Aluminium Cases

[RGCirencester]

I haven't got my cue yet i just want a case for when it arrives. I want to see how bad the chinese things really are and it will be given to my dad for his bar billiards table. Thats the question i asked at the start.... If it is just thinner aluminium used for the case then unless you bash someone over the head with it it will be fine, if the hinges are made of kettle chips and the latch butter... it won't work

[KeithinFrance]

Surely nothing is free? You're just paying for something, 50% of which you wont even use/need... If you consider that in the price you pay it's had to account for the cue and case, then surely it cannot be possible to such good quality? I mean you said £20/30... Even at £30 if we can imagine (Assumption!) that the case and cue costs are equal then you are buying a case with a value of £15... Surely you cannot expect quality?

By the sounds of it you're incredibly excited about your new cue which sounds to suit you perfect... I cannot see this "free" cue getting a look in when your "new" cue arrives, so whether you give it to somebody or not it's still just an "extra"... Instead the money would be better spent protecting your new pride and joy. I s'pose the question then, is will these "cheaper" cases do any lesser job in protecting your new cue?

You've got a great cue on it's way, treat yourself and show it off nicely

Couldn't have said it any better myself!

[RGCirencester]

Ok... keith.. you buy me the ebay one... i will buy the B&W case... and then i will compare and report back... My curiosity is getting the better of me here...

[KeithinFrance]

Just buy the B&W one, and that'll be the end of it! Once you've seen the case you won't even look at your cheap Chinese cue & case combos.

[RGCirencester]

I probably will How do you order from b&w? Do you have to phone up and ask? I'm pining for the ebay cues now

[LavaChild]

Avoid that desire like the plague!!

It'll go one of two ways:
1) You find those Chinese cues aren't "that bad" that you "could quite happily have lived with one" only to realise it's too late and you've spent £££ on your lovely new cue.
2) The Chinese cues really are "that bad" and you've wasted £££.

I was "lucky" enough to handle some Chinese cues when I got my cue, and I think it'd be fair to say option 2 is the more likely option

[KeithinFrance]

I probably will How do you order from b&w? Do you have to phone up and ask? I'm pining for the ebay cues now

'Phone up and you'll probably get Yvonne who's a lovely lady and who'll be only too happy to help you; she'll guide you through the options and choices and even the payment procedure! Tell her that Keith from France said hello, will you?

[poona]

cue craft aluminium. I still wince at the memory of giving mine away for free.

[KeithinFrance]

We all make mistakes!

Was it an older model? The new ones, while still the best mass-produced ones available, aren't a patch on the older ones, IMO. The foam is much worse, too. It's a real shame that no-one makes cases with flocked interiors like Barracudas or the older Craftsman ones; now those are cases! Indestructible!

[RGCirencester]

But that means i have to pay 60 pound plus a phone call if i want to buy the "best case"... and effort... p.s. wats a flocked interior o wonderous english teacher man keith :P

[LavaChild]

As an engineering student I'm confused why you didn't consult Wikipedia first?

[KeithinFrance]

But that means i have to pay 60 pound plus a phone call if i want to buy the "best case"... and effort... p.s. wats a flocked interior o wonderous english teacher man keith :P

Honestly, the case is a bargain at that price, and a bit of effort will be good for you!!

A flocked interior: means that the foam is treated with flocking which makes it harder and more resistant. Flocked interiors have moulded indents all along the length of the case to hold the cue in security instead of cut channels in the foam, which is something I prefer as it gives you more options and as much security with more stability. The older, better quality cases had this sort of interior and it's the bee's knees!

[poona]

We all make mistakes!

Was it an older model? The new ones, while still the best mass-produced ones available, aren't a patch on the older ones, IMO. The foam is much worse, too. It's a real shame that no-one makes cases with flocked interiors like Barracudas or the older Craftsman ones; now those are cases! Indestructible!

The old model in black. I almost shed a tear at the thought. I'm stuck with a crappy plastic jobby that I bought along with my cue because I didnt trust Royal Mail to take good enough care during shipping.

[Watford]

Sorry I'm late to this but my thoughts.
Cue Craft have made good cases for years and are the alu case of choice for most players.
The Craftsman alu cases are not as good.
This is not the same for the cues just the cases.

Don't know about the B & W; they used to sell Cue Craft ones as I remember.

If you buy a cheap and nasty cue and case. You will have a crap case that will fall to bits and the end up buying a proper case next time.

[RGCirencester]

I decided not to buy the ebay ones in the end. Not because they would fall apart, the hinge is one big strip of metal so that shouldn't break, and i look after my cue so i dont think it will break. Principally i decided the foam lining looks fairly bad. I think its either going to be the craftsman leatherette zipped case b&w aluminium or cue craft