 314-2 shafts yet. Are they 12.75mm or 13mm? You mention that they are thicker...is that from a different taper or just size. I actually like the old 314 shafts (pre-cat) better than the second iteration. I have 5 or 6 of them.
Joe
 
cashin said:
Richard.

I have a cue lathe and YES you can melt the Predator ferrules very easily if you hold the sand paper or polishing material on for too long. You have to be very patient and do a little at a time and then let the ferrule cool off .
You can only sand or clean for seconds at a tiime with very measured pressure and then stop and wait. Then go at it again after the ferrule cools. Take your time and don't get in a hurry and you will be fine.

David
Click to expand...

Hi David,

Thank you for the info, greatly appreciate.:)

What I find with the new Titan ferrule used on the new 314 and Z is that I need to move the cutting tool very quickly. I use carbide and it cuts this ferrule like peeling paper. If I let the tool stay at one spot too long, it will melt the ferrule. I used to cut my LBM a bit slower, and when I did the Titan the same way, it melt. So, now, I just move the cutting tool up and down the ferrule quickly, and the ferrule comes off like layers of paper.

I tried to break with the Titan ferrule and it cracked. I think the Titan is an improvement over the old predator ferrule, but it will still melt, crack, and get dirty once it is scratched.

Bamacues said:
I have not tried the 314-2 shafts yet. Are they 12.75mm or 13mm? You mention that they are thicker...is that from a different taper or just size. I actually like the old 314 shafts (pre-cat) better than the second iteration. I have 5 or 6 of them.
Joe
Click to expand...

Yes, I think the precat had a longer taper, then they made it a bit fatter on the bottom with the cat, and the new ones are even shorter.

But in my limited experience, the taper of the pre cat did not seem to be very consistent. Warpage also was a problem over time, are yours still straight?

The tip size is supposed to be 12.75mm.

Richard
 
Last edited:
Joe,
I was told that the taper is different and that it creates a thicker feel .. I guess because the taper is shorter and the size graduates faster .. creating a larger feel. They are still 12.75 but feel larger because of the taper.
I too like the regular 314s and doubt it's worth changing over.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top