Cuemaking as a hobby?!

R

Rackin_Zack

Suffering from OCBD
Silver Member
I thought I would pose a question to all of you cuemakers on the board. I really love pool and love pool cues as much or more. I have often thought that I would love to build cues at some point, although only as a hobby and not a main gig.

Do you think it would be a worthwile pursuit considering the cost of the materials and machinery to pursue cuemaking as a hobby or means of artistic expression? Of course, to make matters worse, I have absolutely no experience with either wood working or machining so I would be a complete novice. This is probably not something that I wold be able to start anytime soon, but I thought I'd throw the question out there nonetheless. Thanks in advance for all of your insight.
 
cues

Rackin_Zack said:
I thought I would pose a question to all of you cuemakers on the board. I really love pool and love pool cues as much or more. I have often thought that I would love to build cues at some point, although only as a hobby and not a main gig.

Do you think it would be a worthwile pursuit considering the cost of the materials and machinery to pursue cuemaking as a hobby or means of artistic expression? Of course, to make matters worse, I have absolutely no experience with either wood working or machining so I would be a complete novice. This is probably not something that I wold be able to start anytime soon, but I thought I'd throw the question out there nonetheless. Thanks in advance for all of your insight.
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If it's in your heart to build cues, rock-on. If not, keep playing. To build good cues, you got to spend good money. Takes money to build hobby cues as great playing cues. After you get up and runnin, then you will spend many bucks, up-grading.[ forever].

blud
 
hobby cuemaking

I have found that if you try and make what you like doing best into a career aventualy it just becomes work. That having been said to do it purely as a hobby with out recoupment of any of your costs is not very practical iether. So I try and shoot for some where in the middle. I attempt to sell enough to justify at least some of my time and money. As Blud has stated equipment is expensive but being a machinist my equipment at home also alows me to take in private machining jobs. This way the equipment doubles as cuemaking equipment but I do not have to worry so much about having to pay for it by means of cue making alone. As far as having no woodworking or machining expierience, it's hard enough learning this trade already having aquired these skills. This should be by no means a deturant but it does mean that it will take you that much longer before you will be able to build anything of note. You never know though if you have an eye for detail and some natural ability mabe you will be able to learn this stuff in no time.
 
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Rackin_Zack said:
Do you think it would be a worthwile pursuit considering the cost of the materials and machinery to pursue cuemaking as a hobby or means of artistic expression?
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I think the first investment you make should be to buy Chris Hightower's book on cuemaking.

http://www.cuesmith.com/main/books_videos/index.php

It will give you a better understanding of what you are getting into and what you are going to need in the way of equipment. If after reading thru his book you still want to make cues then go for it. A modest cuemaking shop will cost about the same as a good woodworking shop.
 
WilleeCue said:
I think the first investment you make should be to buy Chris Hightower's book on cuemaking.

http://www.cuesmith.com/main/books_videos/index.php

It will give you a better understanding of what you are getting into and what you are going to need in the way of equipment. If after reading thru his book you still want to make cues then go for it. A modest cuemaking shop will cost about the same as a good woodworking shop.
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Thanks for the plug for my book Willee. That is good avice. Zack, I agree with Willee that once you have seen what it takes and still want to do it, go for it.
Chris
www.internationalcuemakers.com
www.cuesmith.com
 
It takes a lot of specialized equipment to build cues. Too much to do so as a hobby IMHO.
Sherm
 
I'd like to thank everyone for all of their insight. I certianly don't have the money, nor the time, at this point to pursue cue making. However, who knows down the road. Thanks again for your responses.
 
Zack, maybe you can buy one of those cue kits.
Atlas, Prather and Chris sells them.
Assemble them then spray finish them.
Making blanks and cutting shafts takes specialized equipment.
 
man some of you guys make it sound like rocket science.

its just simple maching.

and the cost many, many spend more on their golf hobbies each year.

just go for it and have fun. :D
 
merylane said:
man some of you guys make it sound like rocket science.

its just simple maching.

and the cost many, many spend more on their golf hobbies each year.

just go for it and have fun. :D
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It may not be rocket science but it entails a lot of things to be considered a science in it's own right too you know. You just don't get a piece of wood and turn and voila instant cue.

One of the things have to know is wood. There is maple and then some. What species, their mechanical properties, working properties and so on. Now there's moisture content and understanding how your moisture content reads certain specie readings. Controlling the climate of your shop. There's wood toxicity to deal with and so on.

Nothing simple about maching skills, they're acquired through long labors of work, studying how to and why to and what nots. Then there are construction methods involving materials such as glues, phenolics and plastics, metal and composites, natural materials and so on again.

Then there's aesthetic stuff like inlaying, points and finishing and the list goes on. Hand in hand with these and knowledge thereof goes equipment or jigs to do this work properly.

A lot more complex than you think it actually is. All these knowledge (which is a lot) and things happen in a cuemakers shop. It's the same accuracy you need when you,re shooting a spot shot with the CB on the end rail.
 
boy and to think they learned how to fly a 757 with out ever being in a cockpit of one, not to mention hitting a target going so fast the planes were near the point of comming apart.
please dont complicate things.
how many cue makers are master machinists?
how many are qualified to machine aircraft parts?
come on balabushka made wooden toys for years?
please let the man have some fun at whatever hobbie he wants.
and didnt everone here spend enough time playing pool as it would take to learn to make cues ?
:confused:
 
It will cost you a few thousand dollars to set up a simple cuebuilding shop, not tens of thousands as some would have you think. Many spend alot more than a few thousand on a hobby. Many retired people start building cues every year for something to do. You might even get into it for less money if you watch ebay for a cue lathe for sale used. Good luck in your pursuit.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
 
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