warped shaft
- Thread starter 3ballking
- Start date
In all honesty, replace the shaft. The only one I have heard that can straighten a shaft is Predator, Total B.S. so far.
Michael Webb said:
I used to straighten arrows years ago when I was half indian but they were made of aluminum. I've seen jigs for straightening shafts and butts but I've yet to see one work for more than a few minutes. Jerry Pechauer said that he can straighten a shaft. Don't know if it's true but you may want to contact him.
Dick
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I got one to hold half decent for alittle while one time, with alot of effort that is, but It slowly went back to the warp. I would replace It and save yourself the hassle If It were Me.
I'd love to know the trick If someone has had success.
I ran accross a site one time where this fellow experiemented with a jig he built. believe he measured his success off an indicator to tell how much change per how much reverse bend he put on the shaft, and how long different amounts would hold for. I believe in the end they all went back, and some may have been even worse then the original warp that was there before if I remember correctly. Maybe someone else remembers seeing that web page, and can give a better description then I. Forget where I saw it.
Greg
I'd love to know the trick If someone has had success.
I ran accross a site one time where this fellow experiemented with a jig he built. believe he measured his success off an indicator to tell how much change per how much reverse bend he put on the shaft, and how long different amounts would hold for. I believe in the end they all went back, and some may have been even worse then the original warp that was there before if I remember correctly. Maybe someone else remembers seeing that web page, and can give a better description then I. Forget where I saw it.
Greg
warped
You can straighten them, but they will warp right back. Butterflycues
You can straighten them, but they will warp right back. Butterflycues
This site greg?:
http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/billiards.htm#straight
I tried straightening my shaft before. Then i realized that was the only cue i had to play with and i couldnt leave it in the clamp for long periods of time. With a new cue now, i might go and try again. Like others said though, itll warp back again, just the amount of time varies. It may warp back faster than the time it took to get it straight.
http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/billiards.htm#straight
I tried straightening my shaft before. Then i realized that was the only cue i had to play with and i couldnt leave it in the clamp for long periods of time. With a new cue now, i might go and try again. Like others said though, itll warp back again, just the amount of time varies. It may warp back faster than the time it took to get it straight.
3ballking said:
Soak it in a Viagra solution (2 pills per quart)for up to 4-hours. If you are looking for longer term straightness- use Cialis.. The shaft will straighten (only when you need it) anytime in the next 36-hours. This is good only for weekend play- However, be careful not to play for more than 4-hours. The shaft remaining straight for longer- seek medical attention.
Seriously: I have heard of the weight and steam trick also- but cannot verify it's effectiveness. It's always been "so-and-so's teammate tried it 3 years ago ....etc"..
Ray
You are getting the straight skinny here
3BK,
Bottom line is that you are wasting time straightening a warped shaft. Unless you permanently relieve the stress that caused it to warp to begin with it will only warp over and over.
I suppose a little custom cutting on your shaft could relieve the stress but you might wind up with a toothpick or a really funny looking shaft!
Hu
3BK,
Bottom line is that you are wasting time straightening a warped shaft. Unless you permanently relieve the stress that caused it to warp to begin with it will only warp over and over.
I suppose a little custom cutting on your shaft could relieve the stress but you might wind up with a toothpick or a really funny looking shaft!
Hu
3ballking said:
I have got very few shafts to stay straight over the years and it is so hit and miss that I just tell customers I don't even try anymore. Here is how the few I got to stay straight were done. I would bend them on the pool table until straight then immediately take it over to the lathe and spin it and sand it with 400 and 600 grit paper. A couple of times I also hit it with the steamer. I am not sure why the sanding it until hot after bending it caused them to hold but some did. Be aware that I had more go back warped after a while than stayed straight. I also had better luck with those that were newer shafts and had not been in the warped position very long. I have tried leaving them bent with books and such on pool tables and hung with weights and had no total success with either of those methods.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
seiyaryu55 said:
I think that's the one, Thanks. Looks like he added alot to the page since I last saw it.
I had a break stick one time that had a bad warp. I use to to hang It with the butt screwed on for extra weight when not in use. It helped, but By the end of the night in use It would start moving back, and the time hanging way out numbered the time you got out of it for play. I finally made a new shaft for It.
I've tried steam and it does help, but still not good enough results for me. Some shafts that just had slight runnout I could sand alittle like chris had mentioned I believe, and have had some luck in those cases.
In all honesty most shafts I get in show some amount of runnout when mounted in the lathe, some are worse then others, but I don't really consider that a warp, and the customers hardly even notice when screwed onto the butt section, so I make no attempts on those. Actually if someone brings me a badly warped shaft, I tell them what most guys do, that they really need a new shaft, and that straightening is too hit & miss. I had one hold a few months before but that did'nt last, and I could'nt stop nature
:I sent a slightly warped 314 back to predator and they attempted to straighten it with there approach which of course did not work. They then proceeded to tell me it was warped within acceptable standards. Anyone wanting to buy it can send me a pm, all offers considered, the joint is 3/8x10 flat faced black collar moori med tip..... I play with McDermott I shafts now.....
Dan
Dan
quedup said:
hmmm, acceptable standard is defined as
Fill in the blank,
---- ----!
