WTB: Bowling Alley Wood & Micarta (Question)

swami4u

swami4u

Banned
I'm looking for TWO unreal Bowling alley shaft blanks. Very tight grain, Dense wood.

Also looking for REAL Micarta, enough for two ferules.


These two blanks will be sent to the ORG. maker of my cue to be made
(who has been at it 20+ yrs) They need to be ready for taper'.
I'm looking for UNREAL quality wood, not average. I will pay a good premium
for them. My cue maker will judge if they are worth the price or not.



The question: If the final size is going to be 12.20mm, if i buy a blank, how many cuts, and how long until the final size can be reached. The other is going to be 12.75 both 29.5

If you have blanks or Micarta, pm me please.



Thxs
 
Lexicologist71 said:
If your cuemaker has been at it for 20 years, he should already have some fantastic stock available.
Click to expand...

IF? Would i tell a lie?

That's why im looking for my own wood, the guys shaft wood looks like a
RABID' Beaver picked it out, and did the cuts!.........It really is that bad.
But what the hell, im still going to have the clown make my shafts anyhooooowww!! :thumbup:


Who has my shaft wood?

Thxs for the PM's on the Micarta! Only thing i need is those two mind bending shaft blanks, and i'm all set!

Remove death grip........and sell two!
 
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There was a good read here recently regarding bowling alley wood and its "magic". Maybe you would broaden your criteria after reading it.
 
pescadoman said:
There was a good read here recently regarding bowling alley wood and its "magic". Maybe you would broaden your criteria after reading it.
Click to expand...

Yea, i understand your point. I'm not thinking it is a magic pill, or some wonder
material. I'm looking for Bowling alley wood because, it if comes from the 'right source' it was cut out of old growth. I don't care what the cue makers try to tell me. I know without a doubt, old wood plays better..........Wont warp as easy, and if the right piece is selected, has a better sound then any new cut seasoned maple ever will. That's what i'm looking for.
And the older the wood gets the better sound and hit it gives.........

I have read the thread btw.


AS for the grammar lesson 'again' I don't care how smart you think you are, please stay on topic or leave.........I'm looking for shaft woods........

Thxs
 
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swami4u said:
AS for the grammar lesson 'again' I don't care how smart you think you are, please stay on topic or leave.........I'm looking for shaft woods........

Thxs
Click to expand...

Have you tried using your cuemaker as a source? One would think that a cuemaker with 20 years of experience would have picked up some sources somewhere along the way.

I'm sorry if I responded to your joke with humor of my own.

I found some bowling alley wood for sale online by the way. Have you checked Google as well?
 
Hobart007 said:
Have you tried using your cuemaker as a source? One would think that a cuemaker with 20 years of experience would have picked up some sources somewhere along the way.

I'm sorry if I responded to your joke with humor of my own.

I found some bowling alley wood for sale online by the way. Have you checked Google as well?
Click to expand...


Thxs, i just want too inspect/buy the shaft wood myself, then i will have the cue maker finish it. My way of thinking, cut out the 'chance', if i buy the wood myself,then inspect it, i end up with the shafts i want, and i already know i like his taper.
 
Why does it have to be bowling alley ?
I have dowels I wouldn't trade for bowling alley dowels

How about 20+ rpi, and over 10 oz at 1" by 30" sanded dowels?
I'll part with two with an offer I can't refuse.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Why does it have to be bowling alley ?
I have dowels I wouldn't trade for bowling alley dowels

How about 20+ rpi, and over 10 oz at 1" by 30" sanded dowels?
I'll part with two with an offer I can't refuse.
Click to expand...

Depends how long those blanks have been sitting? Anyone can find a shaft with high RPI........i like the true old growth/alley shafts because the age of the wood. Then add RPI to that OLD wood,with tight,no grain roll off......and im a buyer.

PM a photo and price.
 
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swami4u said:
Depends how long those blanks have been sitting? Anyone can find a shaft with high RPI........i like the true old growth/alley shafts because the age of the wood. Then add RPI to that OLD wood,with tight,no grain roll off......and im a buyer.

PM a photo and price.
Click to expand...
No problem.
4 years old, $75 each.
Your maker should get these ready in 4 years too.
 
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When did bowling alleys start using old growth maple ?
In the 1900's like in some military bases overseas ?
 
