why are most custom cues not steel jointed?

D

dcb1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I may be way off on this one, but it seems like the majority of custom cues showing up on this forum don't have a stainless steel joint...they usually have something white in color. I really like the firm hit of a stainless steel joint and am curious why it seems like this is not a common joint on custom models.

Is it purely aesthetic...you can probably do more with a non-steel joint or is there another reason.

Just curious.

Thanks.
 
Many cues are steel jointed. Also some may be steel joint with a sleeve to give the appearance of something else while maintaining the same hit.
 
dcb1 said:
I may be way off on this one, but it seems like the majority of custom cues showing up on this forum don't have a stainless steel joint...they usually have something white in color. I really like the firm hit of a stainless steel joint and am curious why it seems like this is not a common joint on custom models.

Is it purely aesthetic...you can probably do more with a non-steel joint or is there another reason.

Just curious.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Companies and builders make what will sell. I used to make all of my cues with a steel joint in the early to mid nineties but had to change because every one wanted phenolic joints. Today, when I take an order only 1 out of 10 or 12 want a steel joint. If you like steel joints that is fine but, in my experience, you are in the minority.

Dick
 
steel joint

Funny, 70 percent of my orders are steel joint, but then I do old school.
I think you see a lot of non steel jointed cues on the forum for many reasons.
A lot of new cuemakers start out with phenolic joints. Large pins are popular right now,
and their weight tends to lead to non steel joints.
(this will probably be controversial but) steel joints take more time and more tooling.
 
cutter said:
Funny, 70 percent of my orders are steel joint, but then I do old school.
I think you see a lot of non steel jointed cues on the forum for many reasons.
A lot of new cuemakers start out with phenolic joints. Large pins are popular right now,
and their weight tends to lead to non steel joints.
(this will probably be controversial but) steel joints take more time and more tooling.
Click to expand...

I agree, I have tried to work with steel joints and can't seem to get it correct 100%. The main issue for me is the final size of the rear of the collar compared to the final FINISHED/BUFFED size of the butt where it meets the steel. I always end up with a bump, and eventually end up redoing the joint to a phenolic.
I also have only tried them when trying to add foward weight to a cue. Usually I like phenolic for a joint. I personnally don't care for the hit of a steel or brass joint.
Dave
 
if i am forced

i will use a steel joint, but i don't like the hit, so i build my cues with anything but steel.
 
"Why are most custom cues not steel jointed?"

Why should they be???

"I really like the firm hit of a stainless steel joint."

That's why it's an option when ordering a custom cue.
You like a steel joint but a lot of people don't. Options are nice.
For instance, what you call a really firm hit, I call a dull/dead hit, somewhat muted anyway.
Stainless steel doesn't resonate at the same frequency as wood or phenolic so the steel jointed cue will
lack what I call the 'purity of hit' that one would expect with say, a Rosewood cue.

I think today's full SS joint is more of tradition than anything else.
Some innovative builders are moving away from, or at least improving on, that tradition by the use
of thin-wall stainless sleeves or 1/2 joints.
Please consider that a traditional SS collar weighs 1-1/4oz. That's a great tool if you're looking for a
quick way to forward-balance but the trade-off is a dull or muted hit, IMHO.
Others may have opposing opinions and that's fine by me. I don't build their cues and they don't build mine.
Like I said, options are nice.

KJ
 
KJ Cues said:
"Why are most custom cues not steel jointed?"

Why should they be???

"I really like the firm hit of a stainless steel joint."

That's why it's an option when ordering a custom cue.
You like a steel joint but a lot of people don't. Options are nice.
For instance, what you call a really firm hit, I call a dull/dead hit, somewhat muted anyway.
Stainless steel doesn't resonate at the same frequency as wood or phenolic so the steel jointed cue will
lack what I call the 'purity of hit' that one would expect with say, a Rosewood cue.

I think today's full SS joint is more of tradition than anything else.
Some innovative builders are moving away from, or at least improving on, that tradition by the use
of thin-wall stainless sleeves or 1/2 joints.
Please consider that a traditional SS collar weighs 1-1/4oz. That's a great tool if you're looking for a
quick way to forward-balance but the trade-off is a dull or muted hit, IMHO.
Others may have opposing opinions and that's fine by me. I don't build their cues and they don't build mine.
Like I said, options are nice.

KJ
Click to expand...


Ditto
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
I used to play with a It'sGeorge cue with a steel joint, and I like it pretty good. I just don't care for the look anymore and prefer to buy cues without them.
 
Steel joints

Cue joints are like ice cream. Everyone has different tastes.
Wouldn't the world be boring with just one flavor.
 
JoeyInCali said:
They are sparkly when router bits hit them.
Click to expand...
geesh

stainless steel hits extremely hard and is heavy.

hitting a ball with an ivory joint is like being punched with a fist.
hitting a ball with a steel joint is like being punched with molly chrome steel knuckles.
 
jackiestax said:
geesh

stainless steel hits extremely hard and is heavy.

hitting a ball with an ivory joint is like being punched with a fist.
hitting a ball with a steel joint is like being punched with molly chrome steel knuckles.
Click to expand...
Total misinformation. :rolleyes:
 
Do yer own thing, man.

QUOTE KJ: "I don't build their cues and they don't build mine."

This is excellent.

In auto racing, the saying is "Drive your own race."

Robin
 
It might also be considered that the reason SS joints were so popular in the 'old' days is because the cloth was much much slower, and it made moving the mudball around a bit easier. Same reason that heavier cues were popular.

I would say that DPK/Jerry Franklin ushered in the popularity of the wood/wood big pin joint...the equipment was getting better, and the needs of players was changing as a result.

I have a hybrid of the two....3/4" thin walled SS sleeved over a phenolic wood/wood with big Radial pin. I get that hit I am looking for, with a tad bit of crispness thrown in...works great for me!
 
Correct

cutter said:
Funny, 70 percent of my orders are steel joint, but then I do old school.
I think you see a lot of non steel jointed cues on the forum for many reasons.
A lot of new cuemakers start out with phenolic joints. Large pins are popular right now,
and their weight tends to lead to non steel joints.
(this will probably be controversial but) steel joints take more time and more tooling.
Click to expand...

Very well said Steve.....hope all is well.....Ray Weeks
 
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