bluewolf4343
jbaggerly43
I'm looking to start making cues. I was wondering if somebody could list all the tools and materials I would need to get start.
Getting into cue making
- Thread starter bluewolf4343
- Start date
Well, the first question is how much cash do you have?, The most likely response to your answer is: That's not enough!
Do your research first. Go back and read every post in here for about the last 12 months.
Buy Chris Hightower's book http://www.cuesmith.com/index.php?page=book_video and read it from front to back.
Buy one or two of Chris's or Joe Barringer's DVD's and watch them all the way through. http://www.cuecomponents.com/cuebuvi.html
Then decide if you have the interest and front end money (~$5000) to get started. The costs will continue to mount up after that.
My 2 cents
Gary
Do your research first. Go back and read every post in here for about the last 12 months.
Buy Chris Hightower's book http://www.cuesmith.com/index.php?page=book_video and read it from front to back.
Buy one or two of Chris's or Joe Barringer's DVD's and watch them all the way through. http://www.cuecomponents.com/cuebuvi.html
Then decide if you have the interest and front end money (~$5000) to get started. The costs will continue to mount up after that.
My 2 cents
Gary
go to the local bank
and tell them you need a BIG loan. not funny, but it will cost a bit more than you think.
i think one of the first things you should do is to start buying wood, might not seem right now but 10 years down the road you will thank me.
do not buy cheap tools, that is like tossing your money out the window. i would suggest you get in contact with hightower and discuss what you want to do first, if you are going to just repair then move into building, he can set you up with the right equipment that can be up graded as your building progresses.
if money is no object then buy yourself a 40 inch metal lathe and have it fitted to building cues.
i build a simple cue and this is what is in my shop. 2 lathes, and one set-up for rotating cues while drying. Chop saw, table saw, scroll saw, band saw, table top sander, router table dedicated to making full splice cues. a dust filtering system, a vaccum system used to clean shop,lathe cover, 2 routers, two cordless drills, with about 1/2 dozed sets of drill bit sets. and that is just a start, by the time you get done with , tips, glue, epoxy, joint ring materials, sand paper, collet rings, live centers, i would never have the time to list all the small things you will need, here is just a couple more of things that make life simpler. i buy doctors examinating gloves by the case, great for protecting the hands, small bathroom mouthwash cups, for mixing epoxy, then there is the craft sticks, for mixing the epoxy. it never ends.
welcome to the world of building [ going insane ] pool cues
and tell them you need a BIG loan. not funny, but it will cost a bit more than you think.
i think one of the first things you should do is to start buying wood, might not seem right now but 10 years down the road you will thank me.
do not buy cheap tools, that is like tossing your money out the window. i would suggest you get in contact with hightower and discuss what you want to do first, if you are going to just repair then move into building, he can set you up with the right equipment that can be up graded as your building progresses.
if money is no object then buy yourself a 40 inch metal lathe and have it fitted to building cues.
i build a simple cue and this is what is in my shop. 2 lathes, and one set-up for rotating cues while drying. Chop saw, table saw, scroll saw, band saw, table top sander, router table dedicated to making full splice cues. a dust filtering system, a vaccum system used to clean shop,lathe cover, 2 routers, two cordless drills, with about 1/2 dozed sets of drill bit sets. and that is just a start, by the time you get done with , tips, glue, epoxy, joint ring materials, sand paper, collet rings, live centers, i would never have the time to list all the small things you will need, here is just a couple more of things that make life simpler. i buy doctors examinating gloves by the case, great for protecting the hands, small bathroom mouthwash cups, for mixing epoxy, then there is the craft sticks, for mixing the epoxy. it never ends.
welcome to the world of building [ going insane ] pool cues
Don't forget a box of Kleenex.
We've used it a few times .:grin:
Finding good shaft woods is half the journey.
Take up kites instead........... LOL
All the previous have mentioned many good things and have given good advice. It is not something to be taken lightly. It took me 3 years before I felt that I know what the hell I am doing and even after that, I still make an occasional mistake. The best tool I bought is a Hightower deluxe. It can do just about everything with the necessary additional tools and homemade jigs. I have built about 70 cues on it. I am not making money but I am losing less............... LOL
One other thing go to the "Ask the Cue maker" archive on this forum and read ALL of it............
good luck
Kim
All the previous have mentioned many good things and have given good advice. It is not something to be taken lightly. It took me 3 years before I felt that I know what the hell I am doing and even after that, I still make an occasional mistake. The best tool I bought is a Hightower deluxe. It can do just about everything with the necessary additional tools and homemade jigs. I have built about 70 cues on it. I am not making money but I am losing less............... LOL
One other thing go to the "Ask the Cue maker" archive on this forum and read ALL of it............
good luck
Kim
The cue components videos are good as well. The first one is pretty frank about what's involved to get started.
Plan on spending 7k plus just to get started. You can probably get off a bit cheaper, but used metal lathes seem to be getting more expensive.
lathe 1-3k
taper setup 50.00-3kish
50 pieces of shaftwood 400+
50 various turning squares(coco, birdseye, curly, ebony, african blackwood, purpleheart, ect.) 500+
Phenolic 1-3.00 an INCH
Metal rings
Juma
Tips
Glue
Epoxy
Drill bits
Taps
Rear chuck possibly
Calipers
Maintenance arbors
Sand paper
Lacquer thinner
Denatured alcohol
Some sort of finish
Cue tips
Paper towels
Acid brushes
Polishing compound
Boring bars
Carbide cutters
Some sort of dust collection so you don't die an early death
I'm sure I missed a few things....I did. You need to be motivated. Contrary to what many people seem to believe, cues don't build themselves. I don't blame them for their opinion when the showcase is filled with 100.00 cues.
If you want to spend 30k, Thomas Wayne will come and teach you. At least I think that is his standing offer. You might have to feed him Kobe beef though, he is not a cheap date...
Plan on spending 7k plus just to get started. You can probably get off a bit cheaper, but used metal lathes seem to be getting more expensive.
lathe 1-3k
taper setup 50.00-3kish
50 pieces of shaftwood 400+
50 various turning squares(coco, birdseye, curly, ebony, african blackwood, purpleheart, ect.) 500+
Phenolic 1-3.00 an INCH
Metal rings
Juma
Tips
Glue
Epoxy
Drill bits
Taps
Rear chuck possibly
Calipers
Maintenance arbors
Sand paper
Lacquer thinner
Denatured alcohol
Some sort of finish
Cue tips
Paper towels
Acid brushes
Polishing compound
Boring bars
Carbide cutters
Some sort of dust collection so you don't die an early death
I'm sure I missed a few things....I did. You need to be motivated. Contrary to what many people seem to believe, cues don't build themselves. I don't blame them for their opinion when the showcase is filled with 100.00 cues.
If you want to spend 30k, Thomas Wayne will come and teach you. At least I think that is his standing offer. You might have to feed him Kobe beef though, he is not a cheap date...