Best Playing Cue Builder

Shooter08 said:
Yes it is subjective. Who builds the best playing cue with no cnc inlay work? Examples would be Eric of Sugar Tree, Joey of Bautista and Tony of Guerra. Cues with 1000 inlays really are not meant to play with. Shooter08
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Not trying to hijack thread, but first time I saw a player cry was on a break shot w his new cue and an inlay popped out on the floor!!
Dude lost it. He'd been bragging on that cue for a week or so and driving everybody crazy. Perhaps divine providence won the day. I was a kid at the time and couldn't tell you the make. Sorry.
 
Kim Bye said:
If I taper shafts or butts on a CNC machine, is it then a CNC made cue? If the spindle is controlled by stepper motors or is guided along a taper bar makes no difference in my mind. The big advantage of tapering on a CNC is that I can do a multitude if tapers by changing parameters on the fly.
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CNC means that a guy sits at a computer, draws a pretty picture, then goes down to the machine and pulls a fully made cue out, right?

Showman uses pantograph, per an article I read. Makes me wonder how he makes his panto patterns. Are they CNC cut or does he use a scroll saw?

I'm with you. The effort in making a cue is less about what tools are used than it is about understanding the construction and the tolerances necessary.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
CNC means that a guy sits at a computer, draws a pretty picture, then goes down to the machine and pulls a fully made cue out, right?

Showman uses pantograph, per an article I read. Makes me wonder how he makes his panto patterns. Are they CNC cut or does he use a scroll saw?

I'm with you. The effort in making a cue is less about what tools are used than it is about understanding the construction and the tolerances necessary.
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Yes I think that's a common understanding of what cnc is. If only it was that simple would be my answer. The cost and time spent to be proficient at anything cnc is really high. The more stuff you add to a cue, the more complex the build, especially if you wish to maintain tight tolerances. Seen lots of cues with handcarved inlays, impressive in it's own way, but usually also thick glue lines and since every piece is handmade, consistency will always be an issue. But no matter how much a cuemaker uses cnc, you still have to be a machinist and also know woods, other man made materials, be skilled at the finishing aspect and do nice wraps, lots of hats to wear..
 
Kim Bye said:
Yes I think that's a common understanding of what cnc is. If only it was that simple would be my answer. The cost and time spent to be proficient at anything cnc is really high. The more stuff you add to a cue, the more complex the build, especially if you wish to maintain tight tolerances. Seen lots of cues with handcarved inlays, impressive in it's own way, but usually also thick glue lines and since every piece is handmade, consistency will always be an issue. But no matter how much a cuemaker uses cnc, you still have to be a machinist and also know woods, other man made materials, be skilled at the finishing aspect and do nice wraps, lots of hats to wear..
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If it were that simple, I wouldn't do it. I expect you wouldn't, either.
 
why would you complicate a playing cue with lots of inlays and things that could make it go wrong or even make it attractive to steal.
order a pretty one with lots of inlays and special add-ons, then hang it on the wall.

do you notice how most pros have simple looking cues compared to lesser players.
 
maha said:
why would you complicate a playing cue with lots of inlays and things that could make it go wrong or even make it attractive to steal.
order a pretty one with lots of inlays and special add-ons, then hang it on the wall.

do you notice how most pros have simple looking cues compared to lesser players.
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Why put a glossy finish on the cue?

Why not beat your brand new car with a logging chain so it isn't desirable to thieves?

Why comb your hair?

I'm an engineer. I took several art classes. I am a firm believer that if you make a tool that is beautiful people will want to use it. Form follows function, but all other things being equal, the aesthetics will always win out.

Art goes back as far as consciousness. I fully believe that people have an inmate desire to cultivate their appearance. Some do it to fit in, others to stand out.
 
If you're making cues with anything but a sharp rock, you're cheating! :LOL:

Precision machinery and tooling in the right hands equals a superior product.

That said and understood, there's nothing wrong with wanting something built with old school or more traditional methods.
Whatever makes you happy is a good thing.
 
Kim Bye said:
If I taper shafts or butts on a CNC machine, is it then a CNC made cue? If the spindle is controlled by stepper motors or is guided along a taper bar makes no difference in my mind. The big advantage of tapering on a CNC is that I can do a multitude if tapers by changing parameters on the fly.
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Feels like you missed what they were asking. Maybe you’re answering some other question. He explicitly was taking about CNC inlays and implied that if it has a lot of inlays, that they were CNC inlaid and that a lot of inlays means the cue isn’t meant to be used as a player. I was explicitly answering those silly points.
 
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Sheldon said:
If you're making cues with anything but a sharp rock, you're cheating! :LOL:

Precision machinery and tooling in the right hands equals a superior product.

That said and understood, there's nothing wrong with wanting something built with old school or more traditional methods.
Whatever makes you happy is a good thing.
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In my day if you had a sharp rock, you were a lucky little rich snob. We shaped wood with our fingernails and teeth. And we liked it that way.
 
Cornerman said:
Feels like you missed what they were asking. Maybe you’re answering some other question. He explicitly was taking about CNC inlays and implied that if it has a lot of inlays, that they were CNC inlaid and that a lot of inlays means the cue isn’t meant to be used as a player. I was explicitly answering those silly points.
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We're in full agreement on that 👌
 
When I started building cues I knew what I thought looked good when I saw it but was almost completely oblivious to the names and reputations of cue builders including the legends.

I don't care for a lot of inlays although I greatly respect the craft of doing them. And I don't like wrapped handles, linen in particular. I like wood. So I decided to build what I like and see if anyone wanted them.

As time went on I became acquainted with some builders who shared my basic likes. Eric Crisp and Joey Bautista were the first I noticed. Then some others. Before long I realized there are a bunch of like minded builders and even more buyers. An ass for every seat.

Every cue builder hopefully is doing what interests them but there's a huge gap between the hobby builder like myself and those forging a livelihood from the trade. I can imagine the pressure can get intense if you need to sell a cue to eat.

I had the pleasure last year to meet with a builder who produces some really intricate designs with inlays and such. And builds cues as a day job. We were discussing how long it takes to build a cue in hours in relation to the selling price. After comparing notes his comment to me was "if I were you I would keep on doing what you're doing". Apparently my hourly wage building simpler cues isn't far off from the wages of the best by the time they execute the design.
 
So if I take my black boar with 1000 inlays and paint over them.

Then what?

How do I answer this question of cues, cnc work and other unrelated issues?

I’m confused
 
Fatboy said:
So if I take my black boar with 1000 inlays and paint over them.

Then what?

How do I answer this question of cues, cnc work and other unrelated issues?

I’m confused
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Not a bad idea actually. Well don't paint over them but a wrap over them.

For some reason my pool hall have random people grabbing people's cues. These aren't regulars but casual players.
 
your cue is your tool. make it as pretty as you like.
just realize you are adding things as a net negative to value and playing use.
 
1.) Plain Jane Coco Cog - Older white pin

2.) Old Predator / Falcon Sneaky Pete with SS Joint (SPJU or SPJLW) with a pre cat 30" shaft
 
Fatboy said:
So if I take my black boar with 1000 inlays and paint over them.

Then what?

How do I answer this question of cues, cnc work and other unrelated issues?

I’m confused
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That Black Boar was and will like always be the best hitting cue I have played with and I have played with hundreds of them. :-) Hope you are well Eric.

-don
 
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