Best Methods for Wrapping Cues

K

kiinstructor

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey Guys, I just wanted to get some ideas or opinions on different wrapping methods. Currently I wrap my cues by hand. Its not mechanical. By that I mean that I feed the linen by hand while the cue spins and continually push the wrap forward to keep it from getting gaps. Generally when I finish the linen is tight with little or no gaps so when I press it you see no spaces but It takes me about 45 minutes to do. I have seen some videos that show machines that feed the linen from larger cue makers. What Im wondering is if there is a better method that I might be able to use like using the feed on my lathe but keeping the tension tight is another problem. Anyway maybe someone can point me in the right direction. I appreciate your help and opinions.

Happiness
Mark
 
Hey Mark. Just keep practicing. I put mine on using my full size lathe. I spin it at 700 rpm and just flip the lathe off when the linnen is about 1 inch from the end. As the lathe slows down it will cover the last inch and usally a few extra turns. You will need a holder for the linnen so it can unroll smoothly, any tangles or knots and you will snap the linnen. I would suggest you start at about 300 rpm, that is slow enough to keep you out of trouble. Once you do it a few times it gets alot easier. Chris.
 
Sewing machines have a tensioner on them. If you can find an old machine, you may be able to fashion one to your liking.
 
i just took a box and poked some holes and used an old shaft cut in half to hold the spool. i like to keep my wrap in plastic when i dont use it....
 
I use, what looks like a toilet paper holder with 2 different sized delrin rods for the 2 different size spools we use. , 4 inches from that there's an eye hook, centered so it always comes to the middle and doesn't fall of the sides. Like Chris said, it's all about getting comfortable.
 
I spin the cue between centers (dead in the chuck or collet; live on the tail stock) with light pressure.

I can then use my hand to stop the cue from spinning if things get weird without waiting for the lathe to stop. I do stop every so often to press it toward the end and make sure things are going OK.

Still need better Linen control/tensioning but for now, this seems to work OK...
 
Cue Guru said:
I spin the cue between centers (dead in the chuck or collet; live on the tail stock) with light pressure.

I can then use my hand to stop the cue from spinning if things get weird without waiting for the lathe to stop. I do stop every so often to press it toward the end and make sure things are going OK.

Still need better Linen control/tensioning but for now, this seems to work OK...
Click to expand...

I take a piece of surgical tubing about 1 1/2" long and run the linen through the tube before starting the wrap. As I spin the cue in the lathe, I pinch the linen in the piece of tube and I seem to get pretty consistent tension.
 
Glove

I use a leather glove and wrap it though the fingers and squeeze or release to adjust the tension of the linen.
 
That sounds a lot easier on the fingers...

But the 'authentic' blood stains do add so much character!
 
ragbug74 said:
I take a piece of surgical tubing about 1 1/2" long and run the linen through the tube before starting the wrap. As I spin the cue in the lathe, I pinch the linen in the piece of tube and I seem to get pretty consistent tension.
Click to expand...
I saw the guy fr Texas at BCA and he held the wrap string in one hand and he had a metal thimble for darning in one finger of other hand and was pressing string in as he went along.Next time i do 1 ill try that,seemed to work very well
 
I like the surgical tubing method for tension. I may have to try that. I currently use a piece of leather for the same thing. The leather actually starts a slight burnishing effect on the linen. Kind of a pre-press so to speak. I get real consistant tension and get a tight wrap with no gaps.
 
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