Choosing a cuebuilding lathe.

I am using a larger lathe, but what I did is I made a Delrin sleeve with the OD slipping into the through-tube of the lathe and the ID of the sleeve tapered the same as my butt taper. Even if the butt is larger or smaller (due to finish variance or whatever), the sleeve slips down and becomes tight at one point on the cue.

Then I added a single layer of masking tape to the OD of my sleeve, and it fits nicely in the lathe tube with no slop.

(NOTE: I could not use a back side chuck if I wanted to, because my headstock is longer than the cue butt when the joint is in the collet closer)

Then I use the Hardinge collet closer, with a plastic bushing, and grab my steel joint collar close to the closer, and bore and thread for my pin.

This system works well for me, and it eliminates the need for a backside chuck. My back-end run out is less than 0.003, or about the same as a low-cost 3-jaw chuck. Since that potential 0.003 run out is ~20 inches from my joint, it is essentially zero at the pin anyway. (so if you get a back side chuck, don't go crazy for super-accuracy!)

Cost was an hour of labor.
 
cueman said:
I would appreciate it and kindly ask that you quit using my name in your advertisements and posts.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
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Chirs
It's hard not to mention your name when the original post is a comparison between yours and Brianna, I have nothing but the most repect to you as you are the true pioneer in the cue lathe business, however next time you watch a GM or Ford commercial, notice how they always mention how thier product is better or cheaper than Toyota and Honda. I am not trying to knock your product down, it's just an obvious obsevation " cost difference"
Anyways, out of respect to you, and among other reasons too, I won't mention or compare my cue lathe to yours anymore.
Best Regards
Bassel
 
Cue Guru said:
I am using a larger lathe, but what I did is I made a Delrin sleeve with the OD slipping into the through-tube of the lathe and the ID of the sleeve tapered the same as my butt taper. Even if the butt is larger or smaller (due to finish variance or whatever), the sleeve slips down and becomes tight at one point on the cue.

Delrin is a wonderful material.
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Buy the Hightower

I did many years ago - best money I ever spent. Really a quality product - I made the money back and then some just doing tips. I play also and it was worth the money just in cleaning my own shafts and tips and putting on tips for others. Fantastic machine.

Chris
 
my2cents

The major factor to consider is experience, time and reputation. If you buy the less expensive set up then you will get the lesser product. The originators products may be more expensive but its probably because it has some unique parts that may appear to be the same as others but modified due to experience.

I would almost bet anything that if there was a demo site set up and people were able to test out the veterans stuff versus the new guys stuff there would be an obvious difference in quality. Not to say that the new guys stuff is bad, just not as good.

Also, the ford and gm comparison is not fair. Those are two companies with somewhat equal time and experience in the marketplace. Its not fair to say thats the case here.
 
LGSM3 said:
The major factor to consider is experience, time and reputation. If you buy the less expensive set up then you will get the lesser product. The originators products may be more expensive but its probably because it has some unique parts that may appear to be the same as others but modified due to experience.
.
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i would have to strongly disagree with this post and the ones like it.

i have a cuesmith deluxe and then a couple so called "knock offs" like this one

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=197873

and lemme tell you theres nothing knockoff about this headstock.

its a diffrent length and design.

and as far as quality and performance i have a both and they both work equally great! I dont see where one performs more than the other at all its all the same chucks and spindle size.

but one thing you do notice is a price diffrence, the newer lathes on the market are cheaper, not becasue their cheaper or a lesser lathe but because they dont have the rep that chris has, and their trying to get a name out their.

this is just a honest opinion from a person who owns a bit of everything.
 
Trent said:
i would have to strongly disagree with this post and the ones like it.

i have a cuesmith deluxe and then a couple so called "knock offs" like this one

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=197873

and lemme tell you theres nothing knockoff about this headstock.

its a diffrent length and design.

and as far as quality and performance i have a both and they both work equally great! I dont see where one performs more than the other at all its all the same chucks and spindle size.

but one thing you do notice is a price diffrence, the newer lathes on the market are cheaper, not becasue their cheaper or a lesser lathe but because they dont have the rep that chris has, and their trying to get a name out their.

this is just a honest opinion from a person who owns a bit of everything.
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Tap Tap Tap.

I agree, most of these guys sell good equipment.

There is far more compitition now then ever before. Usually compitition will have a impact on price.

Craig
 
LGSM3 said:
The major factor to consider is experience, time and reputation. If you buy the less expensive set up then you will get the lesser product. The originators products may be more expensive but its probably because it has some unique parts that may appear to be the same as others but modified due to experience.

