Counting the number of inlays

Knight-of-Pool

Knight-of-Pool

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
When you are trying to value a cue does every inlay count as one. Like on this cue the little squares count as a inlay. Or is it count as a ring. pic 2.jpg
 
Knight-of-Pool said:
When you are trying to value a cue does every inlay count as one. Like on this cue the little squares count as a inlay. Or is it count as a ring.
Click to expand...

On this cue you've shown, they would not technically be inlays because they were made from a billet. If they were inlaid pieces (ala small dots, diamonds, etc.) then they should be counted as inlays. Some sellers may try to sell you on more of a cue than something is, so educate yourself. Some may not know better, though. Hope this helps you out.

See this example of inlaid rings:

jw-matt-15-fh.jpg


jw-matt-15-bh.jpg
 
Here is another example of a "ring" which isn't a ring but separate inlays (and there are many of them on this cue...)

mcd_001.jpg


mcd_002.jpg
 
My rings are put in as inlays. A ring on a 4 point cue consists of 4 Silver Barbells (3 Inlays Each) and an Ivory Circle with a Silver Inlay inside of that. That is 20 Inlays per ring. That means, if I were to count the rings, with two shafts, I'm at 120 Inlays before I even get started.

I am spraying a cue right now that has 4 Silver Boxes in the Butt with Ivory and Silver Circles at Each Corner, 13-20 Inlays Inside Each Box (Depending on How You Count Them). Rings are Doubled, so that's 40 Per Ring. 3 Inlays Between Each Silver Box. Points have 5 Inlays Each and there are 5-10 Inlays Between Each Point (Depending on How You Count Them).

I just describe the inlays when describing the cue. If I were to count, I could come up with 4 different answers:

Counting Everything: 340 Inlays
Not Counting Rings: 220 Inlays
Counting Minimal Pieces & Rings: 268 Inlays
Minimal & No Rings: 148 Inlays

If somebody else did the counting, they would probably come up with some other numbers. I would probably just describe the cue as having over 200 inlays. There are too many ways to count them.
 
I count each individual part as an inlay, whether it be a simple line or an ornate shape.
 
What if that Ornate Shape consists of 6 Individual Pieces of Ivory and 3 Pieces of Silver cut over the top of that, making them appear to be one piece?

I'm only asking because I often wondered the same thing and I see descriptions stating over 400 inlays in the cue and I can't find them.
 
I count any part that is installed into the cue. Whether it is inlayed into the cue before assemble or after. A ring slot or billet is still inlayed to me. You add a piece of material into another piece of material. Same with double inlayed dots, I count them as 2 per dot. Just the way I count them......
 
Tony Zinzola said:
What if that Ornate Shape consists of 6 Individual Pieces of Ivory and 3 Pieces of Silver cut over the top of that, making them appear to be one piece?

I'm only asking because I often wondered the same thing and I see descriptions stating over 400 inlays in the cue and I can't find them.
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I would call that 9 inlays then. Sometimes metals tend to blend together at the seams making it look like one piece versus two.
 
Craig Fales said:
I would call that 9 inlays then. Sometimes metals tend to blend together at the seams making it look like one piece versus two.
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Right. In my rings, the barbells often look like they are one piece, but they are actually 3. I never count my rings as inlays anyway, I just say plus the rings. I don't know what the number matters anyway, but to some it does. It's more how long it took. I could have 400 diamond inlays in the cue, but only spend a fraction of the time as if I had 20 intricate pieces.
 
Slot rings are inlays, even though they are done a different way. If I count them I usually say so many inlays including sterling silver accents since most of my rings are sliver slots. I consider those accent inlays and refer to them as accents instead of normal inlays.
 
I agree that slot rings are technically inlaid, I wouldn't count them when adding in "inlay" value. But I would count them when adding in "ring" value. I have set prices for each item going into my cues, add that to the base price of $250 and you have your retail price.

Now, I have cues with bar bell designs, but again, would you consider that 3 inlays or 1 deco ring and 2 inlays (per bar bell)? I would personally value you the cue at 1 deco and 2 inlays (per bar bell)!

That would mean you would need a price for each ring going into the cue before even building it. I would think that slotted deco rings could range from $15-$30 per ring. That price does not include any added "inlays" to the ring after installed on the cue (dots, diamonds, etc).

What's nice about the custom cue market... every cue is different and every cuemaker has the right to charge what he/she feels like charging.

Just my .02,
Zim
 
rings are not inlays but still add to value of the cue.

most makers have a chrage for bushka style rings for example.

i agree with chris
 
A inlay is when you cut a pocket and then cut a part and glue the part into the pocket. When you make a billet you are cutting a pocket and then glueing up and cutting the part to fir the pocket and then glueing in. So where is the difference? There's not. So when you are counting inlays yes you count certain types of ring work as inlays.
 
patrickcues said:
A inlay is when you cut a pocket and then cut a part and glue the part into the pocket. When you make a billet you are cutting a pocket and then glueing up and cutting the part to fir the pocket and then glueing in. So where is the difference? There's not. So when you are counting inlays yes you count certain types of ring work as inlays.
Click to expand...

So is a wrap an inlay too? Same principle just not as deep. :smile:
 
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