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I've had arguments over this before and neither of us changed our minds. During the last ice age glaciers moved south through Ohio. They stopped their movement around 50 miles north of the OH river. All of the land north of this line is flat as a pancake and south is all hills. When the ice retreated trees started growing. After many years Beech and maple trees took over. They grew taller and taller and then at the very top they would sprout limbs and form a canopy so that very little sunlight could get through. The little sprouts at ground level would soon die from lack of sun light. These trees that may have grown as high as a 125 feet and the limbs probably never started until at least 75 feet above ground level. These trees were very straight, tight grain. When one would die and fall down the strongest sapling in the area would shoot up and take it's place.

Today there is a state park in S/W Ohio called Houston woods. In this park there is 40 acres fenced off that has some trails in it that are marked and you aren't allowed to step off of these trails for any reason. The park rangers say that this is the last 40 acres in OH that has true, virgin, glacier forest the same as it was 10,000 years ago. This is the type of wood that everyone wants for shaft wood. It is straight, dense, slow growth wood. Almost nothing but maple, beech and ferns from lack of sun light. They say that all of this virgin forest was cut down in the 17 and early 1800's to create farm land. Now the maple is much shorter with limbs starting much closer to the ground.
Now these older bowling allies that are giving up their floors for shafts may be older, 50 or 60 years but they certainly aren't 2 or 3, or 400 years old and cut from glacier forests so just what makes them so special? Were they chosen for their straight grain? NO. Were they chosen for there density? NO. They were chosen because they are Maple and that reason only.

It's very true that there may be some exceptional shaft wood derived from bowling allies but I certainly doubt if there is a greater percentage than what is found in a lumber yards pile of maple and a much lesser percentage than what is purchased from shaft wood suppliers who know what to look for and the proper way of processing those logs. There is no longer old, glacier growth hard maple but there are dealers who specialize in shaft wood and they are the next best thing, imo.

Dick
 
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swami4u said:
I'm looking for Bowling alley wood because, it if comes from the 'right source' it was cut out of old growth. I don't care what the cue makers try to tell me. I know without a doubt, old wood plays better..........Wont warp as easy, and if the right piece is selected, has a better sound then any new cut seasoned maple ever will. That's what i'm looking for.
And the older the wood gets the better sound and hit it gives.........

Thxs
Click to expand...
So does bowling alley wood come with a serial number. How would you
ever know it was old growth. How did you decide it plays better and won't warp as easy. I honestly am looking to find the scientific source of these claims. Hey if you want the stuff, go for it. Just want to see if I've missed an article based on science.
 
Not a cue maker but wouldn't these be like 2" thick by 1-?/? wide? And turning them round make them act like new wood even though maybe being cut decades ago. Seems like a lot of removal to expect or get what these boards are supposed to give you. Unless you think a forging is better.

Always been my thought other than finding a CM that has 20 year old or better shaft wood that's been worked, to close, for years, is to find a pool hall with a 20 year old straight house cue and have that cut and tapered over a months long period of time.

Isn't this part or most of the reason quality cues take so darn long to get shipped, why they cost so much, why they're worth waiting for, and why its irritating for you guys to get the weekly calls?

BTW my shafts are extremely close to when they left the shop. It takes a dial indicator to see it. But it's only been 5 years or so. And they've been checked 3 times I've been back to the shop. In fact that's the one thing he wants to see when I get there. How well are my babies doing?
 
Thanks Dick. While I do have some bowling alley wood, I purchased it because it was a decent price. I do occasionally wonder why anybody would go out of their way to purchase wood, sometimes at a premium, that may have had 16 lb balls dropped on them repeatedly for decades. While I am generally pleased with the wood I bought, I doubt I will buy more. It just doesn't really make sense.
 
swami4u said:
IF? Would i tell a lie?

That's why im looking for my own wood, the guys shaft wood looks like a
RABID' Beaver picked it out, and did the cuts!.........It really is that bad.
But what the hell, im still going to have the clown make my shafts anyhooooowww!! :thumbup:


Who has my shaft wood?

Thxs for the PM's on the Micarta! Only thing i need is those two mind bending shaft blanks, and i'm all set!

Remove death grip........and sell two!
Click to expand...

And what if you end up with gnawed up premium bowling alley wood shafts made by a rabid beaver???
 
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