What is the most common pin size/thread?

[bdorman]

I'm considering purchasing an extra shaft (or two), but I don't know if I'm making a big mistake by getting shafts that fit my Players HXTE10's 5/16" x 18 pin.

If I decide to upgrade my cue (basically at that point upgrade the butt) will I find a wide variety of butts available to fit my 5/16" x 18 shafts?

Is there a "most common" pin size?

 

[brandoncook26]

I'm considering purchasing an extra shaft (or two), but I don't know if I'm making a big mistake by getting shafts that fit my Players HXTE10's 5/16" x 18 pin.

If I decide to upgrade my cue (basically at that point upgrade the butt) will I find a wide variety of butts available to fit my 5/16" x 18 shafts?

Is there a "most common" pin size?

Depends on what you're looking for. I believe that many production cues use a 5/16x18 pin, but it is rare to see it used in many customs. I have a few exceptions, having probably 6 or 7 customs made with that pin. I just happen to like it.

If you are looking to upgrade to custom cues, the most common pin types are probably 5/16x14 for small pins and 3/8x10 for the big ones. That would depend on the makers preference. Many of the newer cues I have seen are mostly using the big pins now.

 

[desertshark]

Personally I would go the other way around. Save some coin for an upgraded cue then get the upgraded shaft. Or plan on just the shaft for your current cue.

I picked up an Action cue which I think is the same thread as the Players cue. I found a great deal on a complete Falcon and a Joss butt. Which is a 5/16-14 I have an ld shaft coming for the Joss and if I like it, I'll be getting one made for the Falcon. As far as the Action, its a decent cue and I may upgrade to a jjcues spark break shaft later as now its a dedicated break cue and loaner cue with the stock shaft.


Just my $0.02

 

[neuron]

I agree with the other two replies: it'll depend on a variety of factors, not least of which is what you have in mind when you buy your next (full) cue.

If you go custom, the maker should in most cases be willing to use whatever kind of pin you want (maybe for a nominal fee if it's different from what they normally use). For production, I just browsed through the Seyberts website for a bit, and there's really a huge variety of pins used by brands that would be a natural step up from your Players cue, including quite a few proprietary pins (Pechauer, Viking, etc.). 3/8x10 is perhaps the most common that I saw, but not even close to being a majority of brands.

So I'd go with desertshark's suggestion of getting the upgraded cue first. In fact, you could get a Predator sneaky or an OB Cue -- which come with "performance" shafts from their respective companies -- for $335-400. Considering that the shaft by itself would run you $200-250, IMHO just getting the whole cue would be the better way to go.

 

[bdorman]

Thanks for the replies and thoughts. I guess I should have given more information about "why?" a new cue. I'm a beginner (11 months) and just getting experience with cues.

I want to try a wrapless cue. The Irish linen wrapping of the Players HXTE feels very slippery to me compared to when I use a wrapless house cue. I have no complaints about the hit of the Players HXTE; it just feels slippery. I've thought about roughing up the wrap with high-grit sandpaper but haven't done so yet.

I'm not in the market for a custom. Pool is a hobby and I don't see spending more than $250-300 for another cue.

I'd also like to experiment more with different tips. The Players has a Kamui Soft. I'd like to try something that's a little harder. I'd probably take a chance and order it in 12-12.5 mm to get experience with a narrower tip.

But I would like the butts and shafts to be interchangeable so I can try mixing and matching.

 

[bbb]

with no PROOF
most customs are 5/16 x 14 for steel piloted joints
3/8 x10 or radial for flat faced joilts
from what i have read
id wait to upgrade your cue
then buy more shafts
5/16x18 is definitely not in the majority of pin sizes
jmho
icbw

 

[david(tx)]

I'm considering purchasing an extra shaft (or two), but I don't know if I'm making a big mistake by getting shafts that fit my Players HXTE10's 5/16" x 18 pin.

If I decide to upgrade my cue (basically at that point upgrade the butt) will I find a wide variety of butts available to fit my 5/16" x 18 shafts?

Is there a "most common" pin size?

5/16 x 18 are common pins Schmelke amd Meucci use them . Go to any online retailer who sells after market shafts and they will have them. Only problem you will have is finding them without collars .

