Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Here it is. Wish mini lathe $37. What is the chance of delivery?
www.wish.com/product/5dd74eba1e892bba4da71298?
www.wish.com/product/5dd74eba1e892bba4da71298?
There’s an old saying in woodworking- buy your last table saw first. I went through 3 portable table saws before I bought one that will handle all situations and will last a lifetime. That applies to pool cue lathes. You could get by with a lathe that just does tips; but if you need to replace a ferrule or work on a tenon, you’ll need a better set up. Like you, I started out just wanting to replace my tips. Chris Hightower sold me on a Mid Size lathe. Six years and no problems with it. I just replaced the tenon, ferrule and tip on a friends break cue. You’ll be happier with a lathe that can repair cues too.
I am basically ignorant as to machining, but I have enough native intelligence to understand why a machine capable of 1/1000 tolerances, or better, is absolutely necessary for most applications. But we are not talking rocket ships -- it's a cue tip. How many times do you have to stop and "mic" a tip while trimming and shaping it? Has anyone ever measured a cue tip during installation?
There should be a very simple machine that spins a shaft in a stable manner so as to allow trimming and shaping of a raw tip. Once you throw out the need for incredible tolerances/processes, cheaper materials and manufacturing methods can be employed to build such a machine. My instinct tells me that such a macine could sell for under $150.00 and a @$*#load (+10,000.46) of them would be sold if available.
What am I missing?
I am basically ignorant as to machining, but I have enough native intelligence to understand why a machine capable of 1/1000 tolerances, or better, is absolutely necessary for most applications. But we are not talking rocket ships -- it's a cue tip. How many times do you have to stop and "mic" a tip while trimming and shaping it? Has anyone ever measured a cue tip during installation?
There should be a very simple machine that spins a shaft in a stable manner so as to allow trimming and shaping of a raw tip. Once you throw out the need for incredible tolerances/processes, cheaper materials and manufacturing methods can be employed to build such a machine. My instinct tells me that such a macine could sell for under $150.00 and a @$*#load (+10,000.46) of them would be sold if available.
What am I missing?
Here it is. Wish mini lathe $37. What is the chance of delivery?
www.wish.com/product/5dd74eba1e892bba4da71298?
I am basically ignorant as to machining, but I have enough native intelligence to understand why a machine capable of 1/1000 tolerances, or better, is absolutely necessary for most applications. But we are not talking rocket ships -- it's a cue tip. How many times do you have to stop and "mic" a tip while trimming and shaping it? Has anyone ever measured a cue tip during installation?
Try trimming a pool cue tip when the runout is excessive. When you dial in your lathe to run dead nuts true, trimming a tip is a breeze. You can ruin an expensive Kamui tip when the wobble runs the blade INTO the tip. When the lathe runs true, the razor blade smoothly over the ferrule to trim the tip evenly. Good install and happy customer.
Here it is. Wish mini lathe $37. What is the chance of delivery?
www.wish.com/product/5dd74eba1e892bba4da71298?
Spider: Believe this. If I was twenty years younger and had a dependable China Connection, the "Biloxi Boy Cue Tip Lathe" would on its way -- hell, I could have been just like John Barton.
Skog: This is the ticket. My problem is a source for parts. I have a motor with foot control from an old sewing machine from an estate sale. I have scoured lathe sites for "replacement" parts, and other sites for parts. From here and there, I have found drill chucks, arbors, pulleys, collets, pin bits, and a 5/8" bore flange bearing without bracket. I couldn't find an adjustable bracket to mount the bearing
My brain kept going into tech mode making me want to build an adjustable model, but I am over that. I grew up in a wooden boatyard and worked with wood all of my life. If nothing else, I can cut blocks to required heights and build a static model which will suffice. I am 90% of the way to solving my problem, and should be in it for under $50,
If anyone knows of a good source for lathe parts, particularly bearings, or a good source for bearings alone, please post them. Also, I'd like to find a cheap pin bit set and a cheap collet set. Since I will not be using them constantly, I don't need the very best.
Having said all of this, I am still thinking of all of the cue owners out there, without knowledge, ability, or tools, or inclination, to build their own machine, who would love to buy a complete cue tip lathe "off the shelf".
I appreciate everyone's input on this thread, and as always, as Elvis said, "thank you, thank you very much".
Spider: Believe this. If I was twenty years younger and had a dependable China Connection, the "Biloxi Boy Cue Tip Lathe" would on its way -- hell, I could have been just like John Barton.
Skog: This is the ticket. My problem is a source for parts. I have a motor with foot control from an old sewing machine from an estate sale. I have scoured lathe sites for "replacement" parts, and other sites for parts. From here and there, I have found drill chucks, arbors, pulleys, collets, pin bits, and a 5/8" bore flange bearing without bracket. I couldn't find an adjustable bracket to mount the bearing
My brain kept going into tech mode making me want to build an adjustable model, but I am over that. I grew up in a wooden boatyard and worked with wood all of my life. If nothing else, I can cut blocks to required heights and build a static model which will suffice. I am 90% of the way to solving my problem, and should be in it for under $50,
If anyone knows of a good source for lathe parts, particularly bearings, or a good source for bearings alone, please post them. Also, I'd like to find a cheap pin bit set and a cheap collet set. Since I will not be using them constantly, I don't need the very best.
Having said all of this, I am still thinking of all of the cue owners out there, without knowledge, ability, or tools, or inclination, to build their own machine, who would love to buy a complete cue tip lathe "off the shelf".
I appreciate everyone's input on this thread, and as always, as Elvis said, "thank you, thank you very much".
I am amazed. An outlay of $700 + to put on tips? I, like some ot you, used to put tips on with rubber bands, single edge razor blade, and sandpaper. But, after experiencing the ease and perfection of professionally installed tips, I would also like to be able to be able to DIM.
Beyond the financial issue, requiring a full blown lathe for tips is mechanical "overkill". All one needs is a device that will spin a shaft in a stable manner allowing a tip to be cut down. Why is such a device not presently available?
I have read the thread about adapting a drill and carrying case, and this approach might work, but it is too "Rube Goldberg" for my liking, It keeps occurring to me that an inexpensive machine should be available.
Some of the present demand is definitely "covid driven", but there should be a simple, economical machine on the market.
Timothy Soong ...... he's a member here.heres something i just ran across in the for sale forum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nuoanhG9C4&feature=youtu.be
Well In my time of quarantine I turned my dining room into a workshop and built a cue lathe with a sewing machine motor. Still have a few finishing touches to complete before final testing. Hope it has enough torque, we'll see. Happy with it for my first try. I made it so it disassembles for portability, has variable speed, and reversible direction. Of course I would prefer one of those mini lathes, this was cheaper and kept me busy.
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