Custom Cue

BRKNRUN said:
9 months is quite long, most of the wait was for inlays that had to be sent out for cutting on a special machine.

However...and I am not cue expert, I kind of always thought there was a certain amount of "curing" time for wood as it is turned down assembled etc. and then the finish process I don't think is a one time spray and done...I believe it may be up to 7 or 8 coats with drying time inbetween.

Perhaps he has pre treated wood or prepared blanks he is using.
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He had prepared blanks that are pre treated!
 
SlickRick_PCS said:
But would you happen to know how much a Judd Cue would cost? Say for instance like Efren's cue.
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Why would I know that? I am not buying a Judd Cue right now, I am buying a Willee Cue. Maybe you should post a topic asking that question so that you can get your answer. Is that the type of cue you want to buy?
 
BRKNRUN said:
However...and I am not cue expert, I kind of always thought there was a certain amount of "curing" time for wood as it is turned down assembled etc. and then the finish process I don't think is a one time spray and done...I believe it may be up to 7 or 8 coats with drying time inbetween.
Perhaps he has pre treated wood or prepared blanks he is using.
Click to expand...

You are correct ... there is 'cure' factor when cutting down wood into a cue and it all depends on the wood itself.
I keep a small supply of common cue wood that has fully aged and has been pre-cut and tapered but left over sized.
It is ready to be fitted onto a handle which has also been precut and has been hanging around the shop for awhile.
This wood should be 'cured' and stable enough to make into a cue but that is not always the case.
The tapering down of the cue takes about a week of cut and let it rest.
During this time you can tell how the wood is reacting to the taper cuts.
If after the first few cuts it is still moving, then I let the wood rest longer and take lighter cuts.
If it never stops moving then I chop it up, use it to make some nice pens and start over with a hopefully better 'cured' piece of wood.

Inlays are done when the cue is about 8 to 10 thousands of an inch from finial size. Long inlays (like forearm points) actualy help stablize the cue as they break up stress lines and add reinforcement much like a splint on a broken leg.

Automotive clear coat is sprayed on in coats about 15 min apart as recomended by the manufacture.
The first coat is a light frosting or tack coat, the second is a medium coat, and the third is the thickest coat to give the cue a wet look.
If sprayed on to fast or heavy the first coat will not properly ventilate and will flash ... that aint a good thing!
Some times the finish will require a light sanding and another wet coat applied the next day.
It all depends on how the finish looks after the first three coats have set for a few hours.
It can be wet sanded and polished after 5 to 8 hours but the finish will not fully harden for many days.
I try to wait at least 48 hours before wet sanding and polishing out a cue.

For the txplshrk,s cue the shafts are pre-made by OB-1 and ready to be fitted and installed to the butt once it is finished.
However, I have a rack of about 35 shafts that are tapered down and ready for the rings and the final few profile cuts.

I am a part time cue maker and make about 10 cues per year, only two or three are custom order. Perhaps when I retire I will spend more time making cues year round.
 
Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the explination Willee! You are truely remarkable in your work!

I can't thank you enough for taking the time to make me a cue. It is truely a work of art.

I hope that someday I can return the favor somehow.

The pic he just used for the avatar is actually a sample of how my cue looks! That is so cool!

When he has it finished I will post pics for everyone to see.

I am going to feel my game isn't good enough to be shooting with such a nice cue.

Willee showed me what it looked like yesterday, and asked me if it is what we discussed and what I wanted. It was so awesome! It is more than I ever wanted. I am in awww at his handy work. He is a very talented man, and this cue is perfect for me.

Well like I said, I will get pics up as soon as I can.

Thanks again Willee, you are the best!
 
Patiently waiting

Well I am still waiting for my cue to be finished. I think all he has left to do is to put the finish on it, and to finish up the ring and joint work on the shafts. I am still like a kid waiting for Santa Clause! LOL
 
Got IT!!!

I got my cue today, if you want to see pics look in the main forum under thanks WilleeCue!
 
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