Cue Quality Questions

What sort of wood is used?
We use Australian eucalypt species available in South East Queensland. These include blackbutt, blue gum, rose gum & red stringybark. These durable woods are used in building, landscaping, fencing & flooring. All wood used comes from managed sustainable forests.

Will the wood bend or crack over time?
No, all the wood used has been kiln-dried to 10 - 12 % moisture. After it is kiln-dried, it is then air-dried for a further 3 – 6 months so that the woods temperature & moisture content equalizes with the air. Any further variations are taken out during the shaping process and the finished cue is sealed with a protective oil combination.

Do I need to do any maintenance on the cue?
No, the oil combination finish that we use is done in layers over approximately six weeks, making sure that after each layer there is nothing coming out of the woods pores. If you buff the cue from time to time it will remain feeling as good as when you bought it. Please don’t add any more oil.

Are there any other high quality aspects about the cue, besides the hardwood shaft, sealed finish, professional tip & brass parts?
It’s probably in the glues. We use high technology expanding glue from Germany to fit the brass parts and a Loctite engineering glue, specially designed for high impacts for the fitting of the tip and in the impact area of the joiner.

What are the weights of the cues and how well are they balanced?
Because the shaft is very solid, the weights of the cues are 21 – 24 ounces. The balance is about 18.5 inches from the base of the 57 inch cue, which is approx. one third of the length of the shaft.

Can I get replacement tips.
The tips are standard “9mm Diamond” or “10mm Elkmaster tips that can be purchased at any billiard shop or online on eBay.

Are these cues price comparable with other cues?
You can purchase a cheap cue for under $100 but you’re getting what you pay for. A good quality wood cue like a Canadian Maple or Ash is up around the $200 - $300 mark and even higher. Take into account that these are not just high quality hardwood cues but are also individually handcrafted, totally original , that makes our cues, especially the indigenous and snake range extremely good value for a piece of art as well.

What do they play like?
In that mid price range, most cue shafts are made from either graphite with a weight built into the handle, or constructed of a light wood like pine which is spliced into a hardwood handle. The graphite sounds “tinny” when playing your shot and the light wood shaft will vibrate because of the weakness off the shaft.
Our cue shafts are constructed entirely from hardwood with a weight added to the handle so the first thing you notice is that there is no vibration and you really feel how solid the shaft is with each shot. Our cues play very smooth.

In cheap cues the weight in the base of the cue can come loose and rattle around inside. Can that happen with these cues?
The weight has been fitted snuggly into a hole in the base with high quality expanding glue then sealed off with a wood plug. Trust me! The weight is there to stay.

Do you offer a quality guarantee?
We offer a 12 month warrantee against:
1.) Any bending or structural cracking of the shaft due to the drying of the wood under normal conditions
2.) Any structural damage to the shaft, at the ferule, joiner or at a fault in the wood, that has occurred through normal cue use.

Cue - Art Questions

How do I know that the painting on the indigenous cues is definitely aboriginal?
Besides our high quality standards, using all Australian hardwoods, authentic artists and being part of the Australian Made Campaign is what sets us apart from anybody who might try to copy. We offer a Certificate of Authenticity and Artists Profile in the package.

Can the art on the handle rub off from constant handling of the cue?
No, both the aboriginal art and the airbrush art is coated with 3 layers of a protective seal before we start on the oil finish for the rest of the cue.

Freight & Transport Questions

Can I get the cues through customs?
A1 Like all wood products you definitely have to declare it. We have never had a problem with any customs including New Zealand, USA, UK, Europe and Japan. They are mainly worried about products with raw wood or untreated bark. Our cues are 100% sealed.

Can I take the cues on board as hand luggage?
No, you’ll have to pack it in your suitcase. Pool cues are a forbidden item to include in your hand luggage because of what can be hidden in the joiner.

How much do they cost to send to somebody?
Nationally, the cues can be sent via registered post (which also covers them for $100 insurance) anywhere in Australia for not more than $15.
Internationally the best way is via Express Post International where you can send up to 2KG to: NZ - $35; Jap - $45; USA - $55; UK - $65. When sending to Europe send it as a non-commercial item or as a gift from a friend or relative, so as to avoid the recipient paying luxury tax.

If I’m selecting a gift for somebody is there anything else that could help me make my selection?
Traditionally, we usually sell cues with 9mm tips to UK buyers & snooker players. We always recommend the 10mm tips for the U.S & pub pool players, especially when playing with 2¼ inch pool balls.