'08 shop tour {its a way of life}

hillscues

American Craftsmanship
Silver Member
Hear is my cue shop I would like to share with all to enjoy! These are the machines I have acquired through the years of cue building. I have this passion for restoring old machinery and building jigs and fixtures for cue building. I have nine lathes, 1 mill, 1 point cutting mill, 2 sanders, 1radial arm saw, 1 shaft cutting machine, 1 plainer, 1 router table to flush trim veneers, 2 table saws for veneers, I have 1 mini table saw not pictured. I have on order K2 CNC machine with all the bells and whistles with it. The list of stuff goes on and on. To build full time it has to be a way of life. Hope you enjoy the shop pictures and feel free to email any questions
08cuesandshoptour036-1.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour050-1-1.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour043.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour035.jpg
[/IMG]
shaftmachine010.jpg
[/IMG]
shaftmachine001.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour038.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour040.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour041.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour044.jpg
[/IMG
 
08cuesandshoptour046.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour042.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour048.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour049.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour053.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour054.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour055.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour056.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour057.jpg
[/IMG]
08cuesandshoptour047-1.jpg
[/IMG] more pictures enjoy!!
 
Looks like a nice set up. Do you always keep it that clean? My shop stays a mess.
 
Chris, Yes you could say I am a little obsessed with a clean shop, I practically vacuum between cuts. I go to the dollar store and buy the cleaner wipes by the ton and once a week I wipe the shop down. Thanks for the great leather wraps I love them. Darrin
 
That is an interesting point cutting setup you have. Does it have a powerfeed on it or do you crank it by hand? Chris.
 
chris, you crank it buy hand,but when i got the mill table there was all kinds of slop in the x axis so i took the ends off and machined them out to fit bearings. It not cranks as smooth as butter! The machine works good but i still like doing points in the mill. thanks darrin
 
What a lovely group of fine American made lathes. I see Clausing, Atlas Press (or two), South Bend, and perhaps a Logan in the mix .... beautiful.

Dave
 
hillscues said:
but when i got the mill table there was all kinds of slop in the x axis so i took the ends off and machined them out to fit bearings. It not cranks as smooth as butter! thanks darrin
That pretty much sums it up. LOL You spend good money for tools then have to rebuild them yourself to make them work for cues.
 
That?s what chip foose does to old cars. I use to have too much time on my hands until i got back into motocross racing for exercise. I buy allot on eBay for cheep, and take my time rebuilding them. It is a great feeling building cues on old machines, and yes i had to have one or two of every kind.
 
Love it..

I love seeing Machine Shops!! Thanks.
That photo,Left side row, 3rd photo down.
What is that set-up for?? Very interesting set-up..
And your Pantograph, where is it from??

It's me in a Grass Shack looking at a Mansion..
I could spend all day making stuff there..
You did yourself Good!!!
Alton
 
I see on the 5th picture my forearm of the the cue you built for me Darrin. I would like to thank you again for building me such a great hitting cue. I plan on ordering another cue from you in the near future. Thanks for posting pictures of your shop.
 
Alton, that?s a point cutting machine i just had to build, after watching woodworking shows they use routers so much, it sparked me to try it. It does a vary nice job but my mill is better, i just had my v cutter for the mill sharpened, i think it cuts better now then new, 2 passes done. The router takes 4 passes to slow and noisy. My pantograph is a Hermes ingravergraph i custom built rails under it so i can cut inlays on full cue it cuts smooth and quiet the nice thing is i can plunge down with the bit, but very limited to what i can do with it, also vary time consuming. Keep up the great work on your caps, thanks Darrin
 
Alton, that?s a point cutting machine i just had to build, after watching woodworking shows they use routers so much, it sparked me to try it. It does a vary nice job but my mill is better, i just had my v cutter for the mill sharpened, i think it cuts better now then new, 2 passes done. The router takes 4 passes to slow and noisy. My pantograph is a Hermes ingravergraph i custom built rails under it so i can cut inlays on full cue it cuts smooth and quiet the nice thing is i can plunge down with the bit, but very limited to what i can do with it, also vary time consuming. Keep up the great work on your caps, thanks Darrin
 
Wow, a impressive setup and I like you're own "twists" on machinery adaption to cue making :)
Very cool.

Drop us some pic's when you get you're K2.

Kent
 
Back
Top