How to Tighten Loose Dart Shafts
So you’re playing in league or a tournament and every time you throw your darts you are tightening your dart shafts as you walk back. Sound familiar? The simple solution is to use Rubber O Rings. They work like a washer between the thread of the metal dart shaft and the dart barrel. When you thread metal into metal, it can’t “grip” itself. So when using a metal or alloy dart shaft, you will need to use Rubber O Rings. A package of 21 will last you a long time!
Simply slide a rubber o ring over the threads on your metal dart shaft and as you thread the shaft onto the dart it will keep the dart shaft locked in place. I will sometimes use the point of the dart to help the rubber ring over the threads at the beginning.
Attach Dart Rubber O Rings
Dart Rubber O Ring on an Alloy Dart Shaft
Dart Rubber O Ring Threaded on a Dart Barrel
You won’t need to use these rubber rings if you are using nylon or plastic dart shafts. They should stay tight in the dart barrel as is. If you find they are loosening, you may need new dart shafts as the thread may be breaking down.
Unicorn Darts Thread Washers come complete with an applicator to make it that much easier to get the rubber ring over the dart shaft threads. A great idea since you are dealing with such small parts!
Have you every tried using Rubber O Rings? Did they keep your dart shafts tight in the dart barrel? Do you know any tricks for getting them on the threads of the dart shaft?!
Dart Shaft Comparison: A Question of Length
Recently I have had many customers come in and discuss the merits of different dart shaft lengths with me. There has been some discussion regarding the Slik Stik dart shaft by Unicorn Darts. The shafts are quite deceiving when viewed in the package. It appears that the medium size is quite long when compared with other medium sized shafts. To show a comparison, lets look at the charts below:
Jocky Wilson Nylon Dart Shafts
As you can see, the medium sized Jocky Wilson nylon dart shaft (second from the left) measures just over 5 cm in length. The medium sized alloy dart shaft (first shaft on the left) measures 5 cm and the Slik Stik dart shaft by Unicorn Darts measures 8 cm. This is incredibly deceiving as you will see from the next set of pictures!
Nylon dart shaft, alloy dart shaft and Slik Stik dart shaft by Unicorn Darts – Size Medium
Nylon dart shaft, alloy dart shaft and Slik Stik dart shaft by Unicorn Darts – size short
So as you can see, looks are very deceiving. By the time you put the flights on the shafts, the Slik Stik dart shaft by Unicorn Darts is actually the same length as the medium nylon dart shafts and the medium alloy dart shafts. It is interesting to note that the alloy dart shafts in the shorter size are a bit longer than their counterparts in either the nylon dart shafts or the Slik Stik dart shafts by Unicorn Darts. It is possible that the dart flight lead in on those particular dart shafts wasn’t as long as it could be (this could change with a different batch).
The Slik Stik dart shafts are a very unique product by Unicorn Darts. As far as I know they are the only company who produces such a shaft. They are quite popular now since Phil Taylor has been using them for years. The Titanium Based Side Loading dart shaft are excellent as well. Although you pay more for them at the beginning, the titanium base will make them quite strong. The replacement tops are sold in a set of 6 pieces and are only $2.50 Canadian and are available in 6 different colours. A great choice if you find that the regular Slik Stik dart shafts aren’t lasting long.
I’m interested to know – do you use the Slik Stik dart shaft by Unicorn Darts? Do you love them? Hate them? Do you find the lengths comparable to that of either a nylon or alloy dart shaft?
Game Room Thoughts 