and you thought it was hard

desi2960

desi2960

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i was googling something and found this article
The requirements that are needed in making a pool cue are rather complex. One might also need to visit a workshop, such as the carpenters workshop. The manufacturing process requires a lot of wood working, hence it is advisable to take the help of a person who has mastered the art of wood-turning. The basic instrument that is used to make the pool cue is a wood lathe. In addition to the wood lathe one also requires a micrometer tape measure. The wood from which the cue is carved is maple wood. To make an ideal cue, a piece of hard rock maple wood, that measures 2 by 2 inch and has a length of 57 inches, is required. One can also use any other type of maple wood. A joint pin, drill, carve cutter and a plastic ring are also needed.

Procedure
The first step in making the pool cue is to cut the piece of wood into half. Be very careful in this step, as it is very important to have both pieces of wood exactly 28 and ½ inches in length. One side is the butt of the pool cue and the second piece is the tip that strikes the cue ball.
The lathe machine comes into operation in the second step. Fix the piece of wood on the lathe machine and use the doughnut-shaped blade, which moves on the rail of the machine and carves the wood evenly to make the cue. While carving the wood, make sure that you set the tape of the lathe machine, so that the surface of the handle or butt of the cue tapers down from 17 mm to 14 mm. Keep on using the micrometer from time to time to ensure the taper, and also the diameter of the cue. The more smooth the diameter and taper, the better the cue works on a pool table.
Repeat the same process on the second piece of wood that will become the striking piece of the cue. The only difference is that the taper should measure between 14 mm to 13 mm.
With the help of a sandpaper, lightly polish both the pieces of wood. One can also polish the wood to give it a good look and increase the life of the cue.
With the help of a drill, bore holes in the joining tips of the cue. Put in the joining pins in these holes and glue them in. You can also put in the plastic ring, which will act as a shock absorber while playing.
Try out the pool cue on a pool table and enjoy the fruits of your efforts.
You can also modify the next custom pool cues that you make according to your needs. The more straight and aligned the cue stick is the better the cue ball can be struck. Also remember to maintain your pool cue by protecting it from extreme heat and humidity.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/making-a-pool-cue-how-to-make-a-pool-cue.html
 
Do you have a problem with the article I wrote? Why make fun of it? Just because you do it different than I do it?

Yeah, I'm kidding. :p

I colleague (a scientist no less) of mine once replied "it is just a stick of wood" when I made an attempt to discuss the complexity of cue making with her.
 
Wow I never knew ! A drill ? I wonder if this is a hand drill ? LOL. And from what I gather this can be accomplished in one day ? maybe one week? Man Ive been spending money on the wrong equipment ! All I needed was a wood lathe !

It never ceases to amaze what people will write with no clue what so ever ! I needed a good chuckle, its been stressful lately to say the least.
 
desi2960 said:
i was googling something and found this article
The requirements that are needed in making a pool cue are rather complex. One might also need to visit a workshop, such as the carpenters workshop. The manufacturing process requires a lot of wood working, hence it is advisable to take the help of a person who has mastered the art of wood-turning. The basic instrument that is used to make the pool cue is a wood lathe. In addition to the wood lathe one also requires a micrometer tape measure. The wood from which the cue is carved is maple wood. To make an ideal cue, a piece of hard rock maple wood, that measures 2 by 2 inch and has a length of 57 inches, is required. One can also use any other type of maple wood. A joint pin, drill, carve cutter and a plastic ring are also needed.

Procedure
The first step in making the pool cue is to cut the piece of wood into half. Be very careful in this step, as it is very important to have both pieces of wood exactly 28 and ½ inches in length. One side is the butt of the pool cue and the second piece is the tip that strikes the cue ball.
The lathe machine comes into operation in the second step. Fix the piece of wood on the lathe machine and use the doughnut-shaped blade, which moves on the rail of the machine and carves the wood evenly to make the cue. While carving the wood, make sure that you set the tape of the lathe machine, so that the surface of the handle or butt of the cue tapers down from 17 mm to 14 mm. Keep on using the micrometer from time to time to ensure the taper, and also the diameter of the cue. The more smooth the diameter and taper, the better the cue works on a pool table.
Repeat the same process on the second piece of wood that will become the striking piece of the cue. The only difference is that the taper should measure between 14 mm to 13 mm.
With the help of a sandpaper, lightly polish both the pieces of wood. One can also polish the wood to give it a good look and increase the life of the cue.
With the help of a drill, bore holes in the joining tips of the cue. Put in the joining pins in these holes and glue them in. You can also put in the plastic ring, which will act as a shock absorber while playing.
Try out the pool cue on a pool table and enjoy the fruits of your efforts.
You can also modify the next custom pool cues that you make according to your needs. The more straight and aligned the cue stick is the better the cue ball can be struck. Also remember to maintain your pool cue by protecting it from extreme heat and humidity.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/making-a-pool-cue-how-to-make-a-pool-cue.html
Click to expand...
It just never ends the total lack of knowledge and misinformation on pool or anything relating to it. I would find it had to believe something like this could be written about say, golf.
 