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I agree with the 5/16 x 18 as being the most common thread size for pins. They are used on millions of lower end cues made here, and abroad.

 

[hang-the-9]

I'm considering purchasing an extra shaft (or two), but I don't know if I'm making a big mistake by getting shafts that fit my Players HXTE10's 5/16" x 18 pin.

If I decide to upgrade my cue (basically at that point upgrade the butt) will I find a wide variety of butts available to fit my 5/16" x 18 shafts?

Is there a "most common" pin size?

Not many higher end cues use that pin.

That is a very nice cue though, I bought my son that exact model, and everyone that played with it compares it as equal it to their higher end cues, looks nice also. IMHO, that particular cue with the HXT shaft may be the best bargain in cues out there.

In fact, the prices for the HXT shafts have gone up about $20 since I bought mine, which shows that they are pretty popular and can get a higher price.

 

[bdorman]

5/16 x 18 are common pins Schmelke amd Meucci use them . Go to any online retailer who sells after market shafts and they will have them. Only problem you will have is finding them without collars .

At the risk of sounding dumb (okay, I'm pool-dumb), what is the "collar" and why is it important here?

Not many higher end cues use that pin.

That is a very nice cue though, I bought my son that exact model, and everyone that played with it compares it as equal it to their higher end cues, looks nice also. IMHO, that particular cue with the HXT shaft may be the best bargain in cues out there.

In fact, the prices for the HXT shafts have gone up about $20 since I bought mine, which shows that they are pretty popular and can get a higher price.

Yes, my Players has a nice hit. Maybe I should just get extra shafts for it. Still leaves me with the slippery-feeling problem but I can probably find another way to deal with that.

 

[neuron]

Yes, my Players has a nice hit. Maybe I should just get extra shafts for it. Still leaves me with the slippery-feeling problem but I can probably find another way to deal with that.

If you have a local custom cuemaker/cue repair guy, take it in to him and see if he can do something to make the wrap tackier.

I was in exactly the same boat when I bought a low-end McDermott with an Irish linen wrap as my first cue after playing with house cues for about six months. The wrap felt incredibly slippery compared to the house cues. That was almost enough to make me go back to wrapless, but because I have pretty sweaty hands I decided to give linen wraps another shot when I bought my next cue shortly thereafter. My next cue was a Joss, and I found that how the wrap is finished (as well as the type of thread used -- the thread on the McDermott seems smaller than that on the Joss) makes all the difference in the world. I vastly prefer the feel of the linen wraps on my Joss and Pechauer cues, as well as the custom that's now my main playing cue: all have linen wraps, and the difference between the "slippery" feel of that first McDermott and those cues is like night and day. At least for me, a well-finished linen wrap is perfect, as it offers great grip both when my hands are dry and during those summer months when they get especially sweaty.

 

[EasyEJL]

At the risk of sounding dumb (okay, I'm pool-dumb), what is the "collar" and why is it important here?



Yes, my Players has a nice hit. Maybe I should just get extra shafts for it. Still leaves me with the slippery-feeling problem but I can probably find another way to deal with that.

the collar is the part of the shaft that meets up with the butt. Pretty frequently they have a black collar, sometimes a silver ring too. For custom cues and certain nicer production cues the collar matches the rest of the cue. So in getting a shaft with the intention of using on multiple butts, getting one that is plain maple the whole length is less likely to cause a visual mismatch.

 

[bdorman]

the collar is the part of the shaft that meets up with the butt. Pretty frequently they have a black collar, sometimes a silver ring too. For custom cues and certain nicer production cues the collar matches the rest of the cue. So in getting a shaft with the intention of using on multiple butts, getting one that is plain maple the whole length is less likely to cause a visual mismatch.

Then it's just a cosmetic issue, correct? The HXTE has black collars...and according to my wife, black goes with anything.

Is the diameter of the shaft and butt (at the connection) a standard size or will I potentially have a mis-match there?

 

[EasyEJL]

Then it's just a cosmetic issue, correct? The HXTE has black collars...and according to my wife, black goes with anything.

Is the diameter of the shaft and butt (at the connection) a standard size or will I potentially have a mis-match there?

yeah, that can also be off as well, which may bother you.