Osage Orange

[Tristan Croll]

Neil, when you say osage orange is used for bowmaking, are you talking archery or luthiery? Also, do you think it would be a suitable timber for a pool cue?

Thanks,

Tristan

[ubeaut]

G'day Triston

Bow as in "Cowboys and Indians" (Osage Indians to be exact). Should make brilliant pool cues and also wouldn't go astray in luthery, as I believe it has brilliant sound resonance qualities. Also popular for knife handles.

heers - Neil http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

[Brian]

Dear Tristan:

Your question on the suitability of osage orange for a pool cue is interesting. I am a pool player, pool table designer/builder and woodworker -- but I do not make cues.

I've done some reading about cue materials. I've concluded that the butt can use any materials so long as the core is stable. Then anything goes, because the exterior is sealed and linen wrapped along most of its length.

The shaft, however, is (in my opinion) a different roo. The better US shafts use select rock maple due to its stiffness. These shafts generally taper to a 11.5mm - 13.5mm tip for American pool and billiards. However snooker cues can taper down to an 8mm tip (for those long, soft, accurate hits). I'm saying that other material selections will definitely make the cue (shaft) too whippy.

With respect to the shaft more whippyness and smaller diameter increases deflection (or squirt) and hence significantly less accuracy.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Brian

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Brian Swift
http://www.pooltableplans.com

[Tristan Croll]

Thanks for your replies, guys.

Brian: I've never actually made a pool cue either, but it's been a long-standing goal of mine (seeing as I don't have the resources or expertise to build a table http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/rolleyes.gif ). The point about whippiness sounds about right. Thanks for the info.

BTW - being in the business, would you know anywhere where one can get the materials (brass connectors, ferrules etc.) to make a cue?

[Sir Stinkalot]

http://users.mwci.net/%7Erspragg/poolcue.html