Exotic Woods

[archalf1471]

it look lovely like that as most people would subscribe I think it is hard to beat a nice piece of well figured Thuya for a single splice. Personally on my current TW cue I have a nice piece of brown mallee burr, but have also had red malle, red Amboyna, thuya oh the list goes on!

[trevs1]

I think from looking at them, the images in LWB's post show what looks like Kauri on the left image, and thuya burr on the right.

$650 NZ for a wooden wheel???????????????? I don't think so...ha.

The image of the box on the right of LWB's post looks like thuya burr to my eyes, the only other timber I know of which gets close to thuya at all that is Yew burr.

Where did you get the images LWB, are you sure these were both labelled as Kauri???
I think there's a mistake there somewhere.

For those who are interestd, the Kauri wood Archalf147 mentioned was the most unintersting piece of timber you will EVER see, even if you lived for 500 years.

IT WAS (and is) DRAB.

[LWB]

I think from looking at them, the images in LWB's post show what looks like Kauri on the left image, and thuya burr on the right.

$650 NZ for a wooden wheel???????????????? I don't think so...ha.

The image of the box on the right of LWB's post looks like thuya burr to my eyes, the only other timber I know of which gets close to thuya at all that is Yew burr.

Where did you get the images LWB, are you sure these were both labelled as Kauri???
I think there's a mistake there somewhere.

For those who are interestd, the Kauri wood Archalf147 mentioned was the most unintersting piece of timber you will EVER see, even if you lived for 500 years.

IT WAS (and is) DRAB.

It was said to be Kauri yes, was it reliable? Probably not if you don't think it looks like Kauri.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...icial%26sa%3DN

[Lovely Babe]

Has anyone used macassar ebony in cuemaking? I read that Mike Wooldridge and Keith Auld are in to guitars and I saw some spectacular guitars made in macassar ebony!

Hi LWB,

I think the best wood type for cue butt is African Ebony-Gaboon/Gabon(Am).

Spicings are for decoration purpose only. It has nothing to do with the performance of the cue. Pyschological factors, such as getting better confidence or showing off your wealth, are other considerations.

I think the best playable cue is a basic one such as the John Parris Classic. Sorry, I am a JP supporter because it is very risky to try out other brands that are actually made in China!

[LWB]

Hi LWB,

I think the best wood type for cue butt is African Ebony-Gaboon/Gabon(Am).

Spicings are for decoration purpose only. It has nothing to do with the performance of the cue. Pyschological factors, such as getting better confidence or showing off your wealth, are other considerations.

I think the best playable cue is a basic one such as the John Parris Classic. Sorry, I am a JP supporter because it is very risky to try out other brands that are actually made in China!

Thanks for your advice, I am aware that decorative splices won't help my game. I plan to get a snooker cue and keep playing with it for a very long time, and as I appreciate the 'art' of cue making, having a well designed, well built cue will make me happy. Call me crazy? lol.

[ADR147]

[QUOTE=

I think the best playable cue is a basic one such as the John Parris Classic. Sorry, I am a JP supporter because it is very risky to try out other brands that are actually made in China![/QUOTE]

ummm - its not hard to spot a chinese made cue! what makers do you think actually get their cuues from china?

[snookaman]

Hi LWB,

I think the best wood type for cue butt is African Ebony-Gaboon/Gabon(Am).

Spicings are for decoration purpose only. It has nothing to do with the performance of the cue. Pyschological factors, such as getting better confidence or showing off your wealth, are other considerations.

I think the best playable cue is a basic one such as the John Parris Classic. Sorry, I am a JP supporter because it is very risky to try out other brands that are actually made in China!

I couldn't agree more! There are so many China made cues out there selling by British or European based companies: Royal Cue, Riley's, BCE, Acuerate, and etc.

The only two most trusted cues to me are John Parris and Glover custom cues.

[LWB]

Well guys I'll be ordering a Trevor Whit cue come the time, so no chance of it coming from China. I wonder if 'Waslin' cues are made in China? I bought one off ebay a few years ago, very cheap. My brother plays with it now and it's a very decent cue.