3ballking said:
Hello, out there shafts can be straightened. First, you must separate shafts that have warped due bad materials (wood). The only shafts I will straighten are shafts that have warped due to abuse, ie left in car summer and winter, left leaning on the wall attached to a cue, or left standing in a cue rack for years assembled. All wood has memory, and can be returned to its original state if the wood was properly dried / seasoned, properly turned down and properly sealed after sanding. The way I have found to release tension in a shaft is to first roll the shaft on a flat surface to find the high point and the center of the high point. Then mark the high points center with a pencil and make a cold bend on the marked high point. Billiards Direct sells a block that can be mounted to a fix table, that has a hole through it, and is lined with soft plastic tubing. They market this item as a shaft tuner / straightener and sell them for about $17. After you make a cold bend, do not be surprised if the tension appears to have moved. This is because in many cases a shaft will warp in more than one place if abused. If you find more than a single warp use the procedure above in each case. After, you have completed making cold bends on the warped areas and have gotten the shaft partly straight you will need to heat the warped areas. First erase all previous marks and again roll the shaft on a flat surface and mark the high spots. Then plug in a electric single burner stove and allow it to get red hot. Next take the shaft and rotate the marked area above the burner until it gets hot to the touch, during this step be careful not burn the shaft. By heating the wood tension is released, and by bending the shaft at the marked location against the warp the shaft will return to normal. The shaft must then be reattached to the cues butt and hung for 12 to 24 hrs. Depending on how long the shaft has been warped and how many individual warped locations are found on the shaft this process may take from 2 to 5 attempts. My success rate is around %70, and of those in some cases there may still be a slight roll out. This procedure is great for old collectible cues with shafts that are warped because in most cases the wood used was quality in the first place.
If you would like any additional information or if I have not been clear please contact me.
Thanks Craig
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Hi manwon,
I would like to know, on average, how much actual work time does it take you to "straighten" these shafts, when needing say three attempts to complete. I understand that some antique shafts are irreplacable, but would this technique be profitable for newer shafts?
gr. Dave
I would like to know, on average, how much actual work time does it take you to "straighten" these shafts, when needing say three attempts to complete. I understand that some antique shafts are irreplacable, but would this technique be profitable for newer shafts?
gr. Dave
Don't Waste Time on Warped Shaft
I do not believe that a warped shaft can be straightened. The best thing to do is go get over the loss and purchase a new shaft from a custom cuemaker that seasons his shaft wood for months or years and then slowly reduces them in size over a period of months. The use of Nelsonite will help stabilize a shaft in the reduction process. We have found that something magical happens when a piece of shaft wood is allowed to rest for at least 1 1/2 years before starting the shaft making process. Of course it is very costly to have a few hundred blanks hanging for each production year that you are planning to use them. That is just part of the cuemaking process. I have tried many different ways to make shafts but I have never found a short cut that works for me. There is no substitute for time.
I believe that most shafts warp because they were not made correctly in the first place.
To keep your shafts straight don't leave them in your car! Don't leave your cues near a heater, register or hot vent.
I do not believe that a warped shaft can be straightened. The best thing to do is go get over the loss and purchase a new shaft from a custom cuemaker that seasons his shaft wood for months or years and then slowly reduces them in size over a period of months. The use of Nelsonite will help stabilize a shaft in the reduction process. We have found that something magical happens when a piece of shaft wood is allowed to rest for at least 1 1/2 years before starting the shaft making process. Of course it is very costly to have a few hundred blanks hanging for each production year that you are planning to use them. That is just part of the cuemaking process. I have tried many different ways to make shafts but I have never found a short cut that works for me. There is no substitute for time.
I believe that most shafts warp because they were not made correctly in the first place.
To keep your shafts straight don't leave them in your car! Don't leave your cues near a heater, register or hot vent.
Arnot Wadsworth said:I do not believe that a warped shaft can be straightened. The best thing to do is go get over the loss and purchase a new shaft from a custom cuemaker that seasons his shaft wood for months or years and then slowly reduces them in size over a period of months. The use of Nelsonite will help stabilize a shaft in the reduction process. We have found that something magical happens when a piece of shaft wood is allowed to rest for at least 1 1/2 years before starting the shaft making process. Of course it is very costly to have a few hundred blanks hanging for each production year that you are planning to use them. That is just part of the cuemaking process. I have tried many different ways to make shafts but I have never found a short cut that works for me. There is no substitute for time.
I believe that most shafts warp because they were not made correctly in the first place.
To keep your shafts straight don't leave them in your car! Don't leave your cues near a heater, register or hot vent.
I have to agree with Arnot here! From my experience, a lot of shafts warp because they aren't centered properly from the beginning, not to mention turning them without giving them enough time to acclimate between passes. I have a trick I use when centering my shafts that made a huge difference in the number of shafts that end up warping. It's mostly common sense!
just more hot air!
Sherm
Arnot Wadsworth said:I do not believe that a warped shaft can be straightened. The best thing to do is go get over the loss and purchase a new shaft from a custom cuemaker that seasons his shaft wood for months or years and then slowly reduces them in size over a period of months. The use of Nelsonite will help stabilize a shaft in the reduction process. We have found that something magical happens when a piece of shaft wood is allowed to rest for at least 1 1/2 years before starting the shaft making process. Of course it is very costly to have a few hundred blanks hanging for each production year that you are planning to use them. That is just part of the cuemaking process. I have tried many different ways to make shafts but I have never found a short cut that works for me. There is no substitute for time.
I believe that most shafts warp because they were not made correctly in the first place.
To keep your shafts straight don't leave them in your car! Don't leave your cues near a heater, register or hot vent.
Hello, while I agree that there is no substitute for professional shaft curing and turning, along with quality materials if you try the procedure outlined by me in this thread you will find that it works. I do not think this is something to do or that it can even be done to all warped shafts. But I have straightened warped shafts and greatly increased the value of a number of very collectible cues. I have nothing to gain from anything I have said, there is no deception being perpetrated here.
Have a great day!!! Craig
