What happened to Black Phenolic?

[pdcue]

Dale, if that was true, then Atlas is still doing a lousy job purchasing them from someone else when Norplex makes them as good as anyone.
Norplex makes the best melamine rods too.

If that WAS TRUE?????

Surprise - Its all about the money, except when its about the cash.
We use industrial plastics for their structural integrity.
Well, some of us do.

Its that pesky old Law of Supply and Demand. There just aren't enough
people whacking plastic into cue parts to matter to the manufactures
of platic materials.
Once upon a time, Westinghouse made White Micarta...

About a generation ago, I was trying to locate consistient natural
phenolic from a local distributor. He told me about a customer they had
who also wanted stable color. They switched him to black paper xxx grade.

Decorative grades are great for appearance, some of us remember how
that worked out.

Dale(who remembers what it was like trying to buy plastic before Atlas Cue)

 

[pescadoman]

Unless I am reading this wrong
...............................................

You are.

They machine plastic into forms - thus, manufacturing.

They purchase raw stock from whoever bought out NVP, Spaulding,
Westinghouse, etc.

Unless I've been intentionaly misled.

Dale

Ok...I guess the point is moot really. If their tube is crap, it doesn't matter where it comes from..

 

[JoeyInCali]

If that WAS TRUE?????

Surprise - Its all about the money, except when its about the cash.
We use industrial plastics for their structural integrity.
Well, some of us do.

Its that pesky old Law of Supply and Demand. There just aren't enough
people whacking plastic into cue parts to matter to the manufactures
of platic materials.
Once upon a time, Westinghouse made White Micarta...

About a generation ago, I was trying to locate consistient natural
phenolic from a local distributor. He told me about a customer they had
who also wanted stable color. They switched him to black paper xxx grade.

Decorative grades are great for appearance, some of us remember how
that worked out.

Dale(who remembers what it was like trying to buy plastic before Atlas Cue)

I guess they are lying when they claim to be a manufacturer.
http://www.atlasfibre.com/

 

[scdiveteam]

Hi,

Phoneolic was not designed to be used for pool cues and the appearance of same is not a very critical component for the meriad of uses it was intended for via the process control.

I have personally seen the double black delivered to me whereby I had to send it back because of light streaks that show up during sanding and finishing. Juma on the other hand is very consistent and takes adhesives perfectly and clear coats look absolutely perfect. In my opinion for black and white, Juma is the best thing to come along for cue makers.

Viva la Juma!!!!

Rick

 

[pdcue]

I guess they are lying when they claim to be a manufacturer.
http://www.atlasfibre.com/

No, they manufacture rods and tubes and sheets and more.

I reviseted the site, as I had a few years ago after talking with
a sales person at National Vulcanized Fibre(one of a few companies that supply Atlas with phenolic tube and rod).

Atlas lists lots of machine tools for cutting and grinding and turning
and milling plastic - no mention of big old vats and tanks and reagent
vessles for dumping in bags of chemicals and cooking 'em into some
unholy brew of space age plastics.
Of course, just because they don't list equipment doesn't prove
conclusively they don't have any.

When I offered that I understood Atlas Fibre made their own plastic, they
responded 'why would they buy it from companies like us and Spaulding
if they could make it themselves?'. Keep in mind - they wanted to sell me
some phenolic tube.

Dale