Customers "modifying" house cues...

btoneill

btoneill

Keeper of the Cheese
Silver Member
I'm curious what owners think about customers "modifying" their house cues. There was thread on the main forum the other day about house cues and such. A number of people mentioned that they keep scuffers on their keychains and keep things like sand paper and/or nick's edge papers in their glove box to use to improve house cues.

So, what do most owners care about someone using a tip shaper on their house cues?

What about sanding off the poly on the shaft so it doesn't feel so sticky?

I've always debated doing both, but have always felt that the owners may not approve. So I'd really like to get some views on this.

Thanks,
Brian
 
btoneill said:
I'm curious what owners think about customers "modifying" their house cues. There was thread on the main forum the other day about house cues and such. A number of people mentioned that they keep scuffers on their keychains and keep things like sand paper and/or nick's edge papers in their glove box to use to improve house cues.

So, what do most owners care about someone using a tip shaper on their house cues?

What about sanding off the poly on the shaft so it doesn't feel so sticky?

I've always debated doing both, but have always felt that the owners may not approve. So I'd really like to get some views on this.

Thanks,
Brian
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Then you have the guy's that will work on a cue for an hour, then claim it as their own. They will try and find some out of the way place to hide "their" cue so that it doesn't get used. This never works and someone else will find the cue and use it, which destroys all work he has done. Next thing you know, he's requesting a new tip be put on "his" cue and will belly up to the lunch counter to enjoy a glass of his favorite tap water.

Of course, he would be using his own 2 piece cue but since he was around so many players, and he got such a great deal on his cue online, he took the opportunity to flip his new internet cue for a small profit, and told his buddies where they might also find such great deals and dodge those crazy retail prices that you're charging for the same cues.
 
btoneill said:
I'm curious what owners think about customers "modifying" their house cues. There was thread on the main forum the other day about house cues and such. A number of people mentioned that they keep scuffers on their keychains and keep things like sand paper and/or nick's edge papers in their glove box to use to improve house cues.

So, what do most owners care about someone using a tip shaper on their house cues?

What about sanding off the poly on the shaft so it doesn't feel so sticky?

I've always debated doing both, but have always felt that the owners may not approve. So I'd really like to get some views on this.

Thanks,
Brian
Click to expand...


Brian, I sand the shafts when I retip the cues and we try to make them as playable as possible. If a customer asked me to clean up a shaft I would do so, no problem. At least once a week, my house cues are checked, to see if there are any problems, Mushroomed tips are corrected and any cues that need new tips are also fixed at that time.

Personally I don't think it is unreasonable at all, however, I also have a couple of lathes to do the work in back of Pool Room.

Take Care
 
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btoneill said:
I'm curious what owners think about customers "modifying" their house cues. There was thread on the main forum the other day about house cues and such. A number of people mentioned that they keep scuffers on their keychains and keep things like sand paper and/or nick's edge papers in their glove box to use to improve house cues.

So, what do most owners care about someone using a tip shaper on their house cues?

What about sanding off the poly on the shaft so it doesn't feel so sticky?

I've always debated doing both, but have always felt that the owners may not approve. So I'd really like to get some views on this.

Thanks,
Brian
Click to expand...


I try to keep the cues as nice as possible and I keep shaft scuffers on top of the cue racks for them to use if they like.

highrun55
 
House cues I usually dont care about. Our $300 Jacoby rental cues I work on them and tell people NO when they want some "sandpaper" to make adjustments to the cue. 90% of people can't use a shaper right, and most don't really care to be taught the right way. So we try and maintain, clean cues every week to stay caught up on it.
 
manwon said:
Brian, I sand the shafts when I retip the cues and we try to make them as playable as possible. If a customer asked me to clean up a shaft I would do so, no problem. At least once a week, my house cues are checked, to see if there are any problems, Mushroomed tips are corrected and any cues that need new tips are also fixed at that time.

Personally I don't think it is unreasonable at all, however, I also have a couple of lathes to do the work in back of Pool Room.

Take Care
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You sir are a gem.

Out of the dozen or so pool halls I have seen come and go locally there is only one which takes such care.

