Cue "Tips" From "The Blud"

Leonard Bludworth is a pioneer in cue repair. He is considered to be the first traveling cue repair man, with 28 years of experience. Bludworth has been making cues for over 20 years, and has produced cues for 17 world champions. He is also the original founder of the American Cuemaker Association. Born and raised in Texas, Bludworth began repairing cues while playing on the Men's Pro Tour. After numerous request from fellow professionals to work on their cues, Bludworth decided to start his own cue repair business. A few years later, at the request of the Hall of Famer Buddy Hall, Bludworth began building his own line of cues.

Cues, Cases and Mother Nature

In my column in the Fall 2002 issue of The American Poolplayer magazine, I addressed how to properly clean your cue. Shortly thereafter, one APA member contacted me and said that he soaked his wooden joint with alcohol for several minutes, but then he could not screw the shaft on the butt of the cue. Note: I never said to soak the cue in alcohol to clean it. To properly clean the cue, you should pour some alcohol in the joint (fill it about halfway), cover it with your thumb and shake it up and down.

Then pour the alcohol out and repeat this process once more. If you are experiencing the same difficulty as this member, just put a little paste wax on the pin and screw the shaft on and off several times. Then remove the excess wax from the pin and shaft. This procedure should take care of the problem.

Cues, Cases and Moisture
Never leave your cue and case in a trunk or inside a car during hot and humid weather. This can cause the cue and/or the shaft to warp. The case will also gather moisture. Not only will it gather moisture, but it will maintain that moisture for a long time. Some cases can hold moisture for up to several months. Remember, the lining of the case is made of cloth.

Ivory Ferrules and Cold Weather
Winter weather is upon us. Many of you may own cues that have ivory ferrules and/or ivory joints. Cold weather affects ivory. When you take your cue to your Host Location to play, hold or grip your ivory joint and/or ferrule with your hand to allow the ivory to warm-up to at least the room temperature or your hand temperature. This allows the ivory to become stable. If the ivory is not allowed to stabilize at a warmer temperature, you risk breaking or developing a crack in either the joint or the ferrule. It’s best to let the cue sit out of the case at room temperature for 20-30 minutes to allow it to stabilize. Whichever method you use, be sure not to screw the shaft down tight on the butt until you’re satisfied that it has reached the room’s temperature.

See ya,

“ Da Blud”

Bludworth Billiard Products, LLC
(830) 232-5991
http://www.bludworth.com