[ADR147]

I couldn't agree more! There are so many China made cues out there selling by British or European based companies: Royal Cue, Riley's, BCE, Acuerate, and etc.

The only two most trusted cues to me are John Parris and Glover custom cues.

robert osbourne, mike wooldridge, trevor white, robin cook, dave coutts, stamford cuemakers etc are all totally uk based.

[Watford]

North West cues too!
I think craftsman make all their own too!
You can tell with the price if it looks like a bargin it's probably tat!

The quality of Parris cues varies greatly, I would not touch one before seeing it first. Like anything if a company makes a lot of cues and has many people working there some will be good and some bad. Plus John's lot will stick a badge on anything that comes near his shop weather his company made it or not! Mathew Stevens' cue as a case in point! I've seen loads on flea bay too "Customized by John Parris" suddenly cue is worth twice as much.

You mean splices don't pot balls Lovely Babe!!!!
I can't believe it!
Why has no one told me this before.......
I don't mean to be nasty, I've said that old cliche on here myself before now but to people who are who are on a budget. Not us cue geeks who like flashy bits of wood!

[LWB]

North West cues too!
I think craftsman make all their own too!
You can tell with the price if it looks like a bargin it's probably tat!

The quality of Parris cues varies greatly, I would not touch one before seeing it first. Like anything if a company makes a lot of cues and has many people working there some will be good and some bad. Plus John's lot will stick a badge on anything that comes near his shop weather his company made it or not! Mathew Stevens' cue as a case in point! I've seen loads on flea bay too "Customized by John Parris" suddenly cue is worth twice as much.

You mean splices don't pot balls Lovely Babe!!!!
I can't believe it!
Why has no one told me this before.......
I don't mean to be nasty, I've said that old cliche on here myself before now but to people who are who are on a budget. Not us cue geeks who like flashy bits of wood!

Unfortunately you might say I am on a budget after my ex cleaned me out a couple of months ago I have to replace my HDTV'S, laptops, camera's, xbox 360, and basically most of my lovely toys lol. So since I'm currently waiting on another cue right now I'll be looking for good value for money (I always do) but if I get a custom built cue from Trevor for about £300 and play with it a couple of times a week for years to come then I think that is great value.

[Watford]

That's the way I looked at it mate!
But if I had money for HDTV'S, laptops, camera's, xbox 360 I might just start a Vintage cue collection instead!!!

[LWB]

Well before I was single I never had time to think about snooker or cues (or anything else, women...) I will only really buy what I can justify, which means having a decent pool cue and a decent snooker cue and thats it for now. But as we've suggested, if you're in to snooker and cues then buying a quality cue isn't showing off, it's just a little hobby in itself, and a better investment than most things you can buy at the price.

[Watford]

Hi LWB,

I think the best wood type for cue butt is African Ebony-Gaboon/Gabon(Am).

Spicings are for decoration purpose only. It has nothing to do with the performance of the cue. Pyschological factors, such as getting better confidence or showing off your wealth, are other considerations.

I think the best playable cue is a basic one such as the John Parris Classic. Sorry, I am a JP supporter because it is very risky to try out other brands that are actually made in China!

I think that the butt wood makes little difference to how a cue plays as long as it is fit for purpose.
In a lot of ways having a John Parris (don't buy a John Paris my dopey mate did) is like having a fancy splices. Your paying for a fancy badge and the "psychological factors, such as getting better confidence or showing off your wealth" apply the same really.

I'm not sure how the best cuemakers in the country like TW and MW could be confused with cheap Chinese tat.

[Wity]

Well before I was single I never had time to think about snooker or cues (or anything else, women...)

Single... played with an old Burroughs and watts cue that was always in the club.

Married.. dreamt of playing but her indoors always found summat else for me to do.

Divorced.. Left penniless but managed to buy a £15 BCE and play pool 5 times a week and snooker at least once a week.

Remarried.. No danger ! I had ten years of it, you dont get that for murder nowadays.

Retired... and still younger than Steve Davis I've just paid Trevor for a cracking cue and have one for each day of the week now and loads of tackle for fishing the weekends