Now, take into account that they also are the oldest ... the largest ... the busiest ... and the most expensive ... and there might be a message in there for other room owners.

FWIW ... when I don't have my own cue with me, I have used a nail faile and pocket knife to adjust more than 1 house cue tip and always left them in better condition than when I found them.

LWW
 
cueandcushion said:
House cues I usually dont care about. Our $300 Jacoby rental cues I work on them...
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Craig,

That's very interesting. I don't believe I've ever seen rental cues in a pool hall before. I would think most people that would care about having something better than a house cue would probably already have their own. But I'm not in the business so I don't know.

I think it's a great idea though and even if it doesn't bring in a ton of revenue is still one of those little details that add to a place, kind of like a ball polisher at the front counter (and clean, polished balls of course).
 
Honestly if you are going to work over a Cue that is not yours would it not be a good idea to ask first?
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Honestly if you are going to work over a Cue that is not yours would it not be a good idea to ask first?
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Agreed. This just came to mind after reading the thread the other day about how many people said that they do this already.

Brian
 
I would never take sandpaper to any cue least of all one I don't own. I did find a house cue the other day that someone else took sand paper to. Feels like 60 grit was used. It's the only cue in the house that's been sanded and they roughed up the new tip also for the better I think. I've been using it as my new break cue. I thought it rather bold for someone to tamper with the house cue but I also find it sad that the majority of the house cues are bent like bows as in bows and arrows.
 
That's very interesting. I don't believe I've ever seen rental cues in a pool hall before. I would think most people that would care about having something better than a house cue would probably already have their own. But I'm not in the business so I don't know.

I used to "rent" two piece cues. I told the customers that I would apply any rental money that they paid so they could purchase the rental cue that they were using. I just did under $100 retail type cues, but to bangers they were great.

Bob
 
If I find myself in a room or bar and don't have my cues with me I usually pull out my keys and use a willards dime shaper that I keep on my keychain. Shaping the tip is the only 'modification' that I ever do to a house cue and I don't feel that any room owner would or should mind.

I do think that sanding a house cue without permission goes a little far as most pool players that sand a cue don't do a good job as was pointed out earlier on.
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
Craig,

That's very interesting. I don't believe I've ever seen rental cues in a pool hall before. I would think most people that would care about having something better than a house cue would probably already have their own. But I'm not in the business so I don't know.

.
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Thanks. We have had rental cues for going on 25 years I guess. We started out with Huebler cues. When those wore out we bought new Hueblers again. And about 18 mos ago Dave Jacoby custom made us color coded and laser engraved cues with our name on them. We just raised the price to $1.50 after having our rental prices at $1 for 20 years. We have 16 rental cues available. We keep 4 of the old Hueblers around for people that like thinner shafts since they are older. Its not a big money maker but at the end of the year you make a profit on them. Every little bit helps. :)
 
cueandcushion said:
Thanks. We have had rental cues for going on 25 years I guess. We started out with Huebler cues. When those wore out we bought new Hueblers again. And about 18 mos ago Dave Jacoby custom made us color coded and laser engraved cues with our name on them. We just raised the price to $1.50 after having our rental prices at $1 for 20 years. We have 16 rental cues available. We keep 4 of the old Hueblers around for people that like thinner shafts since they are older. Its not a big money maker but at the end of the year you make a profit on them. Every little bit helps. :)
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I think that's very cool and like I said, it is one of those little details that makes a statement about your room, like well maintained tables and clean, polished balls ;)
 
I've never been in a pool hall without my own cues.....but i keep some course sandpaper in my wallet for those flat tipped bar cues i always seem to find!!!!
 
Best tips for house cues

I have 3 friends that own pool hall/sports bar type businesses. They are always asking this question.

What tip do you feel holds up and yet provides customers with a decent stick to shoot with.

Considerations would be,

maintenace, durabilityand shooter friendly

Thanks for any input in advance.
 
I went through the constant changing of tips for awhile.

If I ran a room I would use Triangles and nothing but Triangles.

LWW
 
work on your own cue

i like to take the simple approach to most things . if it not yours don't
work on it, and if you are that serious about playing pool you should
own your own cue. just my opinion have a good day john107 : anderson sc
 
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