CORING is utilized to change the weight of a butt and/or to increase stability. The following example of a Black & White Ebony cue which required coring both to decrease the total weight and  to improve stability. In this case the whole butt is cored eliminating the need for an “A” joint.

Step 1 is to turn a 30 inch purpleheart dowel to .750” diameter. Then grooves are cut 1 inch apart to hold glue. Next a glue relief groove is cut the length of the dowel, then the dowel is rotated 180 degrees an a second groove is cut.

Next a gun drill is utilized to drill  .750” diameter holes in the forearm, handle and butt sleeve.The wood is chucked up in the lathe. A .750” bushing almost touching the wood ensures the drill starts exactly in the center. Compressed air blows out the wood chips and cools the bit and the wood as the drilling takes place.

Now all components of the butt (except the joint rings) are dry fit on the core dowel. The forearm is to the left, then a sterling silver stitch ring, a flat laminated handle, another stitch ring, the butt sleeve, another stitch ring and finally the butt cap. The glue relief groove is used to make sure the stitch rings plus the forearm and butt sleeve all line up.

Finally the parts are glued on to the core, and pressure applied with a pipe clamp for 24 hours until the glue is dry. The butt is now ready to be tapered.