So I'm on a 18 month waiting list. How long does it take to build? Actual building time? Somebody at my pool hall told me they would have to already started and my cue is just sitting somewhere in the shop. This person said the it takes the entire 18 months to let adhesives settle and wood to cure.
You never really know.
However from start to finish with most cue makers it’s a long slow process. Take a cut let the wood relax or destress the wood and take another cut. That’s a long slow process like making wine.
What is certain is “wait lists” are an estimation of time until you get your cue and are typically based on nothing but the cue maker building in a window of time to keep production moving along while not losing your interest in his offering.
Some cue makers have cues well along the way and could “assemble” a cue pretty quick yet they still drag it out to stay in front of their work load. Creates demand when they appear to be running behind, smart biz actually.
Others don’t start until they say they will (some work is done ahead of time like rings and cuts on shafts) so they still kinda start before you order.
Point is you don’t know when you’ll get it and getting a cue on time isn’t the normal result with at least half the cue makers. They run late, but that’s the nature of the biz.
You never really know, to be fair the cue maker might not know either. This is a fuzzy biz, with arbitrary fuzzy time lines for some valid and BS reasons.
I’ve got cues early, late and never got them.
Until you get it, don’t get too excited is my best advice-unless you really know the cue maker and then shit happens(wood can do funny things late in a build and they have to start over)
I don’t get emotionally invested in any cue until it’s complete. Until then it’s just a tree and an idea…..
Best
Fatboy <——-yoga mat collector
