Months ago we talked about how they are made billiard balls and today is the turn of our tacos ones, the extension of our arms. We are used to seeing them clean and shiny, but behind those perfect designs manufacturing processes and a variety of materials, especially wood, essential for good play hide. It’s time to discover them .

By David Muñoz

The two kinds of wood most commonly used for the manufacture of billiard cues are Maple (maple) and Ash (ash). The reason is simple: absorb shock well, they are very rigid and very resistant. If the maple is used more for tacos Pool, ash, more expensive, it is more typical of good blocks snooker. However, there are ten different woods with many pads, among which ebony, olive, amaranth or hornbeam are made. And there are even other materials beyond the wood, such as aluminum or fiber, the Cuetec own tacos.

In the following video you will discover how a taco is made Falcon , from the rectangular block of wood to the final finished:

The tacos are made by parties to reduce the risk of breakage and to make it easier to assemble and more comfortable transport. Thus, for each part of different types of wood they are used: for example, maple for the arrow and the base of the truncheon, and black ebony inlay. much more detailed and accurate are these designs, which sometimes are made with precious stones, the more expensive the taco. The grip (grip), usually wood with leather or nylon thread is covered for the player to feel more comfortable during the shooting.

How are the plugs inside? Surely you’ve ever been curious about whether they are solid or otherwise are hollow. Most of them respond to the first option but there are also carrying a cylinder of carbon fiber inside to be more strengthened. There are also laminated arrows : inside they are cut into sheets and grouted, so that gain and deflection resistance and is reduced when playing effects. Here’s the example of Predator :

A billiard cue must be completely straight, must have the weight distributed and must not warp over time. So manufacture is a complicated task that requires much time and many processes: select wood, convert the block cylinder, lower it to the correct diameter, working the arrow and the club separately (for truncheon two pieces are used, one that He will board the grip and the grip other end of the cylinder head, which are then bonded) to fouling, the gasket, cap and soleta, and finally polishing and varnishing. Is an art, although machines increasingly accelerate processes.

To end this tour of the anatomy of a taco do not miss the video of Ronnie O’Sullivan visiting the temple of Parris Cues , one of the most famous and recognized brands that manufactures tacos Snooker: