Custom Taper

Sheldon said:
Yes, it would. :)
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Great to hear Sheldon Lebow is here. I had never heard your name before a few years back when I was playing pool with a man in Aurora Colorado that had went on a cue collecting binge over a one year period buying up just abut everything within reason. I estimate he had about $250K+ in his cues which included at least 10 different well known makers like SW, PFD, Scruggs, Motteys, etc. Searing wasn't really that well known back then (2000) or I am sure he would have had one. Anyway, your name stuck in my memory. When he and I were playing at a local room, I hit with a few of his Omens checking out some for sale. I was buying some more Omens from him and he was buying some Cogs from me. I asked him who's cue he liked the best for a playing cue and he blurted out Lebows. He went on to tell me he liked his Sheldon Lebow cues better than any of his cues as a playing cue and thought they were among the best all around playing cues out there. He said his second favorites were his older Scruggs, but his playing cue was a Sheldon Lebow. When man who has that many cues to play with says yours are the best playing cues in his opinion, I listened. Do you have a serious waiting list right now?
 
Cool story! Most of my work is custom, so cues can vary. I do have some specs and construction techniques that I feel are quite good, and the result is usually quite pleasing to the owners of my cues. :)
I can't count the number of "break cues" I've made that ended up as people's main playing cue.
I'm currently pretty backed up, depending on what you want done, it could be a month or two, or 6-8.
 
What causes me to believe that CNC built cues will eventually become less in demand is that buyers are savvy and they get more savvy everyday. As stated, CNC is a time saver. When the build time for a cue is reduced from say 6 to 8 weeks, down to 6 or 8 days, waiting lists will vanish. Hence, severely reduced demand. As the cues are built quicker and in greater numbers, the market place will become saturated. At which point the only way a cue will sell is with price reduction. Consider this. How many 'A' players on this site purchased a Lucasi or Fury, etc. for their personal player? [No offense here but I have to use something for an example.] I'd say the majority of the seasoned players are playing a hand built custom and they didn't mind paying a reasonable price for it. Hell some even waited a while [like 7 yrs.]. Put yourself in their position; which would you buy?

It like to stay away from entering the 'black-hole' of a discussion on the distinction btwn. hand built & machine built. For this moment, let's just call it the absence of CNC. Thanx.

I'm sorry, you're correct. The discussion is about tapering shafts and for that application CNC is a marvelous tool. Duplicating tapers, designing custom tapers and yes, by all means, use the best tools available for the job. The world of CNC is vast and the subject is easy to get lost in. I got side tracked into speaking in the general about CNC and where I see it heading as it relates to building cues.

Sheldon, That's a tremendous compliment the man just paid you. You might want to frame that one. Very impressive.
 
KJ also consider that to cut a set of "sharp" CNC points with a .015" cutter it will take just as long or longer than to splice points into a forearm.
 
CNC is just another tool. Sure, it can save some time, but it can also ADD a ton of time. Owning a CNC by no means makes a person any better or any worse at building things. It does open up a whole lot of new possibilities (and complications) though.
 
Sheldon said:
CNC is just another tool. Sure, it can save some time, but it can also ADD a ton of time. Owning a CNC by no means makes a person any better or any worse at building things. It does open up a whole lot of new possibilities (and complications) though.
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Sure. You can have my manual taper machine.
I'll have yours.
 
I gotta speak my mind. the cnc machine that most of us are using for inlays and or saw machines are not the multimillion dollar cnc machine that are used in industry. That is like comparing a vespa to a crotch rocket. We don't have automatic tool changers and material feeders on these things. Yes KJ I see your point production goes up price goes down... But the program is only as good as the guy that wrote it. The work is only as good as the guy that wrote it. You still have to join the pin and butt the a-joint etc. PFD is the only one I can think of that is using tool changers and mostly cnc. I could be wrong. I personally would love to have a turret machine that would drill tap and bore ferrules for me. It would save me a ton of time I don't have. At the same time I am old school.. I make as much from raw materials as I can and don't like to buy wood online.
Have a good day all got work to do....
 
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our_auctionguy said:
Youe last name wouln't be Lebow would it?
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Sheldon Lebow... Cool I know a guy that has one of your cues. The butt is a solid piece of BEM and it looks great. He likes the way it plays very much. I might be in touch with you.

Don
 
CNC Cue Makers

Sheldon said:
There are a few cuemakers around here that can cut you whatever taper you want via CNC. You provide the specs, they can cut it...
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OK so which custom cue makers use CNC? Anyone have a list? Or can we start a list right here please. I'll start with who I know...

Sheldon Lebow
Mason H.
Dzuricky
 
Shevek said:
OK so which custom cue makers use CNC? Anyone have a list? Or can we start a list right here please. I'll start with who I know...

Sheldon Lebow
Mason H.
Dzuricky
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You need to clarify your question. There are many different uses for CNC and just the question of who has one leaves much to much to the imagination, in my opinion. The question should more be like:

1 - Who uses CNC for cutting inlays?
2 - Who uses CNC for inlays and then hand sharpens radiuses?
3 - Who uses CNC for cutting templates for their Pantomill?
4 - Who uses CNC for cutting shaft tapers?
5 - Who uses CNC for cutting parts to exact dimensions?
6 - Who uses CNC for general cue building?

Now you can add my name to your list as I have 3 CNC machines although I only use one and that is for inlays. I'm in the process of building another for shaft tapering.

Dick :)
 
rhncue said:
You need to clarify your question. There are many different uses for CNC and just the question of who has one leaves much to much to the imagination, in my opinion...
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Thanks for the response Dick. For my purposes, I'd like to know who is using CNC in any way at all. That information might help me determine who to choose as a cue maker. I realize shaft tapering is just one use and I am getting off topic a little, but when choosing a cue maker, I can have a conversation with the maker about what things they use CNC for, and go from there.

Thanks
Don
 
Does Alex Brick use CNC? I believe that would make sense due to a response I received in another thread.

Don
 
cnc

JoeyInCali said:
ONE?
CNC saw machine and the high speed spindle. I count two. :)
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Ok you got me..
Dickie I use em in all but #6
Got the tool why not use it.
 
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