After months of work... my prototype is...

[Chris Abaya Cues]

I cut up some old house cues from the early 80's that I got a few months ago that came with the Brunswick Gold Crown 2 table I bought. I believe the wood was wenge. I have some curly maple I used for points and started to build a simple 4 point cue.

Glued it up... points came out nice and even...

I did the a-joint pretty darn good with 0.003 run out...

I did the joint ring work... completed the butt sleeve section and pretty much all the pieces...

Then one day, I was trying to do some minor facing work... but I didn't realize the butt end of the cue wasn't chuck up and secured yet and I inadvertently turned on the lathe at full speed.... 2 seconds later....

This is how quickly things can change :angry:

Luckily, I was not hurt and my lathe wasn't damaged and this was a prototype but it would have been a nice addition to my set of house cues...

 

[Michael Webb]

Ouch. Glad you didn't get hurt. Would have been a nice looking cue. Keep it as a reminder.

 

[conetip]

That's why you can't take meds that make you drowsy and be in a work shop. Other distractions can cause this,as well as being over tired.
Methodical systems can prevent this sort of thing from happening as well. Simple things like a cover over the off/on while it is being set up is something I use a lot on the CNC lathe and other machines I set up. A moments lost concentration can cost ya life if your not careful. Anyway, now you can correct that joint that you had 0.003 out, lol. Just glad you are OK.
Neil

 

[JoeyInCali]

Nice jump handle and cue extension. :grin-square:
Sorry bud.
Keep safe.
Ingats.

 

[63Kcode]

Tough lesson! It would have been a great looking cue.

Glad you are OK.

Larry

 

[Quesports]

I am NOT a cue maker. But that was a great looking cue b4 the 'negligent discharge'.. Sometimes you learn more from mistakes...

 

[Dave38]

It was looking good, but one moment changes a lot. Done that myself a time or 3. Luckily you were unharmed. AND it wasn't an expensive piece like ebony, or amboyna burl....otherwise you'd be too sick to post anything about it.
I have the same lathe to do shaft and butt tapering and twice now, even though I've had the same setup for 12 or so years, I have forgot to change the roller bearing bar from shaft to butt and start cutting the shaft taper to a butt....thankfully, I noticed it early enough and the blank was oversized enough that no harm/no foul, but....
a little loss of focus can have a big impact.
That blank was looking very good too, keep up the process, just remember to tighten the chuck..
Dave

 

[Chris Abaya Cues]

Thanks guys! It literally took only a couple of seconds - as soon as I turned the lathe on, the cue was doomed :grin: There was no way I was quick enough to stop it.

Too bad I didn't even get a chance to see how the cue plays.

 

[Mcues]

Nice cue and yes it only takes a second for disaster to descend. OH! and what was I thinking?

Mario

 

[Michael Webb]

Thanks guys! It literally took only a couple of seconds - as soon as I turned the lathe on, the cue was doomed :grin: There was no way I was quick enough to stop it.

Too bad I didn't even get a chance to see how the cue plays.

Here's mine that I saved. You don't need the picture because you can imagine it real easy. I keep ebony cored in two sizes. 3/4 and 7/8 cores. 7/8 for handles. Well not thinking, I used a handle piece for a forearm. 6 points one veneer. Looked real good til the final turn at .835. Can you see it.

 

[Chris Abaya Cues]

Here's mine that I saved. You don't need the picture because you can imagine it real easy. I keep ebony cored in two sizes. 3/4 and 7/8 cores. 7/8 for handles. Well not thinking, I used a handle piece for a forearm. 6 points one veneer. Looked real good til the final turn at .835. Can you see it.

I can see it! :grin:

 

[louieatienza]

Better the wood than a body part. I've seen pics of horrific lathe accidents.

 

[Chris Abaya Cues]

Better the wood than a body part.

100% agree.