What is the best joint?

twal

twal

"W"
Silver Member
I am in the process of picking out a custom cue. The radial joint is one that concerns me. I guess I am afraid that I will end up stripping the threads. I know this will come down personal preference between the cue makers. Is there a “best” joint out there? Is there a joint that transmits a pure or solid hit and has great durability? I don’t want to take the chance on stripping anything.
 
The radial pin is a good joint. Just turn the shaft counterclockwise until you feel a click before screwing it on. that is the shaft seating properly. now screw the shaft on clockwise. using this method you will never strip the threads
 
Joints

Hi, Everyone has their own preferences and opinions. I believe that a flat face joint with a 3\8" size pin with a threaded Garolite LE insert epoxied into the shaft will give you the best thread interface and strength. The insert is many times stronger than the wood fiber and will not wear out. Our company for example, uses a special 3\8-14 truncated pin as was used on Omega DPKs. Rick G
 
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People need to learn to use the correct names or phraseology of items when referring to different parts of cues. To often people ask about joints and are referring to pins. The joint is on the end of the forearm to protect this area. It can be stainless, brass, ivory, composits, plastic or a number of other materials. It can also be flat faced, piloted or coned and possibly other designs. The pin is the screw shaped object that pulls the shaft and joint together and hopefully keeps it there. End of todays lecture.

Dick
 
Thanks Dick.
You were a great help on this and your insight can not be overshadowed by your desire to help others.
Again, Thanks
 
rhncue said:
People need to learn to use the correct names or phraseology of items when referring to different parts of cues. To often people ask about joints and are referring to pins. The joint is on the end of the forearm to protect this area. It can be stainless, brass, ivory, composits, plastic or a number of other materials. It can also be flat faced, piloted or coned and possibly other designs. The pin is the screw shaped object that pulls the shaft and joint together and hopefully keeps it there. End of todays lecture.

Dick
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What you described as the "joint" is often called the joint collar. To me, the joint consists of all the parts used to connect the butt to the shaft: the joint screw or pin, the threads in the shaft or the shaft insert (if it has one), and the joint collar (if it has one).
 
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still for thread contact, the radial would have to be the best connector pin IMOP, not that its my favorite just one of them.
 
Radial Pin and 3/8-10 i prefer. But just my opinion on my experience. Further a good cuemaker will also give you advices if you offered him what you re wanting. Sometimes it makes sense to change especially the materials for the joint etc. to become for example a balance-point where you wanna have it.
The cuemaker you ve choosen will be the best you should ask- everyone has it s own secrets :p to satisfy his customers and usualy knows to let his experiences get into *your* cue to make it *your custom cue*.

lg
Ingo
 
Well if we are talking about the joint as "whole" they all do the same thing period! But if you want to talk precision the original schuler's have the best joint. When it comes to large pin cues I like the radial pin.

Now on the other hand you have the mezz united and wavy joints which are some of the best fitting pins besides the ones above.

A uniloc joint is crap! I have seen way to many of these bind and stick together after long play sessions. Plus the pin is stupid heavy.
 
It sounds like I should not shy away from the radial pin. I have owned a Lucassi & Predator. I would need to agree that I will just stay away from the unlock pin/joint. I also have Predator air jump and I am not sold on the radial pin in that. That is where I get the feeling that if I twist it hard I will snap it. I also have many other cues and one of my favorites is the McDermott because of the 3/8 pin. It just feels nice and tight. I will check out a radial pin again on another cue and see how tight it fits.
 
i like flat-faced with the new SW style 3/8-10 pin,but i know people who prefer the ss joints in their cues.i don't really think one is better than the other except for that individual player.

for me flat-faced joint with 3/8-10 pin with .308" minor diameter is the best.either moose horn,ivory or phenolic joint collars will do fine.
 
JoeyInCali said:
The best joints come from Jamaica.
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Yes this is true but those joints are made for smoking, we need a joint that strong enough structurally to withstand hitting a 6oz object while going at high speed. unless maybe if your impregnating your joints with resin (no pun intended).

don't smoke cue parts,
Grey Ghost
 
well i shoot with a woody woodworth with a radial g10 pen and i love it and i have always had a steel pin he uses radial in all his cues believe and really reasonable.
 
twal said:
Is there a joint that transmits a pure or solid hit and has great durability? I don’t want to take the chance on stripping anything.
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Any joint pin, if inserted and turned while not aligned properly, will at the least, make any future reassembly difficult at best. I have repaired 5/16 of both threads and 3/8-10 and the 3/8-14 due to cross threading. The method of assembly described by Spliced is the best way to avoid this. There is not a magical pin that will stop this misthreading from happening unless you use a unilock that only has a thread and a half to go IMO.
Personally, I prefer the flatfaced, 3/8-10 joint over all of the others, just my preference. It seems to give the best 1 piece cue 'feel' to a 2 piece cue. Unless a customer wants a 5/16 thread, I do a normal 3/8-10 pin, and have had no complaints yet.
Dave <----- both my breaker and player cues built with 3/8-10 pins (by me)
 
There is no 'best' joint and there is no 'best' pin. There is only personal preference. There is a lot of mis-information but that comes under the heading of personal preference. Believe what you like until you prove yourself wrong.
 
I personally prefer the piloted 5/16-14, it works best for me.
Best for you? Sorry, can't help ya. Good luck with your search, though!
 
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