Contract Inlay work ...

WilleeCue

WilleeCue

The Barefoot Cuemaker
Silver Member
I know there are a lot of new cuemakers without CNC equipment.
Do you think it would be a worthwhile endever to offer my services as a Contract inlayer?
You would send me an oversize cue and I would do the inlay work and return the cue for you to final taper and finish.

What do you think ...
 
I tried this several years ago and it was not worth the trouble for me. With no disrespect to anyone who sent in a cue, I mostly recieved requests for unrealistic inlays and no one wanted to pay what your time is worth. I had one person from here bring over a cue for simple inlays and when I went to put it into the cnc it had a wobble aprox .250 in the center. I called him and told him about this and he accused me of causing it. I only had the cue for around 2 hours. He told me not to do anything and he came to get it. Turns out it was his first cue and he made it all in one sitting from fresh bought wood. After showing him my shop with all the various woods in various stages he realized his mistake and apologized for accusing me.
The other problem I ran into was people cutting or sanding thru the edges of the inlays. I explained both before and after doing them how deep they were and how much could be removed.
Good luck if you try it but, I would suggest you write out some type of specific instructions for people on pre and post inlay dimentions of the butt. That may help you avoid some problems. I worked with everyone and am glad to say in all cases everyone left happy but, As I said it wasen't worth the trouble. Chris.
 
not worth it

for the same reason that a body shop
won't paint a car that they didn't putty and prime.

if the paint chips or the mud cracks, cracking
the paint, it's YOUR paint. YOU suck.
 
Idea

WilleeCue said:
I know there are a lot of new cuemakers without CNC equipment.
Do you think it would be a worthwhile endever to offer my services as a Contract inlayer?
You would send me an oversize cue and I would do the inlay work and return the cue for you to final taper and finish.

What do you think ...
Click to expand...

My cnc still isn't finished. The guy has taken a lot longer than I had hoped to build it. He emailed me today and said it's "close". Anyhow, I have a cue I'm working on that needs 4 simple ivory diamonds at the base of each point. I was actually going to see if anyone did what you were thinking of here.
 
I do it for certain people. For the reasons Chris mentioned, I won't do it for just anyone.
 
WilleeCue said:
I know there are a lot of new cuemakers without CNC equipment.
Do you think it would be a worthwhile endever to offer my services as a Contract inlayer?
You would send me an oversize cue and I would do the inlay work and return the cue for you to final taper and finish.

What do you think ...
Click to expand...

I considered this about 15+ years ago when I was just starting CNC.
All the reasons noted by others, plus, shortly thereafter, Prather
began offering 'inlayed components'.
It would be marginal to try to compete with them on prices.
And, that is prolly a more practical way for a cuemaker to go anyhow.

Have you thought about retofitting inlays into customers cues?
That way you also get paid for the refinish/rewrap.
<another idea I didn't pursue>
 
CamposCues said:
My cnc still isn't finished. The guy has taken a lot longer than I had hoped to build it. He emailed me today and said it's "close". Anyhow, I have a cue I'm working on that needs 4 simple ivory diamonds at the base of each point. I was actually going to see if anyone did what you were thinking of here.
Click to expand...

Drive 45 miles southwest on I-80....
 
pdcue said:
I considered this about 15+ years ago when I was just starting CNC.
All the reasons noted by others, plus, shortly thereafter, Prather
began offering 'inlayed components'.
It would be marginal to try to compete with them on prices.
And, that is prolly a more practical way for a cuemaker to go anyhow.
Click to expand...

It certianly is if the cuemaker cant or dont want to purchase a CNC machine.
Prather does good work, no doubt about it.
However, I like having the ability of thinking up an inlay and seeing it in a cue the same day.
Plus the fact I can change or modify it very quickly.
Wish I had a dollar for every inlay I cut over with something different.

If cost is an issue then that is yet another reason to contract my services ... nuff said?

I did put some inlays in a black Joss cue for one of my friends down here.
It was close tolerance work as I did not want to cut thru the existing finish and black under coat. I sanded the inlays flush with the finish very carefully. They were Ivory inlays and needed no finish themselves.
 
...nuff said?

Guess not - you took a left and lost me.

Who is this going to be a good deal for and why?

Dale
 
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