What other wood has been used as shafts?

[100-uper]

Was Bamboo really used in a cue that someone actually used to play snooker with? I saw one from Brother4 here on the forum but I thought it was made just for fun.

In 1909 Burroughes & Watts introduced the "Inflexible" cue which was described as follows: "For a distance of about 14" from its tip end a hole of about a quarter of an inch in diameter is bored. Into the whole length of this hole is fitted a cross section of flat steel, the interstices of which are filled in with split bamboo. The whole of this steel and bamboo is fixed securely together, and fitted firmly into the hole in the cue by means of a specially prepared solution which neither shrinks nor allows the steel section to become loose. The advantages gained by this ingenious device are three-fold. The cue is rendered mathematically straight and cannot possibly warp; it is made perfectly rigid; and the invention furthermore exactly provides that small extra weight at the thin end which is so extremely necessary to secure a proper balance." New World of Billiards, 14/04/1909 p.480.

I believe this cue is connected with a patent which was registered a few years earlier, described: "Patent No.1,809. F. J. Williams, of Holborn, London, for Billiards, etc. A cue for billiards, etc., is built up from a number of strips of bamboo or other cane and an equal number of hardwood strips cemented together. In a modification each strip is replaced by two strips. In another modification, the cue is provided with a core of wood or metal. " World of Billiards, 27/06/1906 p.293.

[totlxtc]

Willow has been used.... way to whippy I would imagine for most... easy to straighten !

Sorry i just found this and thought of your comment.....

http://www.viennawoodworks.com/diamondw.html

Why??? simply why???

[bkpaul]

lol if I had to choose I'd have the bottom one!... at least its semi straight

[poolqjunkie]

At $185 plus postage each, that is just too funny.

On a more serious note, thank you everyone for sharing.

I recently come across a pearwood cue with a horn ferrule(I think it is buckhorn, it is dark greynish with light grey grains), and it leads me to think why would they used this as shafts...is it because the shaft was very smooth and perhaps denser.

I have read that they called this steamed pearwood sometimes--does that mean they have actually steamed it? What is the purpose of doing that?

And I keep wondering why were hornbeam and hickory used...like why would someone come up with this idea--is there somethign very special about hickory which made it very suitable for shafts at one point in cue making history? Were maple/ash in short supply at one point? Was a certain game very popular at one time which called for the special "hit" of these shafts.....

Thank you very much for all the knowledagle and detailed accounts. Very appreciated.

[jrc750]

people must have too much money if they are willing to spend $185 on one of those, surely you would have trouble potting more than a few balls in a row ?? (everyone except Ronnie of course )