Rounding cue but edges

Guerra Cues

Guerra Cues

I build one cue at a time
Silver Member
Hello,

How are you guys rounding the bottom of cue butt edges?
I know most of you might just use a file, but just to be even more perfectionist... Could you use a corner round end mill? If the butt is @ 1.250" and I the bumper is .950" what corner round end mill size would you use?
 
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Guerra Cues said:
Hello,

How are you guys rounding the bottom of cue butt edges?
I know most of you might just use a file, but just to be even more perfectionist... Could you use a corner round end mill? If the butt is @ 1.250" and I the bumper is .950" what corner round end mill size would you use?
Click to expand...
razor blade :thumbup:
doesnt always require a fancy tool to be perfect
 
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I put my cutting tool at a 45 degree angle and slowly move it into the edge of the butt. You must first ensure that the cue is centred properly or the bevel won't be even.
 
I have a cutter with a nickle radius that I use first, then a small file, last some sandpaper. As for how much to radius....that is your job to figure out as the maker of your own cues.


Bob Danielson
www.bdcuesandcomix.com
 
BHQ said:
razor blade :thumbup:
doesnt always require a fancy tool to be perfect
Click to expand...
Concave cutter on your router will make em look pretty.
You'll love the smell of antler getting rounded with that cutter too.:D
Angle the compound around 10-15 clicks and feed with that .
Once you get the look you want, it'll be the same on all of them.
 
Take the diameter of the cap divided by 4.....then multiply that number by Pi.....then take the number of caps you intend to do in one session and divide that by the length of the shortest file in your tool box.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Concave cutter on your router will make em look pretty.
You'll love the smell of antler getting rounded with that cutter too.:D
Angle the compound around 10-15 clicks and feed with that .
Once you get the look you want, it'll be the same on all of them.
Click to expand...
isnt this pretty enough for you joey :D;)
 

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BarenbruggeCues said:
Take the diameter of the cap divided by 4.....then multiply that number by Pi.....then take the number of caps you intend to do in one session and divide that by the length of the shortest file in your tool box.
Click to expand...

Dave,
I know the question sounds kind of cheesy... I knew about the sand paper, razor blade, file, etc. The question was more towards the use of a corner round end mill. I know most of the cuemakers try very hard to be as perfect as you can be and I was wondering what other methods they use. As an example, I use a super sharp fostner bit to clean the hole of the butt so it is the exact diameter of the bumber...
Dave, I tried your math equation but I can only count till 10 :). Sorry buddy ;)
Thanks for all of the responses guys.
 
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Mase said:
I put my cutting tool at a 45 degree angle and slowly move it into the edge of the butt. You must first ensure that the cue is centred properly or the bevel won't be even.
Click to expand...

That's how I do it as well.

Greg
 
> If you have a lathe with CNC control,why haven't you programmed it to cut a .005 chamfer ;)?

I did that while experimenting with cutting screws in shop school,and did it just as a way of deburring the ends of some little keychains I made for people out of a .360 x 11.5 Acme (which nothing fits,just like the people I made 'em for :thumbup:).

Man it looked sweet until I polished it out,then saw that the clean angle was replaced by rounded edges. It still looked nice,just not a precise chamfer.

A great tool for this is really easy to find too. Places you can buy Revlon diamond grit nail files are plentiful.

There is also plenty of articles you can find online that instruct on how to grind HSS "form" tools. Tommy D.
 
I prefer the 45 deg chamfer Tony

And yeah that butt cap had better be running dead true before you cut it or it will look like you had a five Martini lunch before you worked on the cue!
Then break the edges with sandpaper and it looks very clean and precise.
I just had an idea, why not make a template out of metal like a backwards "L" to use as a shelf for the razor blade, Make it so you can hold it with your tool holder, and have the inside corner of the "L" at the radius you want. Run it close then cut some of the curve with your razor blade, then move the template closer and duplicate that curve, now all your radii are close to equal, and you have a uniform look to your buttcaps. Just a thought, might be wacky? I have been accused of worse disorders than being crazy. I remember using paper templates like that while lathe turning as a teen in shop class.
 
And finally you can get a straight answer,,,,,,

Guerra Cues said:
Hello,

How are you guys rounding the bottom of cue butt edges?
I know most of you might just use a file, but just to be even more perfectionist... Could you use a corner round end mill? If the butt is @ 1.250" and I the bumper is .950" what corner round end mill size would you use?
Click to expand...

Take the Diameter of the butt - the diameter of the bumper, then divide by 2.......so,,,,1.25-.95=.3,,,,,,,,,, .3/2=.15,,,,,,,so .15 is the largest radius that fits, mathematicaly. I'd go with 1/8" max,,,,,,however, you should be aware that form cutters are famous for chatter, where either the workpiece develops a bounce, or the machine is not ridgid enough and develops harmonics with the workpiece.. Very low RPM's, and cautious hand feeding, followed by a little sanding usually net acceptable results,,,,,,,,, some of these guys may have known this,,,,,,,do they like you????

you sure????

LOL

Hope this helps
 
Hi,

If your butt is running concentric in the chuck I don't see why the file is not anyones first choice other than the fact that you must be very careful working over the top of your chuck.

I have 2 very large files I use for the job and it takes me less than 2 minutes, then I sand to blend when the cue is between centers on my wood lathe before sealing.

Rick Geschrey
 
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