Help Building Cue Repair Lathe

insanepoolgod

insanepoolgod

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I bought the wood lathe shown in the picture below. It has a 33-3/8 turning distance between centers. I live a long ways from the nearest cue repairman.

What, if anything, can I do to convert this lathe into a lathe that will allow me to: 1) clean shafts; 2) replace tips; and 3) shape mushroomed tips?

Based upon what I have seen in person and online, I think I will need: 1) a chuck; 2) some way to attach the shaft to the chuck at the shaft's joint; and some way to hold the other end of the shaft near the ferrule.

Any advice is appreciated.
image_310.jpg
 
I think you are going to be disappointed. You would be better off getting a refund quick and spending more on one of the repair specific lathes offered here on AZ. They are built for the job and will save you many, many hours of impending frustration with that lathe.
 
hangemhigh said:
I think you are going to be disappointed. You would be better off getting a refund quick and spending more on one of the repair specific lathes offered here on AZ. They are built for the job and will save you many, many hours of impending frustration with that lathe.
Click to expand...

I didn't buy that lathe with the intention of turning it into a cue repair lathe. I bought it because I money burning in my pocket when in the hardware store.

I have seen several cue repair lathes on AZ starting in the $500 dollar range. If I can't convert this one cheaply, then I will buy one here.
 
This may help....

I hope this help you.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=224889
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=185369
insanepoolgod said:
I bought the wood lathe shown in the picture below. It has a 33-3/8 turning distance between centers. I live a long ways from the nearest cue repairman.

What, if anything, can I do to convert this lathe into a lathe that will allow me to: 1) clean shafts; 2) replace tips; and 3) shape mushroomed tips?

Based upon what I have seen in person and online, I think I will need: 1) a chuck; 2) some way to attach the shaft to the chuck at the shaft's joint; and some way to hold the other end of the shaft near the ferrule.

Any advice is appreciated.
image_310.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
hangemhigh said:
I think you are going to be disappointed. You would be better off getting a refund quick and spending more on one of the repair specific lathes offered here on AZ. They are built for the job and will save you many, many hours of impending frustration with that lathe.
Click to expand...

Nothing could be true!!!!!:)
 
there is a tool for every job

I have that lathe, and use it every day. It is a Harbor Freight wood lathe, and workes well for sanding and cleaning shafts. It could be converted to do tips but that is a heck of a mechanical challenge, and not worth the compromises and efforts required. It will never to tips in an efficient manner. For tips a Hightower or Unique is the way to go. And they can do the cleaning as well. But if you have enough room and cash, and add a dead center in the headstock, and a concave live center in the tail, it is a useful cleaning lathe. If you are your only cue repair customer, then sell this lathe and get a cue specific lathe as was recommended.
 
to do it right it will cost you more than the repair lathes that are listed, but since you got money burning a hole in your pocket then go for it
 
I have a Hightower. That's a good route that won't cost you an arm and a leg just to have something sorta usable. His customer service is excellent.
 
cbi1000 said:
I agree the 699 lathe that bassel sells is the best band for your buck.
Click to expand...

Thanks flyingsnail and cbi1000 for linking my sale ad.
After reading this post, it reminded me of myself 3 years ago, I took on the same project, anyways, it didn't work out for me, know I use that lathe as a sanding and finishing lathe
Back to this, the only other way to convert this besides buying one of my $699 special, is to get an 12-18" taig base bed(which I have in stock) 4-jaw steady rest with 1.4" bore a carraige and a tail stock and try to line up and mount the 18" bed 22" away from the headstock. Assuming the lathe comes with a3-jaw chuck
Adding those parts should cost around $400 (with out taig tailstock, 1/2"chuck & concave Live center), $525 (with taig tailstock, 1/2" chuck & concave Live center) plus labor( new)
Good luck

FYI: Do not buy and X & Y vise for drill presses in attempt to use it as a carraige & Tool holder, ( those got too much slop)
 
Last edited:
> I bought a Cummins Tool wood lathe similar to this years ago.

The problem I found with it is the same on both ends of the lathe,being the spindle and tailstock thread.

