Best Lathe for the money?

plshrk22

plshrk22

A Holes Billiards
Silver Member
Alright a friend and I are going to go in halves on a lathe. We will start by doing mainly tip work for the locals. My partner is a very experienced wood crafter and thinks that we should give building a cue a shot. We are real close to pulling the trigger on midsize cuesmith from cueman. Would like to hear some thoughts on that lathe as far as upgrading? Good starter lathe?
 
plshrk22 said:
Alright a friend and I are going to go in halves on a lathe. We will start by doing mainly tip work for the locals. My partner is a very experienced wood crafter and thinks that we should give building a cue a shot. We are real close to pulling the trigger on midsize cuesmith from cueman. Would like to hear some thoughts on that lathe as far as upgrading? Good starter lathe?
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Hi I have a Delux , and think this is the way to go. I also have 2 other metal lathes, and the Delux can do it all , but much eazier with the other lathes. Criss is Great to work with, at least you can call him and he will answer the phone. Jim
 
Do it. You won't be sorry. If you buy a used metal lathe, like on craigslist, you may have unforseen problems that might leave you paying more than anticipated. It may not happen either, but you never know.

Just call Chris and get some time lines on his deluxe. It will probably be weeks before you are already working on cues.

plshrk22 said:
Alright a friend and I are going to go in halves on a lathe. We will start by doing mainly tip work for the locals. My partner is a very experienced wood crafter and thinks that we should give building a cue a shot. We are real close to pulling the trigger on midsize cuesmith from cueman. Would like to hear some thoughts on that lathe as far as upgrading? Good starter lathe?
Click to expand...
 
My first lathe wa a Midsize From Chris Hightower.
Less than a year later I kicked myself and bought a deluxe.
I wish I had bought a Deluxe in the first place.
 
I spent several months searching for the right lathe to buy, without wasting money on something that I would be sorry for later. I chose the Deluxe from Chris and have never been sorry for the purchase, it has done everything I've wanted to do. Get a Deluxe you won't be sorry. Good Luck!
 
Maybe....maybe not

plshrk22 said:
So the Mid Size would not be the way to go?
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I bought the Mid-Size to get started doing repairs. It is a great machine!

It's main drawback is the lack of taper bars to allow you to cut shafts. As sold, you can offset the tailstock to cut butts, but shafts really require a taper bar.

After using the machine for a year or so, I decided that I wanted to advance from repairs to cue building. With a couple hundred bucks and a little work, I modified my Mid-Size to add taper bars. It's now a full-blown cuemaking machine.

Considering the lower price of the Mid-Size vs. the Deluxe, it's a great way to get into cue repair to see if you really like it. If you do, it can be upgraded to do everything the Deluxe will do (if you have the ability and want to make the effort).

My only regret was not getting the larger headstock option on my Mid-Size. Having the ability to put larger sized stock through the headstock would definitely simplify some operations.

Just my $.02 worth.
 
if you plan on moving around doing cue repair on site ie. tourneys and league nights the the mid size will be perfect and if you want to do some basic cue building you can offset the midsize and do that and buy already tapered shafts for your cues and see if you like it.

if you want a bigger better cue building machine buy a deluxe later there will always be a purpose for a midsize in your shop, or for travling and doing repairs so to get your feet wet the mid size would be a good purchase.

i wish i had one in addition to my deluxe.
 
Deluxe all the way

Get the deluxe, it will do everything you need and then some. Don't buy twice. Buy once. If you buy the midsize, within 2 months you will be kicking yourself in the butt.
 
I have been kicking this idea around as well. I am going to try to make it happen this year.
 
Cue Lathe

You could do alot worse that a deluxe cuesmith. I build on one and it can do everything you need and I wouldnt waste time getting a smaller lathe or a metal lathe first. Get the Deluxe Cuesmith !
 
plshrk22 said:
Alright a friend and I are going to go in halves on a lathe. We will start by doing mainly tip work for the locals. My partner is a very experienced wood crafter and thinks that we should give building a cue a shot. We are real close to pulling the trigger on midsize cuesmith from cueman. Would like to hear some thoughts on that lathe as far as upgrading? Good starter lathe?
Click to expand...

Check your PM's
 
Lathe

I watched Lee for Brianna make two cues at Derby on the new one he sells. I was real impressed with it. Butterflycues
 
When I go to some big tournaments I see people using the Porper Lathe but yet nobody here mentioned it. Is there a reason for not mentioning the porper lathe.
Ron
 
mreightball said:
When I go to some big tournaments I see people using the Porper Lathe but yet nobody here mentioned it. Is there a reason for not mentioning the porper lathe.
Ron
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because the original poster is asking what is the "Best lathe for the money" and the porper cost a lot more the the deluxe.
 
I would give some thought to just buying a real lathe.
Those machines are like "toys" compared to a real metal lathe.
The price is crazy high on the toys as well.
Place a "WTB - metal lathe" add on the local craigslist.
Give it a few weeks and see what shows up.

What if you buy the Cue man deluxe or whatever for $2200? Then you discover that there's no profit in it or your buddy gives up on the cue thing? Can you even get $400-$500 for that thing when you try to sell it? I doubt it. If you buy a used metal lathe for $1250 and you sell it down the road for $1250 you will be $1700 ahead.
You would be gaining so much more capacity and capability with a real lathe.

Good luck sir,
Eddie
 
eddieindetroit said:
I would give some thought to just buying a real lathe.
Those machines are like "toys" compared to a real metal lathe.
The price is crazy high on the toys as well.
Place a "WTB - metal lathe" add on the local craigslist.
Give it a few weeks and see what shows up.

What if you buy the Cue man deluxe or whatever for $2200? Then you discover that there's no profit in it or your buddy gives up on the cue thing? Can you even get $400-$500 for that thing when you try to sell it? I doubt it. If you buy a used metal lathe for $1250 and you sell it down the road for $1250 you will be $1700 ahead.
You would be gaining so much more capacity and capability with a real lathe.

Good luck sir,
Eddie
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Actually I've seen the Deluxe cuesmiths sell for almost what they cost new if they are still in great condition. Also, all the tooling and add ons to make a full size lathe suitable for cue building can cost more than the lathe itself. The turnkey cue lathes are great and if things don't work out, you won't loose much money as long as you maintain your equipment, I promise you that.
 
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