can inlays be added to a finished cue?

jokers_wild96

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a jet black mcdermott cue that I would like to add some inlays to. Right now I just use it for my break cue but plan on getting a bk2 and then ill have this extra butt. So if it can be done what kinda price would I be looking at, I'm thinking of juma material so the cue will have a black and white theme.
 
I have a jet black mcdermott cue that I would like to add some inlays to. Right now I just use it for my break cue but plan on getting a bk2 and then ill have this extra butt. So if it can be done what kinda price would I be looking at, I'm thinking of juma material so the cue will have a black and white theme.

Yes, it can be done.

The cost would entail (I'm guessing) about $5-25 bucks per inlay, depending on size and complexity...plus the cost of the refinish when complete. There are quite a few cuemakers who've done this in the past, and the end result seemed to please the customer.

Good rule of thumb:

Add inlays to a McDermott - Okay

Add inlays to a Black Boar - NOT Okay

:grin: :grin:
 
Good choice.

Based ONLY upon a couple cues I've seen, personally, with inlays added...Rick Phillippi in Maryland.

The man does exceptional work, and is as nice as they come.

I second Rick's work. He did some inlays for me on a Titleist conversion; really top notch work.
 
Since it is a cheap McDermott, maybe decals would be better.

You could do it yourself then too.:thumbup:



To have inlays added....it would probably cost as much as the cue is worth.
 
If the cue is black because it was stained or painted, you're going to run into problems.

It could ruin the cue.
 
Not really worried about wrecking it. I literally waked into the pool hall got sold a raffle ticket and won it two minutes later. I could see the problem of it being stained and then worked on. And to the guy who suggested stickers, what do think I am some 5 yr old tryin to make it look cool. Maybe put sparkly flame and skull ones one, yeah buddy that'll make it cool.
 
LOL adding inlays to a McDermott is a little different than having Philippi bastardize a Black Boar, don't you think?

JV
I don't know. Send Mike W. a PM and ask him if he will add some inlays to your McDermott. Let me know what he says. :rotflmao: :nono:
 
:yikes:
I have a jet black mcdermott cue that I would like to add some inlays to. Right now I just use it for my break cue but plan on getting a bk2 and then ill have this extra butt. So if it can be done what kinda price would I be looking at, I'm thinking of juma material so the cue will have a black and white theme.


Dude what happened your awfully Red do you have a fever????:eek::yikes::grin-devilish:

Well as for the cue work in reality it certainly can be done, but it would most likely cost more than the cue and it not add any value to it. A low end McDermott with after market inlays is still nothing but a low end McDermott.

Take care
 
:yikes:


Dude what happened your awfully Red do you have a fever????:eek::yikes::grin-devilish:

Well as for the cue work in reality it certainly can be done, but it would most likely cost more than the cue and it not add any value to it. A low end McDermott with after market inlays is still nothing but a low end McDermott.

Take care

I have no idea what any of that means, as far as the red or green goes. I don't care if it doesn't add value, but some nice Sharp white inlays would make it look nice. Better than spending thousands to have one custom made from scratch.
 
I have a jet black mcdermott cue that I would like to add some inlays to. Right now I just use it for my break cue but plan on getting a bk2 and then ill have this extra butt. So if it can be done what kinda price would I be looking at, I'm thinking of juma material so the cue will have a black and white theme.

Hi,

I am sure it would be much more than the cue is worth and most cue makers would not want to do it as it could be a bag of worms especially if there is paint under your finish as Royce pointed out. Just not a good idea. Sometimes it is better to sell your cue and get a new one just the way you want it. JMO. Most people I know who have cheaper cues that approach me about just refinishing their cue baulk and say no after they find out how much it cost. There is a lot of prep work that is time consuming before you spray the cue and then after spraying you have to wet sand in multiple steps, buff and polish. I guess most people think this should be cheap and don't have a clue as to the time involved to do a good job.

It seems to me that if you put inlays on a finished cue you will have to re cut a taper to the butt to level the elevation flush before refinishing it. This will play havoc with the wrap groove, joint size and the shafts will have to be re done as well. Like the dog chasing it's tail at some point. This is the way it is usually done and when you start deviating from a normal procedure or way of doing things you can open up bags of worms. I guess you could use a die grinder on each inlay but that would be very tedious and time consuming. Time consuming stuff cost money in anyone's shop

If you use softer inlay material like veneer stock glue stacked you can cut the pockets, install the parts and because the material is soft you can sand the inlays flush, re epoxy, then refinish. I recently did this and it was a very simple job.

Craig is right. In the final analysis what you would be doing is a burning of your money for something that would give you no value add in the long run, IMO.

Rick

Here is an example whereby my customer requested that I install my maker's mark in red to match his veneers and inlay color after the cue was already at finished dimension before the finishing process. I would usually place white tinted epoxy into the cut "E" slot cut in the butt cap but I did not want to try to pigment match the red because that would not be perfect. Because he wanted to match the red I cut a pocket and made a inlay part out of red stacked veneer material left over from the inlay stock. Because the material was so soft it sanded flush very easy prior to the finishing process.


IMG_4733.jpg
 
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