Help, My Cue!!!

despotic931

despotic931

Mr. Felson's my dad...
Silver Member
Ok so I posted this in the main forum as well, but I thought I would put it here as well...

So, a couple of days ago I left my 314 shaft with a local cue maker. It is a first generation shaft with a Uniloc joint off of my Predator SPJ (wood to wood joint, 4 points, red veneers). Anyways I wanted him to put a sniper tip on (I supplied the tip), and clean up the shaft. I personaly handed him the shaft, with the joint protector on as always, snug but not tight, as I always keep it when the cue is not together.

Tonight I went to go pick it up, the first thing i noticed was how incredibly tight the joint protector was on. When I tried to put the shaft on my cue the threads would not even catch (since it's Uniloc)! After further inspection it looks as though they had been "worn" away, and when I tried to install the joint protector back on, it wouldn't even go on straight!

In total dismay I went to show him (He was at the pool hall), he said he wouldn't look at it tonight, that I could bring it to him monday or just leave it with him. And, he said that he never removed the joint protector the whole time he had it! So, here I am left with a cue that I have always taken excelent care of, that I can't even put together! I'm so upset right now, this cue is my baby, and my player.

So, my first question is, what could have happened, what could cause this?

Second, is what do I do from here?

Thanks guys...
-Justin <--- So Bloody Pi553d Off that He Could Scream!!!
 
I don't know how someone would clean the shaft without removing the cap unless they were using a spinner lathe with a cane rubber to grab & spin the shaft by.

The only thing I think of possibly happening like that while cleaning the shaft is if they did'nt have a unilock drive pin and used the wrong size drive, stripping the threads out in the proccess. I'm not saying that's what happened, because I have'nt seen the shaft before and after. I just could'nt imagine any other way a repair guy could do this, short of trying to run a tap up into it for who knows what reasons, but can't see that being the case.

Greg
 
despotic931 said:
Ok so I posted this in the main forum as well, but I thought I would put it here as well...

So, a couple of days ago I left my 314 shaft with a local cue maker. It is a first generation shaft with a Uniloc joint off of my Predator SPJ (wood to wood joint, 4 points, red veneers). Anyways I wanted him to put a sniper tip on (I supplied the tip), and clean up the shaft. I personaly handed him the shaft, with the joint protector on as always, snug but not tight, as I always keep it when the cue is not together.

Tonight I went to go pick it up, the first thing i noticed was how incredibly tight the joint protector was on. When I tried to put the shaft on my cue the threads would not even catch (since it's Uniloc)! After further inspection it looks as though they had been "worn" away, and when I tried to install the joint protector back on, it wouldn't even go on straight!

In total dismay I went to show him (He was at the pool hall), he said he wouldn't look at it tonight, that I could bring it to him monday or just leave it with him. And, he said that he never removed the joint protector the whole time he had it! So, here I am left with a cue that I have always taken excelent care of, that I can't even put together! I'm so upset right now, this cue is my baby, and my player.

So, my first question is, what could have happened, what could cause this?

Second, is what do I do from here?

Thanks guys...
-Justin <--- So Bloody Pi553d Off that He Could Scream!!!
Click to expand...

It sounds like he used the wrong shaft maintenace pin when he put it on the lathe to work on it. Most likely this damaged the threads, in the shaft when he started spinning it in the lathe.

There are two ways to correct this problem:

1) Run the proper tap up into the shaft insert, the threads may be able to be cleaned up.

2) Replace the shaft insert with a new insert.


Good Luck, hope the individual is a stand up guy and corrects the problem. However, by the response he already gave you I would doubt it.

By the way, you may want to just either take it to or send it to a reputable cue maker / repair man, Kevin Varney is on this site, he may have time to fix it for you.

Have a good night!!!!!
These are the only ways to correct your problem
 
Last edited:
manwon said:
By the way, you may want to just either take it to or send it to a reputable cue maker / repair man, Kevin Varney is on this site, he may have time to fix it for you.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the mention Craig. Yes...Manwon & Cuecrazy are probably correct in what happend. My first thought was it could be just trash in the insert threads. I've often seen a Unilock not screw together because of debris. You could try cleaning the insert out with compressed air and/or a stiff brush like a brass pistol bore brush...that "may" work. But if you are positive the threads are damaged, then your man indeed used the wrong driver when spinning the shaft to clean it.
There are so many fine, quality repairmen on this site...you should never have a local, who may not have the proper tools, work on your cue. He could of used another option and not harmed your cue. If he indeed did not have a Unilock driver...he could of taped up the joint end of the shaft and chucked it up that way to spin the shaft for a cleaning. Sniper tips require a little knowledge for a proper installation as well...you may want to gently push on the side of your tip & make sure you have no movement at all. If he trimmed it with his toolpost cutter...you'll need it replaced as well. Have no worries though...your real damage is somewhat minor & can be easily repaired. I'd be glad to do it if needed. Bottom line...learn from the experience & love your cue enough that it receives professional care.;)
 