Mine was 18mm x 2.5. Most small 3 jaw chucks like the Hightower are usually 3/4-16 or 1" x 8. This means an adapter is needed for both ends to mount a spindle chuck as well as a tailstock chuck. A small Jacobs like I have was threaded 1/2-20.

Those 2 adapters cost me 35 each to have made before I even bought a Hightower chuck and the Jacobs.

However,after 190.00 in parts,with the exception of having to replace the on/off switch one time,it has never given me a hint of a problem. Tommy D.
 
Insane -

> Thanks for all of the input. Based upon the posts,
> my idea sounds cost prohibitive.

Don't give up. Where there is a will, there's a way, right?

I bought a used HF lathe with no manual, tools, etc., for
$50. Mounted it on a cut-down and dadoed 2x10" to fit the
base with new bolts, washers and tee nuts. Left-over wood, scrap aluminum, and new childs' "scary creature" medium hard skate wheels with bearings went into the
adjustable roller rest. I bought a new HF four jaw independent chuck which is not too convenient to use and mounted everything on a HF portable work stand.

I finished it last night, mounted a cue shaft, and stood back in awe as it rotated at 1500 rpm with minimum wobble and no vibration.

By eyeball and feel on the chuck jaw set screws, I can fairly accurately center a cue in the chuck. Just takes a minute or so. Three wraps of bicycle inner tube taped around a shaft protects it from the jaws.

I also learned the hard way not to back my elbow into a chuck spinning at 1500 rpm. Whoa, Dummy. That really smarts. I plan not to ever do that again...

So far, for a $125 +/- investment, this is good enough for a wood butcher/bottom feeder like me. I'm looking forward to restoring/modifying a few old cues and learning a lot. A cue-maker I will never be, but I'm having fun. Hang in there. You can do the same. Photos below.

Rick - aka Bumpa

LATHE1-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]

LATHE2-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]

LATHE3-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]

LATHE4-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Last edited:
I'm no expert by any means ... but one thing I learned about having a lathe is that you just want more than what you have.

I have a nice taig based lathe that can do probably 1 zillion times more than what "I" am capable of doing on it. I spent just over 1K on the lathe and another $500 on upgrade and parts.

But my vanity tells me I should've just plunked down the money and got Hightower Deluxe. I'm sure if and when I get the hightower deluxe, I will be eyeing some other lathe .. maybe a bigger metal lathe (in which case I need to move out of my small condo and buy a house).
 
Bumpa said:
Insane -

> Thanks for all of the input. Based upon the posts,
> my idea sounds cost prohibitive.

Don't give up. Where there is a will, there's a way, right?

I bought a used HF lathe with no manual, tools, etc., for
$50. Mounted it on a cut-down and dadoed 2x10" to fit the
base with new bolts, washers and tee nuts. Left-over wood, scrap aluminum, and new childs' "scary creature" medium hard skate wheels with bearings went into the
adjustable roller rest. I bought a new HF four jaw independent chuck which is not too convenient to use and mounted everything on a HF portable work stand.

I finished it last night, mounted a cue shaft, and stood back in awe as it rotated at 1500 rpm with minimum wobble and no vibration.

By eyeball and feel on the chuck jaw set screws, I can fairly accurately center a cue in the chuck. Just takes a minute or so. Three wraps of bicycle inner tube taped around a shaft protects it from the jaws.

I also learned the hard way not to back my elbow into a chuck spinning at 1500 rpm. Whoa, Dummy. That really smarts. I plan not to ever do that again...

So far, for a $125 +/- investment, this is good enough for a wood butcher/bottom feeder like me. I'm looking forward to restoring/modifying a few old cues and learning a lot. A cue-maker I will never be, but I'm having fun. Hang in there. You can do the same. Photos below.

Rick - aka Bumpa

LATHE1-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]

LATHE2-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]

LATHE3-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]

LATHE4-3-11.jpg
[/IMG]
Click to expand...

This was something that I was envisioning. Seems like it will work. I should be able to shape tips using a razor blade.

My lathe has the moving part on the right hand side that should allow me to install a tip with this type of combination.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top