Wood changing color over time

[twilight]

Why is it that I never see really old cues refered to as having "really nice wood?" These days I see some extremly nicely figured woods. Granted I know that over time the colors in wood fade, but if i buy a really nice cue with nice woods today, will it dull in 10-20 years from now? Over the past few months I've seen some really nice cocobolo that cocobolo cues of years past don't compare to. Also, I never see purpleheart on old cues look as purple as the ones on new cues.

Do woods change color? Do they fade even under the finish? I'm wondering if I get a custom cue, should I worry about the way it'll look years later?

 

[rhncue]

Why is it that I never see really old cues refered to as having "really nice wood?" These days I see some extremly nicely figured woods. Granted I know that over time the colors in wood fade, but if i buy a really nice cue with nice woods today, will it dull in 10-20 years from now? Over the past few months I've seen some really nice cocobolo that cocobolo cues of years past don't compare to. Also, I never see purpleheart on old cues look as purple as the ones on new cues.

Do woods change color? Do they fade even under the finish? I'm wondering if I get a custom cue, should I worry about the way it'll look years later?

Yes, most woods darken with age. The finish also affects this change. None of your older finishes had U.V. protection as most do today. U.V. protection won't stop wood darkening but it will help retard it. Purple heart turns brown after time. In days past most cuemakers never used figured woods. They were of the opinion that straight grained woods were both stronger and hit better.

Dick

 

[cuewould]

I have worked with wood for almost 25 year and it has been my experience that most woods darken some quite a bit . But I also beleive that the color of the wood has alot to do with the way it was dryed.Some wood is allowed to season longer than others. This effects everything about that wood.