Ive been toying with the idea of getting into cue making. I'll start off by letting you all know right away I have no intention of doing it for a living so all your jobs are safe....LOL Basically I just want to do it for a hobby when I'm not workinig. I know its not some thing I can get into cheap so I figure it will take me a few years to get all the equipment I'll need. So thats why I'm starting to look into it now and I'll slowly start buying stuff for the next few years. My question is what all will I need equipment wise to start making cues? Also what are the best resourses out there for learning? I know Barringer and Hightower have books and DVDs, but what else is there I can get?
Thanks in advance
mike
Well Mike, welcome to the craft.
It sounds like you have the right reasons for wanting to get into this form of woodworking art.
You will be fortunate indeed if you can sell your first few custom cues for the cost of materials you have in them ... at least until you get a name and rep established ... then you might break even ...LOL.
The majority of cue makers are really just hobbyists wishing they could make a living at it ... and there is nothing wrong with that at all.
You WILL become popular at the pool hall cause every player needs repair work, tips, ferrules, shaft conditioning, re-wrap and such from time to time... and that is where your primary cue making income will be for a while.
I strongly recommend you call Chris Hightower and buy his cue making book and maybe some of his instructional DVD's.
www.cuesmith.com
Those two items alone will tell you enough about the process and the equipment needed so that you will have a very good idea about what to buy first.
Wood ... as much as you can budget ... cause it aint gonna get cheaper in the coming years and you will always need good stable wood.
Old broken house cue are a good source of scrap maple and sneeky-pete style butts.
Plus they are cheap to practice and learn on.
What ever you do ... get Chris Hightowers book.
Willee