I would almost bet anything that if there was a demo site set up and people were able to test out the veterans stuff versus the new guys stuff there would be an obvious difference in quality. Not to say that the new guys stuff is bad, just not as good.

Also, the ford and gm comparison is not fair. Those are two companies with somewhat equal time and experience in the marketplace. Its not fair to say thats the case here.
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That's your opinion, I just disagree with it, and that all I am saying on this thread, sorry on the reply earlier, I didn't mean to start an argument
Regards
 
Customers always win when there is more competition. Each side makes their products better and cheaper to win market share. As long as the machines are not "tweaked" to accept only proprietary tooling, suppliers will continue to improve accuracy, add features, and compete on price. I say "the more, the merrier!"
 
customcuelathe said:
I accept the challange, march 2011 Philly, I will be there with my dial indicators, and you can mearure and campare all you want, I will garentee to be equal or better any one else.
Please don't assume just because it a lot cheaper that is bad quality, you you get let machine, it's simply not true, at least for me.
What Trent said is tatalky true , the reason our prices are cheaper is only to get the foot in the door and get our product out there, I will promise you that once I achieve the 0.001" runout all the time, the price will go up, but it will always be better than the competition
My headstock runout is garenteed to be better than 0.0025" and my March of next year, it will be better than 0.001" ( my goal)
Best Regards
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Dude! i was expressing my opinion on what to consider when choosing a cuebuilding lathe. per the thread, you should try it.

guess you missed the part where i said "not to say the new guys stuff is bad quality but" also, i was not specifically referring to you. Anyway, i was more so referring to experience and reputation. both of which you are lacking

But now that you opened the door, you notice that the veteran offered to help him with his immediate problems for exponentially less money? in lieu of blast him with another super special one time only offer for something thats not even ready, available or even tested for that mattter. "like the OP hasnt already seen one of your 10,000 threads?" This section is already littered, overwhelmed and inundated enough with your free advertisements. Also, your saying that once your headstock runout is within industry tolerance the price will go up? you just confirmed the statements from my initial post.
 
LGSM3, Thanks for quoting this, as the original has been now edited. I agree with your statements, time will tell what will last and what will wear out. A product like CHris's stuff, or Porper, or Unique, that has been around a long time, has had the kinks ironed out and improved upon. Someone with a new(er) similar design will need to work out their kinks. The inital cost may be lower, but what about repairs as the kinks get ironed out? Will the seller repair for free, or will the buyer have to pay for the maker's learning curve? Will it seem like a better deal then? Who wants to be the guinea pig when your spending anyweheres from $1-3K plus, based on a promise that it's the best on the market, even though there are only a couple out there at this time. What if the seller goes belly up before making your machine, will the deposit get refunded? We see it every day, in all the industrys, automakers, powertools, sound equipment etc. that a new company comes out and makes a big splash but for some reason are gone quicker than they came in. The above questions, IMO, are important to ask one's self before deciding which to invest in.
I don't know about anyone else, but $2500 is a lot of cash to be taking a chance on. Especially when the manufacturer/designer states up front that the cost will go up once his foot is in the door.......(basically that usually a no-no to state when trying to sell something) It usually means something about the seller.
To the original Poster, good luck choosing, and also think about resale value if you ever need to liquidate. The brands listed above get very high resale prices if the unit is in good condition. Just another thing to consider.
Dave
 
My toolbox lathe shipped today, and I bought it because it fits my needs, and Bassel came recommended by a few guys Ive gotten to know here on AZ. I know Hightower makes a great lathe as well because Bill the Cat who built my cue rants and raves about it.

In my opinion, I just wish people would talk about the experiences they have had with THEIR lathe, and the how the buying experience went. Ive met a lot of really great people on here so far, and the cue community really made a new guy feel welcome, but its days like this when I want to stop checking this part of the forum out because it seems to turn into a 3rd grade playground, and past threads like this are what made it take a long time for me to finally pick a lathe because it just seems to turn into people dogging each other, and I wonder if anyone has actually used on of the lathes.

I not here to ruffle any feathers, as Im new here, and one day Ill hopefully be able to afford a lathe from multiple people for my own comparison, I just know that my buying experience so far has been awesome, and Ill post about how well the lathe works and not bag on someone elses lathe that I dont even have.
 
The price doesn't reflect the quality of the machines. They're all Taig based. It reflects the quality of the man behind the business. Chris has proven to continually provide customer support long after the sale of the machine. He's not a "fly-by-night" business. He's there for his customers 110% and that's worth paying for. Everybody else has yet to be proven. That's the price difference. And it's solidly justifiable.
 
