Cheapest Way To Work On My Own Cues

D

DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
All,
just wondering if there is an inexpensive way that i can work on my own cues? is there some kind of product or mini-lathe that will get the job done for me, without being too expensive?

all i am really needing is something that will allow me to:
1) put on & take off tips
2) shape the tips
3) smooth & clean the shaft and ferrule

those three things would be a major help to me.

Mike
 
good thread

I would like to see some clever ,cheap ideas people have .Can't always get to a cue maker to get dings out or a tip shaped.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
All,
just wondering if there is an inexpensive way that i can work on my own cues? is there some kind of product or mini-lathe that will get the job done for me, without being too expensive?

all i am really needing is something that will allow me to:
1) put on & take off tips
2) shape the tips
3) smooth & clean the shaft and ferrule

those three things would be a major help to me.

Mike
Click to expand...

The absolutely cheapest way is to do it "by hand".

Second place goes to one of the setups that use a power drill to spin the shaft.

You could profit from a search of the cue maker sections.

Dale
 

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Lots of guys are making very inexpensive, yet great quality cue repair lathes now. I think that if you got into working with one, you'd have a heck of a fun time with your own cues, and soon you'll be making a few bucks from your buddies and that equals paying for your initial investment. Believe me, a very short time.
Tips, ferrules, shaft repair and cleaning and even shaft retappering when you get brave enuff.

If you just want a few gadgets to do your tips Porper makes some of the best quality and easiest tools to do the job.

Porper Tools
Mushroom Grazer.
Cut Rite (cutter and shaper)
Little Shaver
Burnisher
And you will need the Tweeten Cue Top Sander.
Some 120, 150, and maybe 400 grit sand paper.

I messed with a lot of tools and these are the ones that I found to give me the best job before I bought a lathe.

Go to Seyberts, they have a video on tip replacement using these tools.

Have fun but check in at the Cue Machinery Forum and see what the guys have on hand.
Its mucho gratifying to do a nice tip by hand but its more gratifying to get people to put money in your hand as well.

Here ya go. Kind of hard to find. They sell the whole shootin match for $60. Good deal on now. Heres the video.
http://www.seyberts.com/products/Deluxe_Tip_Replacement_Kit-984-277.html
 
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Sure, and before you do that, do a search in the Machinery Section and
read about all the complaints people have had with these rinky dink machines.

I mentioned this before, if you really want to learn the cue repair biz, buy one of these because your going to have to repair any cue you put on one of these pieces of junk.

It will spin a shaft but how are you going to cut a tip? A razor blade of course, without a proper support and you better buy some sutures and a needle too cause you will need them.
 
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As mentioned, the power drill and a crutch tip is probably one of the cheapest (you probably have an electric drill, so it's less than $5.00 for a crutch tip) and most useful combinations for shaft maintainance. I've been using one for about two years and haven't had any problems or mishaps. I do have a support jig, made of soft rubber wheels, and some polyethelene tubing to use as collets that allows me to shape new tips with a razor blade in just a minute or two. I use an Allen Wrench clamped into a small suction vise as a steady rest for me to hold a razor blade on. Do a search on this forum for shaft turners and you'll get a lot of good information. Since i only do about 1 or 2 tips a month (mostly for friends in my community), this set-up has been invaluable. Great for burnishing and polishing your shaft too. Now if you plan to do more than this, then save your money and buy a regular lathe (starting at about $400 and going up). Which ever way you bounce also invest in some safety glasses to wear while you use any power equipment. And you'll still have to remove and glue tips on manually but you can use the shaft turner to clean the ferrule and sand it flat before you install a new tip.
 
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The vise with an allen wrench is a good idea. Saves you from driving a blade into your hand.

Have you tried a 3/4 inch chair leg rubber? They grip the shaft well.
Or is that the size cane tip you have?
 
I suggest Porper tools. I have a handful of the Porper stuff from Seyberts. Tip burnisher, mushroom grazer, and another tip trimmer, and the metal tip shaper and flat top sander. I think I spent about $50 to get all the stuff shipped, and have done enough tips to pay for it so far.

The glue and accelerant they sell is sweet. Havent had a problem with it yet.

I forget the actual names of all the tools. Tried to list them, but on the site you'll see them. I use Cue Doctor Shaft Cleaner to clean my ferrule and shaft. Does good work.
 
I made this little gizmo a few years ago. 3/4" plywood about 38" overall. Handles cut into each end, for ease of carrying/moving/holding. Three vertical pieces with holes to secure shafts and 'indents' on top for cues to rest without rolling.

I later added the two little wood blocks near the center; They keep my ultimate tip tool from rotating, when I place it there to shape or scuff my cue tips.

It makes a great little stand when you're using your Magic Eraser to clean your shafts and/or ferrules. Provides a great drying rack, too.

Handy little gizmo that cost next to nothing to build.
 

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I know I will get flamed for this but, The D handle drill from Harbor Freight laying on a towel, the other end stuck through a cardboard box is a very cheap shaft turner that works very well for me. And you can get it for around $30 with the 20% cupon. The drill has a knob speed control so it can be locked on either direction, any speed. It is also fatter than most so the shaft sits a couple inchs form surface, plus it is heavy enough to stay put, just put some weight behind it. Del Monte banana boxes use a very heavy cardboard that dosen't wallow out. I recently re-tapered some wood jointed carom shats that I had to chuck to the ferrule, use a collet cut from a 2 liter soda bottle, don't ask how I know this. Most shafts would require a threaded rod, or joint pin with a jam nut if you want to turn both ways, or you could just tighten it to the chuck, and only turn clockwise. Put a tie-wrap or other clamp on the ferrule to keep it from pushing into the box, you can cut a washer from a milk jug for a bushing between clamp and box. I have freehand sanded some spinning shafts using threaded rod drill motor and sand paper, and just do what comes naturally. A screw type tubing cutter is also a very usefull cheap tool that cuts square every time. All that being said I would not reccommend any of it for a favorite, or expensive cue.
 
Didn't really realize how much effort goes into it. Most Billiards retailers will sell how to books, or i'm sure you can find some at a book store.
 
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