I have a customer that wants me to make him a custom cue with numerous diamonds that he will supply for me to inlet. They are not huge stones, and most are marquis shaped. Any suggestions as to adhesives and how to prevent them coming loose? I have to believe that the gems true beauty wil be hidden if the stone is flush set in the butt. But the customer is always right. Thanks for any suggestions.
Anyone have experience inlaying gems?
- Thread starter olsonsview
- Start date
gems
I figured if I put them in pockets below the surface of the cue they would get dark and lifeless. In my limited knowledge of diamonds I believe that we need the back side exposed to light so it can glow within.
As far as getting mounts made by a jeweler, that is doable, except he want me to inlay about 40-50 diamonds!
I know if I mount them above the surface, even if the face of the stone just breaks the surface, it will be impossible to sand the butt as the gem is harder than any sand paper. And if I could cut the stone it would ruin the brilliance.
The only solution I have come up with to date is to finish the butt without stones then try and cut into the finish to do the inlaying of the gems as a final step. But with so many stones i see the real possibility of the finish eventually chipping and cracking around the stones. The really crazy thing is this guy intends to play with the cue. He is a very good player.
Nice to hear from you Willee, howz the fishing ?
I figured if I put them in pockets below the surface of the cue they would get dark and lifeless. In my limited knowledge of diamonds I believe that we need the back side exposed to light so it can glow within.
As far as getting mounts made by a jeweler, that is doable, except he want me to inlay about 40-50 diamonds!
I know if I mount them above the surface, even if the face of the stone just breaks the surface, it will be impossible to sand the butt as the gem is harder than any sand paper. And if I could cut the stone it would ruin the brilliance.
The only solution I have come up with to date is to finish the butt without stones then try and cut into the finish to do the inlaying of the gems as a final step. But with so many stones i see the real possibility of the finish eventually chipping and cracking around the stones. The really crazy thing is this guy intends to play with the cue. He is a very good player.
Nice to hear from you Willee, howz the fishing ?
jemstones in cues
you might want to look at some of chris hightowers cues, he uses rubies in some of his cues. he also set 4 diamonds in a cue for me before i started building cues.
i am a jeweler and have tried a couple different methods of gemstones in cues with some success.
diamonds are the easiest, get some gold bezels from some one like ' rio grande ' or ' stuller ' jewelry supply stores. i find it easiest to first set the diamond into the bezel, then the bezel into the wood.
when chris did my cue he just set the stones directly into the ivory spears, then clear coated over the stones.
btw diamonds do not need light from the back to sparkle, the light enters from the top facets bounces off the bottom facets then back out the top.
chuck starkey
you might want to look at some of chris hightowers cues, he uses rubies in some of his cues. he also set 4 diamonds in a cue for me before i started building cues.
i am a jeweler and have tried a couple different methods of gemstones in cues with some success.
diamonds are the easiest, get some gold bezels from some one like ' rio grande ' or ' stuller ' jewelry supply stores. i find it easiest to first set the diamond into the bezel, then the bezel into the wood.
when chris did my cue he just set the stones directly into the ivory spears, then clear coated over the stones.
btw diamonds do not need light from the back to sparkle, the light enters from the top facets bounces off the bottom facets then back out the top.
chuck starkey
thanks Chuck
Not being a jeweler I appreciate the professional advice.
The diamonds I must inlay are small, and I need to work them in patterns around the conventional inlays that I will glue in conventionally. I was planning to just install the jewels directly into the butt, then clear over them. I will look at the bezels you mentioned. I want this cue to be playable and if it takes bezels to mount the stones more securely then bezels it is. I am going to be planning this cue out for the next month or longer before I begin work.
Not being a jeweler I appreciate the professional advice.
The diamonds I must inlay are small, and I need to work them in patterns around the conventional inlays that I will glue in conventionally. I was planning to just install the jewels directly into the butt, then clear over them. I will look at the bezels you mentioned. I want this cue to be playable and if it takes bezels to mount the stones more securely then bezels it is. I am going to be planning this cue out for the next month or longer before I begin work.