Mr Hoppe said:
Customers always win when there is more competition. Each side makes their products better and cheaper to win market share. As long as the machines are not "tweaked" to accept only proprietary tooling, suppliers will continue to improve accuracy, add features, and compete on price. I say "the more, the merrier!"
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It's nice to have choices even if they're all bad :) (Not saying this is the case)

Mario
 
qbilder said:
The price doesn't reflect the quality of the machines. They're all Taig based. It reflects the quality of the man behind the business. Chris has proven to continually provide customer support long after the sale of the machine. He's not a "fly-by-night" business. He's there for his customers 110% and that's worth paying for. Everybody else has yet to be proven. That's the price difference. And it's solidly justifiable.
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Well said Eric. I bought mine used and I called him about a couple questions I had, and he took the time on a Saturday to help me over the phone even though he didn't sell me the lathe. I left a message, and He called me back on his own dime. I will always be grateful for his help. He could've just ignored me, but being the gentleman and businessman that he is, he returned my call and offered assistance. He didn't try to sell a product, instead he offered advice. He didn't make a nickel for his time that day, but he has earned a customer for life for anything I may need that he can provide.
Dave
 
Competition

I have a Deluxe from Chris and love it. I also like some of the new spins on the taig based lathes others are putting out, as well as the new ones Chris has been coming up with (different headstocks, power feeds, motors, taper bars, etc). I think it has forced everyone to work harder at making their machines better and that benefits the folks using them (me).
 
Shiftysmooth said:
My toolbox lathe shipped today, and I bought it because it fits my needs, and Bassel came recommended by a few guys Ive gotten to know here on AZ. I know Hightower makes a great lathe as well because Bill the Cat who built my cue rants and raves about it.

In my opinion, I just wish people would talk about the experiences they have had with THEIR lathe, and the how the buying experience went. Ive met a lot of really great people on here so far, and the cue community really made a new guy feel welcome, but its days like this when I want to stop checking this part of the forum out because it seems to turn into a 3rd grade playground, and past threads like this are what made it take a long time for me to finally pick a lathe because it just seems to turn into people dogging each other, and I wonder if anyone has actually used on of the lathes.

I not here to ruffle any feathers, as Im new here, and one day Ill hopefully be able to afford a lathe from multiple people for my own comparison, I just know that my buying experience so far has been awesome, and Ill post about how well the lathe works and not bag on someone elses lathe that I dont even have.
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I the opposite lately. Because I find it humorous, how sensitive some people are about the products they produce or use. It's funny how they bash everyone's stuff and make you think their's is touched by god! You can tell, there's been no competition for quite a while. And six month's ago, the posters for two of the lathe builders were at one another's necks! Now you their so nice to one another, you think that maybe their wives should hire a PI! lol

Anyway, you can tell which are the professional businessmen and which are shade-tree businessmen by the wording of their own posts. Either way you have to love all the passion!
 
Buster Jones said:
I the opposite lately. Because I find it humorous, how sensitive some people are about the products they produce or use. It's funny how they bash everyone's stuff and make you think their's is touched by god! You can tell, there's been no competition for quite a while. And six month's ago, the posters for two of the lathe builders were at one another's necks! Now you their so nice to one another, you think that maybe their wives should hire a PI! lol

Anyway, you can tell which are the professional businessmen and which are shade-tree businessmen by the wording of their own posts. Either way you have to love all the passion!
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Bingo. I don't really find it amusing, though. But I do see the exact same things happening here.
 
Buster Jones said:
I the opposite lately. Because I find it humorous, how sensitive some people are about the products they produce or use. It's funny how they bash everyone's stuff and make you think their's is touched by god! You can tell, there's been no competition for quite a while. And six month's ago, the posters for two of the lathe builders were at one another's necks! Now you their so nice to one another, you think that maybe their wives should hire a PI! lol

Anyway, you can tell which are the professional businessmen and which are shade-tree businessmen by the wording of their own posts. Either way you have to love all the passion!
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There has been a good bit of competition in this business for over 20 years. It used to be Bludworth, myself and Porper. Then around 1997 Unique Products jumped in. So there were basically four different versions of smaller machines out there. A few more have come and gone during that time. I did not know anyone who thought theirs was "touched by god". Now several more have jumped in making cue lathes. So I just thought I would clarify that it has not been a long time since there was competition. The competiton has been there for for many years. What you did not have for the last 20 years is everyone trying to make the same style lathe. Someone from overseas once sent me a picture of a lathe they wanted to sell. It was a near exact copy of a Shop Companion lathe, but scaled down a bit and cheaper. I let them know I was not interested in buying their product.
 
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