Equestrian Cue Progress Pics

[scdiveteam]

Hi,

Here is a special cue in progress for Brian who loves horses. I am currently on the backside of the process that he has had control over the design concept since the beginning.

BTW, I have supplied Brian with some special inlays he wanted and hence the cue has some horse culture involved in it.

Rick

Curly Forearm on core, stock for 5 point geometry, PH handle, ebony butt sleeve, hoppe ring, Juma butt cap & joint, and shaft stock.

Tapering forearm on core before v grooving on the mill

Sealing with schelak on lathe

Cutting PH Point Stock

Milling V Grooves and Gluing Points

Turning in the point stock on my butt tapering machine. To the left is your shaft being cut .008 on the taper.

The points may seem a bit too high at this time but they will move back about 1 more inch or so when we reach the final tapered dimension.

After the cue is fully assembled and turned to final, I will expose it to sunlight for about 5 days so that the purple heart gets blood red. When ever you take a fresh cut on PH it looks brownish, by exposing it to UV it turns to the color you want.

 

[scdiveteam]

Coring the handle

Checking annulus fit up before gluing

Glue up using tail stock for clamping pressure

Cue is now .020 over size ready for inlays. Just because the cue is built does not mean it will be ready sooner than my deadline. We are right on schedule but there is a lot of work left to go and a lot of the things require curing times and we also have to let the Purple heart season in the sunlight to get color after I take the final pass next week some time after the inlays are installed.

I wanted to get the rings on each side of the handle so that you would have the option to go with a wrap if you did not like the look. PH is a very good wood for cue but it does not have any figure. We will see how this one changes color.

 

[scdiveteam]

Inlay part and pocket geometry verified.

Cue is still slightly oversized, ready for inlays

 

[scdiveteam]

Parts and pockets done.

Cue tapered to final size ready for a pin a butt feature machining.

 

[scdiveteam]

 

[whammo57]

Hey Rick...........

The Chicago winters have take their toll on that picnic table......... Maybe a little pressure washing and a few coats of clear would do it.............

LOL

Kim

 

[Jive]

Thank you so much for this thread...i enjoyed every bit of the tutorial even though you wouldn't call it that. I've never stepped into a cue maker's workshop and for the time being this is as close as it's gonna get...

I don't know you that well but i like one thing about you, you're really organised! Cue building aside since i know nuts about them, the way you post, your structuring of the post and even how you deliberately post one more post after you are done for future pictures just indicates you're well organised and meticulous.

Thanks again for threads like this and do keep them coming!

 

[mattb]

Progress

While purple heart is not my cup of tea I love the horse shoes and appreciate progress pictures. I am always interested on how things are done. Thanks.

 

[ga9ball]

Rick Awesome

Hey Rick awesome work on this cue! I totally enjoyed how you layed it out in stages for full appreciation.
Thank you for sharing this with all of us.
Greg

 

[hookmehorns]

Great thread & cue....

Thank you so much for this thread...i enjoyed every bit of the tutorial even though you wouldn't call it that. I've never stepped into a cue maker's workshop and for the time being this is as close as it's gonna get...

I don't know you that well but i like one thing about you, you're really organised! Cue building aside since i know nuts about them, the way you post, your structuring of the post and even how you deliberately post one more post after you are done for future pictures just indicates you're well organised and meticulous.

Thanks again for threads like this and do keep them coming!

Jive,
I hope you don't mind brother, but I'm exactly with what you said. I couldn't have said it any better. :wink:

Rick,
Outstanding work all around, I truly appreciate everything about it. Keep up the great work and congrats to the owner. Look forwad to seeing the final pictures.

All the best,
Mo

 

[1outofthe$$$$]

Rick, From the first time we corresponded you have been nothing but a gentleman and a pleaser to work with.

I have been receiving PM's from Rick every few days updating me on the progress of my cue from the start of the build. I could not be happier with the service I have received from Rick!

Thanks again,
Brian

 

[scdiveteam]

Thank you so much for this thread...i enjoyed every bit of the tutorial even though you wouldn't call it that. I've never stepped into a cue maker's workshop and for the time being this is as close as it's gonna get...

I don't know you that well but i like one thing about you, you're really organised! Cue building aside since i know nuts about them, the way you post, your structuring of the post and even how you deliberately post one more post after you are done for future pictures just indicates you're well organised and meticulous.

Thanks again for threads like this and do keep them coming!

Thanks Jive,

If your travels ever take you near Chicago stop by the shop for lunch. My shop is always open to visitors.

Rick

 

[scdiveteam]

Thank Greg and Mo,

I am trying my best the achieve total repeatability with my shop practices.

Thanks for the kind words. It is appreciated very much.

Say hi to your wife for me Greg.

Rick

 

[blackpearlmaker]

Nice step by step showcase there, and love the inlays Rick. Hope all is well.

 

[bbb]

rick
i really enjoy your posts giving me a non cuemaker an inside look at "how its done"
helps to understand terminology better
as a bonus your cues are gorgeous
i saw a beard peeking out in one of the of the pics
maybe you can show us who is the man inside that scuba gear:grin:
also saw an EMPTY snyders pretzel jar
you and me would get along great
:thumbup:

 

[scdiveteam]

Brian,

Your cue is done but I will wait till next monday to finish it so the Purple Heart gets darker with some help from Mr Sun.

I will cnc the logo E in the butt cap on Sat.

I just checked my log and I really did not start this cue until after Kenny's Cue show in the middle of June. I had picked on the wood, cored some pieces and prep the dowel before I left for Philly.

So we are still on track for the 4 to 5 week window I quoted you. I may miss it a little due to the fact that the PH needs to turn with time after the last cut tapering the cue to flush the inlays to grade. If this were another material it would have already been cleared.

Your design is very simple yet very elegant. I have noticed sometimes that designs that are the most austere ( not a lot of veneer colors ect. ) are the most appealing after the finish is done and the features of the cue are magnified under the clear. The purple heart points will jump out of the high figured curly and the ivory horseshoes will have a striking impact within the jet black ebony. I am like a whore in church right now as I can't wait to see this one finished.

Hang in there, we are almost home.

Rick

 

[1outofthe$$$$]

No worries Rick, Being a retired cue repair man I understand that cue making is an art and like the purpleheart it takes time.
I really never knew much about you or Esoteric cues before I contacted you about building a cue for me (crazy right?) after sending you the specks I was wanted in my cue, it seemed like we were destined to collaborate on a cue build.

A couple of examples

"My butt dia. is 1.254 and my joint is .850 finished. My standard shaft is 13 mm so we have a meeting of the minds in dimensions for this cue."

"BTW, I love 5 point cue as they are my specialty."

Brian

 

[21whiskey]

thanks for allowing us to come in.

 

[West Point 1987]

Hooray for Horseshoes!

Finally! I see someone with great taste. I was wondering when I'd see a custom maker put horseshoes into a cue again. Seems like an obvious motif (because of the luck angle, the shape, the inlay material options, etc.), but you just don't see it as much. As you can see, I'm a fan...


Your cue looks absolutely stunning, especially like the long points and forearm. Can't wait to see it finished out!

 

[1outofthe$$$$]

Finally! I see someone with great taste. I was wondering when I'd see a custom maker put horseshoes into a cue again. Seems like an obvious motif (because of the luck angle, the shape, the inlay material options, etc.), but you just don't see it as much. As you can see, I'm a fan...
View attachment 232777

Your cue looks absolutely stunning, especially like the long points and forearm. Can't wait to see it finished out!

Thank you for your comments! I would like to see a pic of the whole cue, love the horseshoes.

Brian