Turning down a butt

S

Scott Lee

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a student who owns a McDermott, but the size of the butt is too fat for his hand. McDermott wanted almost $200 to turn the butt down to make it slimmer. Is this reasonable, and if so, is there anyone who can do this job for less?...or should he just look for a cue with a slimmer profile? Are there cuemakers who specialize in slimmer cues? I know 30 years ago, I bought a Valley Supreme and had a woodworker friend of mine turn it down a bit, and put a joint it it. Cost me $30. I still have the cue, and it's still dead straight!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
The real cost isn't in the cutting it down, it's the refinish/re-wrap work involved. If any one offers less than $200, In my opinion, I would be hesitant, I would ask for references and pictures of refinished cues they have done. If the cue has no sentimental value,...move on and get one that the guy is comfortable with. If the Mcdermott is in great shape, it can be resold to help cover the cost of getting one that fits him better. If you get someone to do it cheaper, but turns out 'less than acceptable', now it isn't worth dirt on the secondary market, which means he lost his original investment, paid $$$ for the re-work, and must now spend more money to have a cue he likes
JMO,
Dave
 
Scott

That is a very cheap price to get this done. Like Dave mentioned I would get someone that is recommended. There is a few things that someone would need to know before doing this.

What is the current size of the cue now? What is the size the he wants it turned down to? Does it have inlays in the cue? Or is it one of the what I all paper cues. (decals)??
I would need to know these things before I would ever think about touching this cue.
Paper or decal cues I wont touch. I am pretty sure no one except McDermont would touch it.

These are things that have to be known before going further with this cue.

I hope this helps!!
 
Scott Lee said:
I have a student who owns a McDermott, but the size of the butt is too fat for his hand. McDermott wanted almost $200 to turn the butt down to make it slimmer. Is this reasonable, and if so, is there anyone who can do this job for less?...or should he just look for a cue with a slimmer profile? Are there cuemakers who specialize in slimmer cues? I know 30 years ago, I bought a Valley Supreme and had a woodworker friend of mine turn it down a bit, and put a joint it it. Cost me $30. I still have the cue, and it's still dead straight!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

McDermott's offer to do this work for $200 is very reasonable, given today's economy.
Why you feel the need to point-out what you had similar work done for 30 yrs. ago is beyond me.
This is 30 yrs. later and prices have gone up. Gas is no longer $1/gal and bread is no longer .25/loaf.
Those were times when $3/hr was min.wage. Some of today's CMs are doing a little better than that.
Will someone step-up and do the work for less?
Maybe Danny Donut will but he's going to put his name on the cue.

Your best approach on this is to sell the cue, buy a used Schon and be done with it.
Which is more efficient? Drilling thru the mountain or going around it?

KJ
 
Last edited:
I've done it more than once for less money, but not much less. There are few candidates for a successful job. The real problems are: 1. Is the cue perfectly straight? 2. How much smaller does the client want the finished cue to be? Inlays and deco-rings do not go completely through a cue. They are very shallow especially on their edges and as such are easily wiped out.

I've turned down two cues, a Mcdermott and a joss. They were for the same man. I did the Mcdermott first and a couple of months later the joss. He wanted the wrap area to have no taper so that anyplace he put his hand, it felt the same. I left the prong the original size and just turned the wrap area and most of the butt collar. It made the cue resemble a clarinet when completed as at the end of the wrap area the taper was some what sharply increased back to the original size. He lost the deco-ring at the back of the wrap and part of an inlay but other than looking like a musical instrument, it didn't look bad at all. The Joss had no inlays so there was no problem there.

I don't believe I took any pictures but I'll check later.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
I've done it more than once for less money, but not much less. There are few candidates for a successful job. The real problems are: 1. Is the cue perfectly straight? 2. How much smaller does the client want the finished cue to be? Inlays and deco-rings do not go completely through a cue. They are very shallow especially on their edges and as such are easily wiped out.

I've turned down two cues, a Mcdermott and a joss. They were for the same man. I did the Mcdermott first and a couple of months later the joss. He wanted the wrap area to have no taper so that anyplace he put his hand, it felt the same. I left the prong the original size and just turned the wrap area and most of the butt collar. It made the cue resemble a clarinet when completed as at the end of the wrap area the taper was some what sharply increased back to the original size. He lost the deco-ring at the back of the wrap and part of an inlay but other than looking like a musical instrument, it didn't look bad at all. The Joss had no inlays so there was no problem there.

I don't believe I took any pictures but I'll check later.

Dick
Click to expand...

Tho' he is obviously too modest to mention it - Mr Neighbors is well known
for his slim cue butts.

Dale
 
Hey Scott,

If your going to be at Crown Billiards in San Ramon for that 3 day lesson, I can come take a look at the cue if you have it with you. PM me if this is possible.

Most of the above advice is sound, btw. It may be worth it for him to get a new cue and keep the McD. as a backup or breaker.
 
KJ...Sorry, I did not mean to imply that I thought $200 was out of line...and I see by all the posts that it isn't. I think if someone had a sneaky pete cue it would be much easier to turn down, as it perhaps would not need a refinish...which was the case with the Valley Supreme I have. No offense intended. Thanks for your reply.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

KJ Cues said:
McDermott's offer to do this work for $200 is very reasonable, given today's economy.
Why you feel the need to point-out what you had similar work done for 30 yrs. ago is beyond me.
This is 30 yrs. later and prices have gone up. Gas is no longer $1/gal and bread is no longer .25/loaf.
Those were times when $3/hr was min.wage. Some of today's CMs are doing a little better than that.
Will someone step-up and do the work for less?
Maybe Danny Donut will but he's going to put his name on the cue.

Your best approach on this is to sell the cue, buy a used Schon and be done with it.
Which is more efficient? Drilling thru the mountain or going around it?

KJ
Click to expand...
 
galipeau...I do not have the cue. It is owned by a fellow in Indianapolis. I believe I will suggest to him to sell it, and purchase another slimmer cue...perhaps one by Mr. Neighbors. Still love to have you and your girlfriend come to pool school. Like I said, I'll make you a deal on the both of you. PM me if interested. :D

Scott Lee

galipeau said:
Hey Scott,

If your going to be at Crown Billiards in San Ramon for that 3 day lesson, I can come take a look at the cue if you have it with you. PM me if this is possible.

Most of the above advice is sound, btw. It may be worth it for him to get a new cue and keep the McD. as a backup or breaker.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top