Custom Prather Full-Spliced Cue In Progress

[JoshStodola]

I am having a custom full-spliced cue made for me from the folks at Prather in Mooreland, OK. Very nice people! This will be modeled after their 1915 series, a classic four-point four-veneered cue which has a nice old school look and feel to it:

I've heard nothing but great things about the blanks from Prather, so I jumped on an opportunity to have one made out of Rosewood and birdseye with black/white/black/white veneers and trim rings.

The best part of this transaction so far has been that Jeff has been sending me "live update" text messages with pics of the progress of the build! How cool is that? I thought it would be worthwhile to create a thread and share the pics with people, as I have found it to be pretty fascinating.

Here are the four pics I have thus far, will be adding to this post as the work continues. Thanks again to Jeff and all the folks at Prather, keep up the great work!

 

[VolturiCases]

Prather r the best u can trust! Ur job will be done to perfection...

 

[Realizm]

looks good so far..

 

[a9ballbr8k]

Prather makes one hell of a blank. They made me one, a purpleheart/straight maple with titlist veneers and Mr. Leon Sly finished it up for me. Came out to be one hell of a cue! Finished product linked in my sig. Gl with yours

 

[JoshStodola]

Update

First three pics are of the veneers glued down. Last pic is after the first pass, do these points look great or what?! Thanks for looking.

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #2

I received some more pics from Jeff today I asked for for the cue to have white phenolic joint collars and butt cap, with fiber trim rings to match the veneers on the points. It's looking pretty good! Jeff said he will probably work on the shaft tomorrow.

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #3

Jeff found an old dark/heavy shaft to use on this cue, and added the matching trim rings

 

[Realizm]

Jeff found an old dark/heavy shaft to use on this cue, and added the matching trim rings

Wow now that's looking really good...

 

[Sunchaser]

Cue looks super sharp and clean. Thanks for the pics along the build.enjoy....

 

[dukeboy1977]

talk

Now see, THIS is what cuebuilding needs to be!! I have been labeled as being impatient, BUT with communication like this, it wouldn't matter how long it took...I know it is being accomplished!!!!! Very nice cue sir, I'm sure you will enjoy it! Jeff

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #4

Not much to see here, but Jeff took another pass on it yesterday

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #5

Installing the joint pin. Jeff's going to try to get the cue into the paint room today for finishing. The end is near!

 

[scdiveteam]

Hi,

What a beautiful splice job.

Jeff's the man for sure. A true hall of fame family!!!

Rick

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #6

First pic the cue is ready for sanding! Next two pics in the paint room after the under coat, which really brings out the birdseye

 

[Realizm]

Dam . Who's making this Cue Jeff ?

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #7

Jeff signed the forearm between the points and put on the classic 1916 sticker which is reminiscent of the old Brunswick labels. I hope it similiarly fades over time. Last pic is of the cue after the first clear coat.

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #8

As you can see in the pic, one of the points was chipped during the sanding/finishing. This does not meet the Prather quality standards as he insisted on building me a new one. I have newfound respect for the craft of cue making, it must be rough working on something for months and then having to scrap it and start over, but I guess it's the right thing to do.

 

[Realizm]

As you can see in the pic, one of the points was chipped during the sanding/finishing. This does not meet the Prather quality standards as he insisted on building me a new one. I have newfound respect for the craft of cue making, it must be rough working on something for months and then having to scrap it and start over, but I guess it's the right thing to do.

That's a dam shame . It looks to dam sweet .. Ok on the other hand it can to turn a it to a break cue , Hmmm

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #9

Jeff is working on another cue for me, since he was not pleased with how the last one turned out. Here are some more pics :thumbup:

Pic #1 is the veneers being glued together
Pic #2 is my black/white/black/white veneers after gluing
Pic #3 is the birdseye maple and rosewood used to make this cue
Pic #4 is the rosewood after being turned

 

[JoshStodola]

Update #10

A few more pics...

Pic #1 is my veneers and a couple others
Pic #2 is a lot of clamps!
Pic #3 is even more clamps!