Is it possible to build an inexpensive lathe to work on my cues?

GBCues said:
Since this thread seems to be crossing between sanding, finishing, and tipping machines, I thought I would show my old setup (before I got a lathe). It was relatively cheap, and gives you the option of using a Sherline headstock, which sometimes come up on eBay for cheap.

The mounting plate is a Sherline mounting plate which I got from A2ZCNC.com - but I just went to A2ZCNC looking for it and I can't find it - sorry about that.

I also bought a 3/8" tool holder that screws onto the Sherline spindle, but the company I bought that from VCSHobbies.com doesn't seem to stock Sherline parts anymore either. In any case, my maintenance pins have a 3/8" shaft, so I could support the joint end of a shaft using them.

I hand built a Lexan/Plexiglass "tailstock" with a simple bearing mounted in it to hold the tip end using a delrin collet.

I don't claim this particular setup can be used for anything very heavy duty, but it's presented as another option for spinning a cue and how Googling the Internet can help you find alternatives to the stock products.

Hope this helps someone

Gary
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Very cool setup Gary. That would be a great simple setup to sell for people that just want to clean and do a tip for their personal cues.
Dave
 
Dave38 said:
Very cool setup Gary. That would be a great simple setup to sell for people that just want to clean and do a tip for their personal cues.
Dave
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Well, thanks Dave - the problem seems to be I can't find the parts anymore!!:(

And I think I'll leave the merchandizing to TSP&B, Chris, and the others that want to put up with those head-aches.

But thanks again for props!

Gary
 
Buy a lathe that can do more than just replace a tip or ferrule.
Then you will be able to make alot more than just repair the odd cue shaft.
You could make legs for a nice chair/stool Maybe make some bushes to take the slop out of a human powered hydroplane or something like that.
Once you get a lathe, you will find that there are so many things that can be done and made using such a machine. As well as being a fun and interesting hobby.
With alot of cues having pro tapers these days,the Harbour freight lathes are capable of ferrule and tip replacement.They have the capability to cut threads and make hobby model engineering projects. With a little work and imagination rests and extensions can be made to increase the machines capability.
Look around and think about what you may be wanting to do or achieve.
There is always a price to pay for convenience.
 
Lexicologist71 said:
If you have patience you don't need the lathe. For years I did my own tips with a huge butcher knife and a very steady hand. The knife needs to be razor sharp and hollow ground to work best. You can also use razor blades, but your hand will cramp by the time you're done. Anyways, after gluing the tip and allowing it to cure, stand the shaft up on a cutting board (tip down). Using the knife, shave the excess off one tiny bit at a time. It will take dozens and dozens of cuts, but eventually, you'll get it down to size. Buy extra tips, just in case. After you're done carefully sand any ridges and then burnish. No, it may not be as pretty as a lathe job, but you CAN get it pretty darned close and your cue never leaves the house.
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Lol, that's old school, right there. That's how alot of players did it back in the day, myself included, there was no time for waiting on a repairman, too much action around. Now, where did i put my Delorian, i need to get back to the 80's:thumbup:

OP, if money is'nt an issue, just buy a new cuesmith deluxe from Chris Hightower, or get a used one. They come up f/s quite a bit. Customcuelathe has one too, but i don't see many f/s on the market for a good price. If all you think you will ever want to do is repair your tips, TSB's will work fine too. For that matter, you could just get a Taig starter kit, and go from there, just get the big 15mm. bore one, lol....Huge:) Trust me tho, repairing your own tips will not suffice, once the addiction takes hold. Get the machine with the most cababilities to start with, and you will be glad you did later on. Cuesmith Deluxe-- ya heard? ;)
 
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shaftclamp006.jpg

First lathe I bought to clean my shafts after a while i put a rest on to do tips and some other mods 200.00 investment at most

IMG_0019.jpg


next I bought HF 7x10 that I used for tips/ferrules/joint protectors
300.00 plus maybe another 100.00 in spare parts

tiplathe006.jpg

Bought one of Todds lathes and later got the larger headstock
1200.00 I think

tiplathe008.jpg

Had a spare headstock now and built a tip lathe 300.00 more in parts

lowbudget2010.jpg

Have another spare headstock now and built the clean/sand/polishing lathe to replace my wood lathe about 300.00 in parts

lowbudget2011.jpg

More parts for future projects
 
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Hey Chuck, Nice looking set ups! You had mentioned in another post that the little Taig dovetails will mount on some 1020. I was planning on using a 48" 1020 for the "bed" area but if I wanted to use some 6 or 8" pieces for some added height and to stable it a bit more. Is there some kind of piece that can be used to connect the two. Everything is laying flat and the legs are turned on the ends to look like a T.

Not trying to be lazy, but I looked on the 8020 site and started to get lost in all the pages of the catalog.

Thanks!
 
The Much Easier, Better Way...

CueCaps said:
Maybe you can make something like this?
Just to align and spin the shaft? :confused:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PORTABLE-PO...462?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588dfd66ee

Az Review and troubleshooting :


http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=161901&highlight=cowboy+billiards
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Well, you could even order one of these and it could be useful for certain things. A bit of advice though: if you do order one of these, find some soft gum or soft urethane wheels for the steady rest and change them up before you ever use it. The black ones you see in the photo will likely leave a fairly deep rut in your shaft even with the "collet" supplied. It will fix your shaft because you'll wind up needing to purchase a new one. It will need wider, softer wheels to be useful at all. I found an older, very early ShaftMaster lathe some time ago on ebay and it has been very useful for some very basic stuff but very limited in it's function. In the past few years I have searched for an inexpensive cue lathe, not to build but to clean, tip and some simpler basic things like that. I have built some parts for a standard wood lathe to adapt it a little more readily to cues and shafts and with all the headaches, all the time spent trying to be creative, and all the money spent looking for a deal and winding up with inferior garbage, I would have better spent my time and money buying a Hightower or a Cue Components or a Porper, or a Todd, or a Unique, or something similar. Do yourself a favor, read the descriptions and functions, pick the best one that suits you and what you want to do, make sure it has a large bore headstock and buy it and don't look back. You'll be tipping and cleaning everyone else's cues in no time at all and your lathe will pay for it self. Best of luck.
 
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If you are a beginner, I would not recommend trying to put together a lathe to do simple repairs. Trying to save money will only end up messing up someone's shaft and getting a bad name for yourself. Spend the few hundred it takes and buy a simple repair lathe from Chris Hightower that you can eventually upgrade the same lathe for cue building at a later date. (after you make some money) If you put something together and mess something up, it's your name on the line. If you don't have your name and proof you do good work, YOU HAVE NOTHING! Period! That way if you choose to build cues, it can be upgraded. If you choose to sell everything and get out of it, your lathes will sell better if they are name brand, not a handmade pile of metal that someone threw together. Take the easy way out and buy one that is already set up for doing cue repair. You will save a lot in headaches. Good Luck
 
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