Cue Case Question

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Systim6

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a question about the plastic tube used in a certain types of cue cases.
How is the plastic shell made or is there a supplier out there that you can just buy the plastic oval shell and the top? I've seen many case makers with this design I doubt they are all custom making plastic shells, or am I wrong? Any info would be helpful. Thanks.
 

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Systim6 said:
I have a question about the plastic tube used in a certain types of cue cases.
How is the plastic shell made or is there a supplier out there that you can just buy the plastic oval shell and the top? I've seen many case makers with this design I doubt they are all custom making plastic shells, or am I wrong? Any info would be helpful. Thanks.
Click to expand...

These are not off-the-shelf items. The tubes are plastic extrusions, the shape is known as a profile. The tubes are made by pushing melted plastic through a steel form and then through water to cool it off so it hardens to the shape.

You must find a manufacturer to do this for you. Most of the time the manufacturer will make the mold and the coupling and there will be a charge for that OR if the order quantity is enough they will waive the mold fee.

You can start calling around to existing manufacturers and you may get lucky and find the one who supplies Thomas and maybe the factory owns the molds and has no problem selling to you in small quantities. Keep in mind that they probably have a bare minimum as just firing up the machine and getting it ready takes a good bit of time.

If you go the route of having the molds made then you will need two sizes. One for the exterior tube and one for the joint tube.

Generally if you intend to just make a few cases your best bet is to find relatively cheap cases on the secondary market and strip them for the guts.
 
John is right on.

If the case maker owns (meaning they paid for it and have the rights) the tool it is unlikely the factory would sell to you off that tool. At least they should not. Plus, as John mentioned there is certainly a cost assosiated with getting the extruder cleaned, prepped with the correct die then of course the material and labor. There is likely a decent sized min qty order. Not sure what your intent is, but if you had a desired tube you may be able to contact a case maker and buy some from them.

Honestly, there are so many plastic molders its a shot in the dark to find one manufacturing tubes for cases. While the die is relatively inexpensive(compared to most industrial tools extrusion die's are relatively cheap) I like John's idea of just stripping an economy case.
 
I'm not sure how viable this is for you , depends on your ability and resources but there other options. If you can make a form , and thats a pretty basic form , you can buy ABS or Acrylic in sheet form and with a little bit of heat , form your own tube. Weld the seam and your done. I've done similar work it at the shop in a pinch with wood forms and a propane torch. It's actually not "that' difficult. Also , fiberglass could work very well in that application. Simple mold , wrap and glass. bonus there is you could get more creative with the design.

Just some thoughts.
 
Hey, you're pretty smart.
You can make a mold from wood. Cut to length and width, shape the sides round.
 
Wow! thank for all the great replies. I didn't have anything planned like making a business out of cases. I just wanted to make my own case, just like a hobby type thing. Just for the "I made that." kinda feel.
 
Maybe watch ebay for a crummy used up old George ... or something.
 
JB Cases said:
You must find a manufacturer to do this for you. Most of the time the manufacturer will make the mold and the coupling and there will be a charge for that OR if the order quantity is enough they will waive the mold fee.

You can start calling around to existing manufacturers and you may get lucky and find the one who supplies Thomas and maybe the factory owns the molds and has no problem selling to you in small quantities. Keep in mind that they probably have a bare minimum as just firing up the machine and getting it ready takes a good bit of time.
Click to expand...

Think Ron owns his own molds, and when I spoke with him. He told me he doesn't sell tubing only. Maybe you could offer to buy his business, and he is old enough to retire!
 
CocoboloCowboy said:

Think Ron owns his own molds, and when I spoke with him. He told me he doesn't sell tubing only. Maybe you could offer to buy his business, and he is old enough to retire!
Click to expand...

I own my own molds also and I think that I have a pretty good handle on that style of case at this point so it's probably best to let someone else work it out with Ron if he is looking to sell his business.

It's probably a decent opportunity for anyone looking for a hobby business which has the potential to expand to full time work.

This style of case lends itself well to expression and I could see someone doing well if they learned to make cases from Ron.

Tooled GTF:

SHERIDAN-F.jpg


SHERIDAN-B.jpg


:-) Sorry couldn't resist throwing the little ad in there.
 
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The wood form fiberglass idea is a good idea. Fiberglass could make thin light tubes with an integral bottom. If you look vacuum molding and there is another process where you buy sheets with plastic and fiberglass together and just heat cure in an oven.

You could also heat gun plastic sheet to shape and weld as was said.
 
JB Cases said:
I own my own molds also and I think that I have a pretty good handle on that style of case at this point so it's probably best to let someone else work it out with Ron if he is looking to sell his business.

It's probably a decent opportunity for anyone looking for a hobby business which has the potential to expand to full time work.

This style of case lends itself well to expression and I could see someone doing well if they learned to make cases from Ron.

Tooled GTF:

SHERIDAN-F.jpg


SHERIDAN-B.jpg


:-) Sorry couldn't resist throwing the little ad in there.
Click to expand...

John... FYI.... I clicked on the GTF and when I got there I clicked on the videos but they led to a error screen.
 
I was making a joke about Ron's Company being for sale, but maybe it could be as I said Ron is getting up there in years! I am sure he hope to retire, and maybe kick back.
 
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