What's so special about Ebony?

I agree with Craig's initial post wholeheartedly, it really is down to personal preference, compared to hit, feel, style, etc :)

Ebony is undoubtedly an all time classic wood choice for custom pool cues, it looks great, gives a cue stick a nice solid and smooth hit, and also it looks great with many various other inlay materials like Ivory, Holly, Tuilpwood, Snakewood, Purpleheart, turquoise, abalone, mop, etc :)

Of all the woods there are available, I would go for a cue stick with an ebony butt everytime :)

Willie
 
It dries great, finishes without the problems of cocobolo, stays straight, and glues MUCH BETTER than the rosewoods. Also it doesn't change color after the cue is finished.
 
I appreciate all the informative responses, very helpful!

Here are a few more questions.

While I've read that ebony is a very hard wood, how does it's hardness compare to cocobolo? If it is harder, does it dull regular woodworking tools much more quickly than cocobolo? I've heard it's brittle, too. Does it chip easily?

Flex
 
I agree

Troy Mckune said:
Ebony is great if it is solid black. I am not a big fan of the brown or light streaks, but solid shiny black is beautiful.

I do believe one of the reasons that ebony was used so much by the old Masters (Szam, Bushka, etc.) for points and butt sleeves was that is was great for inlays. You can hide a multitude of sins with black dye in your epoxy or glue. Before CNC I am sure this was much more important.

Troy
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I agree. I don't really have any beefs with ebony. But I do think ebony is as close to perfect as it gets for hiding glue lines. No matter if it was in the splice, inlay by panto or even cnc it has been used to hide mistakes basically as long as cuemakers have been using it.
Mike
 
I'll take a nice piece of African Blackwood over Ebony any day. Trouble is, everybody wants Ebony in their cues.
 
Ebony too me has ZERO Zing it is just BLACK, I like grainy woods with dark, and light coloration like Cocobolo.

But there are those who love Ebony.
 
JoeyInCali said:
It's reallllly black (gaboon ) and goes well with ivory and silver.
It's just a pain to work with.[/QUOTE

I will second that gaboon ebony goes very well with ivory.Richard Neighbors did the work building my cue.She is beautiful and classic.
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CocoboloCowboy said:
Ebony too me has ZERO Zing it is just BLACK, I like grainy woods with dark, and light coloration like Cocobolo.

But there are those who love Ebony.
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Ebony like a painting to be completed by the cuemakers... woods with a lot of grain are like a painting by God, all the design is done. But I have issues with Gods choices, like bacote and tulipwood. To me God might have had that Ross fellow working with him when he made those woods.

JV (---ebony lover, once you go black.. and all that stuff...:thumbup:
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Ebony too me has ZERO Zing it is just BLACK, I like grainy woods with dark, and light coloration like Cocobolo.

But there are those who love Ebony.
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I'm probably in the minority but precisely for that reason I like Ebony to be black as black on the whole but with just a hint of some visiable grain so it still looks like wood.
 
classiccues said:
Ebony like a painting to be completed by the cuemakers... woods with a lot of grain are like a painting by God, all the design is done. But I have issues with Gods choices, like bacote and tulipwood. To me God might have had that Ross fellow working with him when he made those woods.

JV (---ebony lover, once you go black.. and all that stuff...:thumbup:
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LoL, Joe!!

While it is certainly not my favorite wood, it cannot be denied that ebony combined with BEM makes for a great playing combination...in most cases.

Lisa
 
ridewiththewind said:
LoL, Joe!!

While it is certainly not my favorite wood, it cannot be denied that ebony combined with BEM makes for a great playing combination...in most cases.

Lisa
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How 'bout straight grain maple and madagascar rosewood?
 
JoeyInCali said:
How 'bout straight grain maple and madagascar rosewood?
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I'll take one....would rather have some nice curly maple if using it for a handle, but beggers are not all that particular.
 
cubswin said:
I'll take one....would rather have some nice curly maple if using it for a handle, but beggers are not all that particular.
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Ask Jazz how it hits this weekend.:thumbup:
 
I remember seeing a real nice ebony Samsara with tulipwood points in the forearm and butt sleeve, on their website, what an awesome cue stick :)

I like the styling of Samsara cues, but they're a little too pricey :)

Willie
 
Flex said:
What's so special about Ebony?

Is it rare?

Does it have special qualities that make it especially good for use as a butt?

Is it any "better" than cocobolo for use in a full-splice butt?

Is it inherently stable?

Why should I want it in a cue?

Thanks,

Flex
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In my opinion as a cuemaker it has consistant harmonics and a solid feedback to it and since it's a very dense hardwood it holds it straightness very well !

It's also very versitle and matches up well with exotic wood points and detailed inlays...

There are several grades of Ebony and Gaboon species so you aren't stuck with just solid black with no visible grain...

And I agree with JoeyinCali ... it is a pain to work with becasue when you wetsand it, the dust turns into indian ink and stains EVERYTHING !



- Eddie Wheat
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Ebony too me has ZERO Zing it is just BLACK, I like grainy woods with dark, and light coloration like Cocobolo.

But there are those who love Ebony.
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Never forget Cowboy, Black is beautiful, and when you combine it with Ivory you can't lose!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Mason uses Blackwood

Tony Zinzola said:
I'll take a nice piece of African Blackwood over Ebony any day. Trouble is, everybody wants Ebony in their cues.
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Mason is finishing a cue for me made of musical grade African Blackwood. I hit with one that Jazz had, and it hit fantastic!
 
I'll take a nice piece of African Blackwood over Ebony any day. Trouble is, everybody wants Ebony in their cues.
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no doubt.there is no comparason.i have had some luck talking some of the guys into Blackwood lately though.Blackwood will not disappoint.
 
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