General rules in cue building

galipeau

galipeau

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Maybe they're more like guidelines... but I was wondering what some general principles that would be good to follow for making cues are. Please share your thoughts.

1. Don't go for cheap stuff. Quality pays off.
2. Measure twice, cut once.
3. Expect to throw away wood, lots of it.

I'd like to hear what you guys that are more experienced have to say. Always looking to learn more!
 
Take the time to figure things out, don't be afraid to mess up and start over.

Try new things, experiment with different processes.

Become an artist in your craft, learn to use the tools of the trade and push them to there limits.

Always remember machinist rule #68... .002" is a mile
 
General Rules

Question everything you read on AZ. Test it out and decide for yourself.
It's not about how, it's about why.
 
You have to develop your own "Character" with how you build your cues. The way you do that is to learn by effort and self judgement. It can be an excruciating challenge.

What and listen to everything, but prove it out for yourself. What's the old saying "Trust but Verify".

Watch and listen to everyone and everything, but choose your own path based on that information.


Royce
 
To learn new skills and techniques don't limit yourself to learning from only cuemakers. Many other crafts and trades have technology and knowledge which can be applied to cues.
 
Don't subscribe to the bullshit you read on forums about what is and is not acceptable where cues are concerned. Find the level which you feel to be acceptable relative to your skill level and be ok with that. Take criticism from those you respect and or that actually buy your cues.

Jake<<<<trying to practice this
 
Only doing something the way the recognized masters of cuemaking did it does not make you more than an imitator. Strive to be an innovator.
 
#1 - Go see Mt. Augustus in Australia. It's the world's largest rock. Bang your head on said rock until you have reduced it to a pile of pea gravel.

#2 - If you succeed with rule #1, congratulations, you are idiot enough to be cue maker
 
Don't judge one of your cues the day you ship it. Judge it a year later after it has been in the field for a while.

Rick
 
LGSM3 said:
Don't subscribe to the bullshit you read on forums about what is and is not acceptable where cues are concerned. Find the level which you feel to be acceptable relative to your skill level and be ok with that. Take criticism from those you respect and or that actually buy your cues.

Jake<<<<trying to practice this
Click to expand...
Like it Jake!
 
Experiment and try different methods.
Dont take someone's word for it.
Use what works for You.
Dont be afraid to fail at something. ...because you will.
Dont limit yourself try new things and make playability #1 priority.

Cue making is an addiction. There is no cure. You will never test positive for saw dust. There is no 12 step program to become "unaddicted". Welcome! Lol.
 
Don't try to build anything more than a Sneaky Pete for your first cue. Step "A" in cue building is making a cue that is straight. Do not go to step "B" until you have mastered step "A".
 
cutter said:
Question everything you read on AZ. Test it out and decide for yourself.
It's not about how, it's about why.
Click to expand...

when someone on az gives ya shit about your calipers
it's time to get new ones
:grin:

better steve ??????
 

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Come on Bret we all know that Harbor Freight has the sale for 10.00 and you could not resist. LOL. I just got 3 new ones there.


Now to get serious:

I have a mic that I use for precision measuring that Stew insisted I use in the shop and I know he is right in concept. I just bought new cheap calipers and measured my .850 mandrel and all were spot on. I then took 3 beat up ones from my shop and measured the mandrel and I will be damned if they all did not read exactly .850.

People who use calipers all the time like CMs learn how to set them correctly without getting an incorrect number from a parallel reading error and can be real accurate with one of these. Most machinist would opt for the mic.

JMO,

Rick
 
scdiveteam said:
Come on Bret we all know that Harbor Freight has the sale for 10.00 and you could not resist. LOL. I just got 3 new ones there.


Now to get serious:

I have a mic that I use for precision measuring that Stew insisted I use in the shop and I know he is right in concept. I just bought new cheap calipers and measured my .850 mandrel and all were spot on. I then took 3 beat up ones from my shop and measured the mandrel and I will be damned if they all did not read exactly .850.

People who use calipers all the time like CMs learn how to set them correctly without getting an incorrect number from a parallel reading error and can be real accurate with one of these. Most machinist would opt for the mic.

JMO,

Rick
Click to expand...

werent 10 bucks at my hb :sorry:
hell, they went up to 23
only had two left, but one was opened
can you beleive some jackwad would take the friggin battery out and put them back in box
 
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