at least he got the last sentence right

those car trunks can be hell on a cue

Also remember to maintain your pool cue by protecting it from extreme heat and humidity.

 
LOL I now know how I wasted all these years. So All I need is a wood lathe, and cordless drill, and an over sized piece of any kind of maple. Priceless info there.
 
Cue Crazy said:
LOL I now know how I wasted all these years. So All I need is a wood lathe, and cordless drill, and an over sized piece of any kind of maple. Priceless info there.
Click to expand...

The gap between absolute needs and wants often vary greatly. :smile:
 
Oh, and here I thought all along all you had to do is buy a CnC machine. Push a button, go for a coffee, come back and the cue is made.

This does put a damper on my future endeavors.

I sold my large wood lathe and only have a 13" between centers lathe.

I guess I could make the parts and be an assembler. I have a couple of hand drills.

3 piece shafts, yeah thats the ticket. Glue them together, yes?
 
Last edited:
cueman said:
The gap between absolute needs and wants often vary greatly. :smile:
Click to expand...

That's true, and the wants never end. You know as well as anyone what I started with. All I had were hand tools, and a wood lathe, but then I was only doing tips and ferrules. The wood lathe I only used for cleaning shafts.

I can't say that I didn't think hard about trying to use It or modify It to build cues, and i probably could have actually pulled some type of cue off with it. I'm not sure how well it would have turned out though, and am glad You helped steer me away from those thoughts before I wasted money chasing that pipe dream instead of using the money for something a little more productive.

My wood lathe did have a indexer on it, and I did use that to mark lines out for My first piece of billet. I used a cheap import drill press, and cross slide vise to mill the slots. I had to spin the billet in the vice, line the marks up, and clamp before making each slot. Surprisingly the slots came out fairly even for what I was using.

I still have the cue that I used the billet in. I gave It to My dad because He liked the way that cue played, and He later had Nick Varner sign It for him. Although It played well, and didn't look too bad for a crude first cue, It's not the nicest cue I have made, and It needs refinished, but due to sentimental value I would never part with It. I really don't even want to refinish It, but I may have to in order preserve It.
 
Some of the Filipino makers make very nice cues with rudimentary equipment.

I always enjoy watching Bebot work on his modified wood lathe. And the crappy old drill press that he has. I doubt that I would even let that one reside in my garage.

But ya know what they say, Its a poor craftsman that blames his tools for a bad job.

The web article does over simplify the process close to 100% tho.
 
macguy said:
It just never ends the total lack of knowledge and misinformation on pool or anything relating to it. I would find it had to believe something like this could be written about say, golf.
Click to expand...

Challenge accepted...

How to play golf:
Step 1 - Pick up stick.
Step 2 - Hit ball with stick as hard as you can.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until ball goes into hole.


I think I'm going to make myself a cue tonight. Not sure how it will hit, because the article doesn't tell me how to put a tip on it, but it seems simple. I'll just use a couple legs from the kitchen table... I think that's made of maple.
 
Mikey Town said:
Challenge accepted...

How to play golf:
Step 1 - Pick up stick.
Step 2 - Hit ball with stick as hard as you can.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until ball goes into hole.


I think I'm going to make myself a cue tonight. Not sure how it will hit, because the article doesn't tell me how to put a tip on it, but it seems simple. I'll just use a couple legs from the kitchen table... I think that's made of maple.
Click to expand...

Thats the easy part.....to glue tips you just go to the junk drawer in the kitchen and see what's there, I know I have elmers for sure....but maybe the ol' lady has some nail glue that works too. LOL But you know that day will come you turn your head and get beat by someone who paid to have one of those "custom Cues" made.
 
I got in trouble on this one.

I think this guy is a azer, or I know he has friends in here because one of them didn't think it was funny That I started a thread on this video.
after that all the warnings was wrote in.

There is no way to explain what you are about to be shown.
And I have no idea why its still on you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sIaov7jktk

but I really thought it was funny

MMike
 
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