Just wondering, whether or not to use joint protectors. I have a lucasi with a z2 shaft and want them to last a long time. I was with a pool table and equipment dealer and he said as long as i have a good hard case I wont need the joint protectors. This forum has many knowledgable people and thus I'm hoping to be enlightened.

sal

Joint protectors do a couple of very important things.
1: They protect the pin on your cue from getting bent or damaged. Even though it is in a hard case, they can get bent.
2: They also keep the threads on both the male and female parts of the joint clean from dirt and debris.

I use joint protectors on all my cues.

Headmuses.

Head is right. A cue can be an expensive investment so why not do all you can to protect it.

Pel

As Pel states, a cue can be an expensive investment, so why wouldn't you take every precaution to protect it?
Most of my cues are "production" cues, but if you added them all up, I have quite a lot at stake, so I want to protect them as best I can.

Cheers

H.

I've also been told that good joint protectors help protect the cue from moisture entering through the open joint. So another reason to use good fitting joint protectors.

I have them on all of my cues. To me, they are nothing more than some ornamental Bull she-yit which are a pain in the ass and all they do is slow me down and make me do more work. I carry 5 cues and 6 shafts and I have a mess trying to keep track of whats what and not lose on of those little buggers in the dark. I think they are worthless. I played for 40 years and I never bent a pin, unless I hit some biker over the head with my cue and hit his Kraut WWII metal helmet with it, ya vo, dass es not zer goot...You are better off just kicking him in the balls, or throwing balls off the table at him. Those are amazing weapons, done that a few times getting out a door.

Any decent hard shell case gives you all the protection you need, plus dirt does not get in them unless you live in the Gobi fookin desert. I ran over my George case with my back tire, had it sitting on the back bumper, Then got a call and forgot about it. had my original bushka in there, with a $2500 falcon, the car blew out both end caps, and the cues were unharmed. I had to clean out my undies over that one.

It's just another thing we all got conned into. And I know that, but I tried to give em up, and could not do it. I am a weak person, I know this. I have dumped them 4 or 5 times, but weakened and came back. That is why I drink. I drink, then I don't worry about them any more. Yo: 15 minutes until Johnnie Walker time, I am so outta here. I get to dump this pos chink green tea, and get some real iskabaha in me hands laddie. I love 5:00, its the best time of the day. Quittin time....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib8nH4kHjxk

I have a 30 year old Huebler that has never seen a joint protector. I got it when I was 17 and only had a soft case (but well padded) for it. During high school and college it saw a lot of travel time as we had good tables at the student union on campus and I took it everywhere.

Then came a period of closet time when I joined the work force. Every 5 years or so I would spend some time playing regularly, bar leagues and such. So it would be used heavily for a 18 months or so and travel still in the soft case.

About 10 years ago we had a table at my office (Internet startup days, we had a ping pong table, foosball and pool table at the office. So the cue sat in my office and was used occasionally there and at occasional happy hours away from the office).

Now I have my own table and it mostly stays together and on my cue rack.

The point is, the cue has been heavily used and well traveled at times, and spent time in the case in a closet and ignored for years at a time. No damage, rolls straight, plays great.

I just ordered an LGB-21 (juiced) from Fast that I expect will become my new playing cue. As it will come with protectors, I will likely use them.

But the Huebler has survived from the time I was 17 until now without protectors and while I was generally pretty careful with it, it was in a soft case and there were some drunken college evenings where it was not given the care it deserves, both in the case and out. The thing is still in great shape. Only issue was that the soft case has a zipper closure and the zipper put some small scratches in the linen wrap. A couple of years ago I lightly rubbed the wrap down with a grey abrasive pad and put a light coat of lacquer on the wrap and it is in good shape. Not sure if it was originally finished or just well pressed, but it now has a very light finish on it. The pin and socket are in great shape and have never had an issue without protectors.