aurora cue

[Dave Walton]

being the most isolated island away from everyone down here in australia, i can honestly say ive seen cracks and various forms of damage from all sorts of cues and cases and extensions being delivered here. a crack in a cue can be due to climate. ive also seen dozens of people who have bought expensive cues from the UK only to be disapointed. any reputeable cue maker will tell you it doesnt matter where the wood is from, its just wood. as for cheap cues and finishes, ive finished as many expensive cues, as cheap ones only to find the quality of the way it hits has very little to do with where its made. and as for airin, i spoke to him. he gave me a fair bit of reasonable advice regarding certain things he wouldnt normally share with other people. 'trade secrets' so to speak. im not here to create a stir but to point out the fact words on here have influence, sometimes if you dont have something nice to say, dont say it. speak from personal experience, not wat you hear, or assume, based on a few incidents.

Wood is not just wood. I the top UK cue makers use mature seasoned ash and maple not like a lot of the Chinese made cues made with young ash that hasn't been seasoned of allowed to settle after being worked before moving on to the next stage of the process. That's the difference, the Chinese cues are often machine turned in one go putting stress on the wood and put together as quickly as possible for a fast turn around, that's why almost every one I've come across warps fast. Any cue can warp but you can do things to help the chances of the cue staying straight by making it properly in the first place

[allanr5]

Domenic Dale uses a LP cue I believe he's a Welsh pro also Mike Russell 16 times world billliards champion not sure of his nationality as far as the Parris story goes that was from the LP website which has changed and you need a translator cookie or what ever to turn it into English also the Australian vendor I bought my LP's from told me the same story but you know what I shouldn't of said anything in hindsight on that subject because it's heresay without proof so my apologies on that comment I appreciate you agee that there's good cues worldwide Cheers

[DeanH]

Hi allanr5
Dominic Dale (yes, Welsh) is a renowned cue collector (into the hundreds I believe at one time) and changes cues often, so I would not be surprised that he has had an LP cue at some point (as per the order on the LP website) but recently he has been reported using a Parris, a Stamford, amongst others, and most recently (from what I have heard) Glover-replica Borroughs&Watts Eureka.
Mike Russell (from Middlesbrough, England) is noted as 11 times World Billiards champion on Wikipedia but 16 on the LP site
There is a whole other thread about what constitutes a cue made by a person, and I would think that many makers do indeed get pre-rounded shafts from various suppliers (if they happen to have the quality they are after at that time) where it starts getting dodgy is when nearly completed cues, shaft with butt etc., are delivered from one place to another maker and then badged and sold as country-defined and made by the badged-maker. (i.e. handmade in UK but actually made elsewhere).
sad

[Andy Travis]

This is what Dominic Dale uses at the moment.

[narl]

!! I wish you guys would stop this bias favouring UK cues it's a known fact that Parris has bought off shore shafts for his cues LP cues is one that claims this

Ah that old chestnut. I can only assume the people John employs do nothing but sit around the workshop all day twiddling their thumbs if thats the case.

I swear theres rumours and speculation about just about every cuemaker out there, and the more high profile you are the more the rumours flows.

[trevs1]

This is what Dominic Dale uses at the moment.

How long has Dominic been using this cue.?

Is it maple or ash.?

[Andy Travis]

Ash, 2 weeks

[jrc750]

This is what Dominic Dale uses at the moment....

Hi Andy, the badge says "customised", was this one of Dom's cues you altered or just one you did yourself anyway, what was it to start with ???

[Andy Travis]

It was a cue he picked up on his travels that needed extending, no makers name.

[trevs1]

Ah Dominic, he's a bit special eh.

I had an email from him on the 27th of last month, where he was talking about the new cues he'd had done by a certain Thai maker, in maple, with a fairly elaborate butt design (For Dom's usual taste anyway). He was raving about them (as he often does with all sorts when they're new or recent aquisitions).

One thing you can be sure of is that you can never be quite sure what he's currently using, about to start using, or going to be using when he gets it made. He will often state he intends to use all sorts, in order to get you moving to build and finish the cue, do the alterations / adjustments etc etc.

He's a one off alright, but you gotta love him. A real unique character is Dominic.

[allanr5]

Hi Dean H, thank you for your open minded comments much appreciated, I did apologize for quoting info about Parris that could be heresay so please lets drop it I meant no offence, now back to the original thread subject a man asks where he can get an Aurora cue and immediately gets slammed for wanting to buy Chinese crap ( Aurora is actually a Canadian company ) and that he should buy UK all I was trying to say and others too that there's lots of fine cues made worldwide, it's OK to support your local economy but slamming everyone else is to do it well to me is narrow minded there's lots of talent out there and its a huge learning curve for some to find "the one" while others do well with just something basic and unremarkable . I have a wonderful book called "Matchroom Snooker" it has Barry Hearn's fold back in the day Steve Davis , Jimmy White Etc Etc not one of these players paid more than a 100 pounds for their cues most were hand me downs or used Willie Thorne and Tony Meo state their cues cost 3 pounds go figure? now what's the trend? its becoming like a fashion show (ranting over), so to answer the original question if you want an Aurora I think you'll have to keep you eye on forums like this or E-Bay because I don't think they are being made anymore due to a mysterious death of an alleged imaginary cuemaker which may end up making them very collectable I'm not parting with my two Cheers

[coomsey76]

I don't think they are being made anymore

According to this message left on twitter the other day, Aurora cues are still being made.....

https://mobile.twitter.com/AuroraCues

But then again you can't always believe what you read!!

[mrbluejay]

According to this message left on twitter the other day, Aurora cues are still being made.....

https://mobile.twitter.com/AuroraCues

But then again you can't always believe what you read!!

Richard is continuing to make cues, however he is not taking any new orders at present.

[craigslater]

aurora cue

That pale moon cue looks amazing!

[craigslater]

aurora cue

Anyone got a one piece for sale?