fake ebony

[presto55]

just recently bought a new cue only to find out that the genuine african ebony is infact corion the same stuff as kitchen worktops .anyone come across this before...

[culraven]

Peradon use something similar called ebonex, looks good and saves a tree, no idea how it plays though?

[presto55]

That could be it,the thing that pissed me off is that the cue description said genuine ebony.some of are fellow members on here have reviewed the cues and the fake ebony has bypassed everyone .

[presto55]

i only found out as i have had the cue altered

[Byrom]

What brand of cue was it.? Save a copy of advert and your receipt and proof of purchase and any correspondence - you have a strong claim for a full refund 'if you bought it direct and the maker described it as being 'genuine African ebony' - I would ask the maker directly first for a full refund including postage costs - give them time to respond then if not bang them in SC court. If it was advertised as being genuine African ebony and it is not you have a strong argument for a full refund on your purchase under SOGA. The other material you mentioned can shatter in a more brittle way unlike real Ebony wood and I think cracks appear easier. The other fact is you say you where sold something and it is not what you where told so you may have been misled.

You may also have some redress if you bought via your credit card or thro Paypal. After you ask for a refund if he refuses then complain to them first as your purchases are usually insured.

[presto55]

The brand is tiger cues

[mikeyd100]

The brand is tiger cues

Those cues look quite good for the price but the fake ebony is disgraceful.
Let us know what they say to you if you dont mind.

[presto55]

hi the chap that altered the cue has over 40 years experience of making cues .and said its not ebony its something like corion or ebonex .

[mikeyd100]

hi the chap that altered the cue has over 40 years experience of making cues .and said its not ebony its something like corion or ebonex .

Hi, sorry I meant let us know what Tiger Cues say to you and their explanation of this. Thanks

[itsnoteasy]

That is surprising as their web site leaves you in no doubt about what they claim the cues are made of, they actually make a bit of a thing about them being African ebony .

[damienlch]

Was wondering if there are any ways of differentiating between real and fake ebony just by sight or feel.

[tofushop193]

had an experience also. mine was the ebony was dyed. when i was cleaning all the black ink just came out.

[perpetualboredom]

Not sure why this is surprising, I'm sure lots of makers make the ebony blacker, particularly in their lower range of cues.
I traveled with a mate of mine to ******* cue maker as he was dropping it off for refinishing - they told him before he handed it over that it might come out 'not entirely black' and asked if he still wanted it doing.
Cues are finished to give the look everyone wants, I'm not really bothered how they do that - if you then go on to mess with their finish and it doesn't come out how you expect it, then you can't hold them responsible.
This has been going on for decades too, you often get old cues (> 50 years) that come out streaky after a refinish.

What I don't really understand if why the people doing the refinish can't reapply whatever was done in the first place to make it black? Sure someone will educate me!

[vmax4steve]

Only the actual heartwood of the ebony tree is pure black, away from the heartwood the colour gets streaky and then the colour disapears completely near the outside of the log. Many cue makers may well be using ebony that is not heartwood and dying it black, can't say that it's not ebony though, can't say you've been lied to, can't get your money back either.

If it's actually a composite material like ebonix then you have a case, but a cue is a tool not a work of art, so get your head down, play good snooker with it and stop moaning about aesthetics.

[vmax4steve]

What I don't really understand if why the people doing the refinish can't reapply whatever was done in the first place to make it black? Sure someone will educate me!

The butt timber is dyed and allowed to dry completely before it's glued to the shaft and planed and sanded. If was to be dyed after fitment then the dye would bleed into the shaft wood, which is exactly what would happen if dyed during a refinish.