Cue Smith vs. Unique's Cue builder???

[pescadoman]

Both machines are awesome. Unique makes an awesome product as well Chris Hightower.
I've owned both and both machines do their job. You need to get a metal lathe regardless.
However I do own a couple of metal lathes and the Deco Cue taper bar, it looks like it was a build by a NASA scientist. It is that good

That's nice Tony. When did you want me to come put it on?.....

K2CNC makes bracket for alot of routers and then it is just a matter of some aluminum angle. There you're in business with a router on a lathe.

For simple tapers you can get a boring head for 50 bucks and put a morse taper on it. Goes right into the tail stock.

 

[Guerra Cues]

That's nice Tony. When did you want me to come put it on?.....

K2CNC makes bracket for alot of routers and then it is just a matter of some aluminum angle. There you're in business with a router on a lathe.

For simple tapers you can get a boring head for 50 bucks and put a morse taper on it. Goes right into the tail stock.

Looking into a 9x36 southbend to install it. Let's see if the deal goes through.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

I also enjoy the fact that Mr Hightower really does stand behind his products

WOW, do you mind if I ask where you bought your Deluxe from?
Couldn't have been the same place as I got mine.

 

[Vincent]

Thank you!! Is it pretty rigid? I was wondering if anyone had a Unique Cue builder lathe...lol It seems like most people on here have a Hightower Deluxe lathe. Now, my next question is, is it because the Unique and Porper lathes are more expensive?

Yes, It is rigid... It is NOT a 1500 lb floor machine lathe, but it is engineered to be very rigid for it's lightweight design. There are two 1" diameter hardened steel ways that the headstock and cross slide tool post ride on and are securely clamped to. I would suggest that you obtain the sets of DVDs from Hightower and Unique. Spend some time viewing them. The videos will show details of the equipment in operation, as well as, the owners of both companies. Vincent

 

[whammo57]

The rear chuck isnt that hard to put on, and the qctp isnt that expensive either. Taper bars can be bought from DECO CUE for $900, aand then its just a matter of doing the work. Ive never used a hightower deluxe, but im sure theres some setup and tweaking you have to do before you make a cue. I could be wrong, but thats just how i see it.

Joe

Yes.. you are right it can be done with not too much hard work.

Actually when you buy a Hightower deluxe you must buy a few more tools. I put another $600 in stuff that was necessary. I still like it but if I had a big metal lathe..... I sure would use it.

But if you are starting out and are inexperienced in machining and building cues, you can't start out any easier than a Hightower lathe.

Kim

 

[snipershot]

Yes.. you are right it can be done with not too much hard work.

Actually when you buy a Hightower deluxe you must buy a few more tools. I put another $600 in stuff that was necessary. I still like it but if I had a big metal lathe..... I sure would use it.

But if you are starting out and are inexperienced in machining and building cues, you can't start out any easier than a Hightower lathe.

Kim

Good point. Going from my lil lathe to the big guy was quite a change, lol. Ive been around machinery for the last 12 years, but i never really "ran" a lathe before, and it didnt take long for me to learn to respect it, lol. My south bend decided i didnt need my fingernail attatched anymore and tried to remove it for me. It sucked, lol. I suppose the same thing could happen on a small lathe too, but ive had my taig type lathe hit my knuckles and it just scared me, where the heavy steel chuck on my south bend went for the kill, lol.

Joe

 

[cvmanning]

Hey Guys,

I'm in the market for a cue builder lathe and was wondering if anyone has experience with either one of these? I know a lot of guys are using the Hightower Deluxe, and I'm wondering about the quality differences. I am looking for the best quality, yet have to be budget minded. I would like to get the lathe that offers the best rigidity and percision. I have been repairing for many years using some smaller lathes, but the lack of rigidity drives me nuts. I am an aerospace machinist by trade, so any work I do that requires rigidity I have to do at work. Any info and oppinions would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks!!
Bruce

Well first off i very rarely ever post, but here it is...The hightower is an extremely good choice for one who is looking for repeatability and affordability. I have been building for several years and i like the fact that when i go to use my Hightower lathes I do not have to worry about them doing what they were intented to do.

I own several machines built by Hightower and i am very happy with the way they perform and also the support i get if needed. You can not ask for better customer support than what i have received over the years from chris and his family.


Cliff Manning
Manning Custom Cues

 

[pescadoman]

Good point. Going from my lil lathe to the big guy was quite a change, lol. Ive been around machinery for the last 12 years, but i never really "ran" a lathe before, and it didnt take long for me to learn to respect it, lol. My south bend decided i didnt need my fingernail attatched anymore and tried to remove it for me. It sucked, lol. I suppose the same thing could happen on a small lathe too, but ive had my taig type lathe hit my knuckles and it just scared me, where the heavy steel chuck on my south bend went for the kill, lol.

Joe

Full size lathes demand your respect. That can and will KILL you! Loose clothing, the strings hanging from a hooded sweatshirt, long sleeves. All bad.

Even the smaller ones carry significant centrifigul force that can cause some pretty bad accidents. When working on them, work deliberately and keep focus at all times.

I let my right thumb get too close to a spinning router once and paid the price. It isn't too badl]\

 

[ELBeau]

I have a a 2,000+ lb Summit lathe w/DRO, a Hightower Deluxe and Unique's CueMaker lathe. All 3 have their purpose. I bought the "desktop" equipment since I was living in a rental home, but picked up the Summit once I had a more permanent location.

The desktop equipment will get the job done for cuebuilding. Like any tool in your shop, you have to learn how to tune it for accuracy. You can't go wrong with either of the two you're asking about. I can't say one feels particularly more rigid than the other, either. Just take cuts that feel appropriate to the task at hand on that machine. With a few modifications, you'll be happy with either one. In my opinion, the price difference is the main reason more guys have the Hightower than the Unique.

For me, there are a few drawbacks with both of the base models of the desktop machines. First, the handwheel's so much smaller than on the big lathe that accuracy suffers. That can bie fixed with an indicator or DRO on either of the two lathes. Second, both lathes also sell threading attachments now as well. And obviously, no heavy machining on either one.

I prefer to do my "hands-on" machining on ANY of the smaller lathes rather than the Summit, and I prefer the Unique for that. With their built in knuckle-saving chuck design, you can get get closer to the chuck than you would on any other lathe while finishing up tip work. There's nothing like working on an engine lathe; it cuts through the wood and phenolic like it isn't there. That power makes it much more dangerous, too.

Popular thought is to buy an engine lathe from the beginning. Pound for pound, a used engine lathe is a beter value. While I understand this logic and love my Summit, I'd never recommend it to a beginner. While the desktop lathes can hurt you, they are more forgiving. For me, there's a safety factor there that is often ignored. For people without machining experience, the cuebuilding lathes are the way to go - at least at first. If you outgrow the desktop equipment, you can always find another use for it later on. A number of highly respected cuemakers with enghine lathes also have a desktop lathe in their shop for certain tasks.

Best of luck,

~Beau

 

[Lexicologist71]

I've never been a customer of Unique's so I can't comment about them, but I've had nothing but the very best of service from Chris Hightower.