Varney Cues said:
Thank you for the mention Craig. Yes...Manwon & Cuecrazy are probably correct in what happend. My first thought was it could be just trash in the insert threads. I've often seen a Unilock not screw together because of debris. You could try cleaning the insert out with compressed air and/or a stiff brush like a brass pistol bore brush...that "may" work. But if you are positive the threads are damaged, then your man indeed used the wrong driver when spinning the shaft to clean it.
There are so many fine, quality repairmen on this site...you should never have a local, who may not have the proper tools, work on your cue. He could of used another option and not harmed your cue. If he indeed did not have a Unilock driver...he could of taped up the joint end of the shaft and chucked it up that way to spin the shaft for a cleaning. Sniper tips require a little knowledge for a proper installation as well...you may want to gently push on the side of your tip & make sure you have no movement at all. If he trimmed it with his toolpost cutter...you'll need it replaced as well. Have no worries though...your real damage is somewhat minor & can be easily repaired. I'd be glad to do it if needed. Bottom line...learn from the experience & love your cue enough that it receives professional care.;)
Click to expand...

Another option would be to just use the joint protector to turn the shaft which is okay as long as it's discussed before doing so.
 
Varney Cues said:
..you should never have a local, who may not have the proper tools, work on your cue.
Click to expand...


So we should ship every shaft off to someone to have a tip put on regardless of where we live?
 
He may have even used just a uni-loc pin with no stop built into it and bottomed out the pin in which case the first thread can be pushed right out of the insert.This can be fixed by filling the loose thread right off.Just thought id put my 2 cents in just in case this was the problem.
 
another possibility

He may have turned the cue using a dead center to spin and drive the shaft for cleaning. It can sometimes mush down burs that were previously aligned and no problem for you. Now they will act as debris in the thread and keep you from screwing onto the butt or protector! I made that mistake once and learned.
We cuemakers are not always perfect, but we aspire to be!
 
cubswin said:
So we should ship every shaft off to someone to have a tip put on regardless of where we live?
Click to expand...
I'm just saying that if you don't have a quality person near you, then yes...shipping it off to any number of the professionals here at AZB is a better choice than possibly having your shaft damaged.
 
I feel for you. I had a bad experence once also. Now I drive an hour and a half south of me to get all my repair work done. It sucks but its worth the effort for a repairman.
 
Varney Cues said:
Thank you for the mention Craig. Yes...Manwon & Cuecrazy are probably correct in what happend. My first thought was it could be just trash in the insert threads. I've often seen a Unilock not screw together because of debris. You could try cleaning the insert out with compressed air and/or a stiff brush like a brass pistol bore brush...that "may" work. But if you are positive the threads are damaged, then your man indeed used the wrong driver when spinning the shaft to clean it.

"There are so many fine, quality repairmen on this site...you should never have a local, who may not have the proper tools, work on your cue."

He could of used another option and not harmed your cue. If he indeed did not have a Unilock driver...he could of taped up the joint end of the shaft and chucked it up that way to spin the shaft for a cleaning. Sniper tips require a little knowledge for a proper installation as well...you may want to gently push on the side of your tip & make sure you have no movement at all. If he trimmed it with his toolpost cutter...you'll need it replaced as well. Have no worries though...your real damage is somewhat minor & can be easily repaired. I'd be glad to do it if needed. Bottom line...learn from the experience & love your cue enough that it receives professional care.;)
Click to expand...

This is an extremely arrogant statement, in my opinion. Just what exactly gives you the impression that of all the thousands of cue mechanics in this country, that only the few that post here are the absolute elite. I believe a customer has a much greater chance of having damage or loss of a cue in shipping than having the bad luck of finding a poor repair person. After all, putting on tips and polishing shafts certainly is not rocket science, although, apparently, some would like people to believe it.

It shouldn't be to great a problem to ask around a little to see who in an area has done good work. Every metropolis usually has at least one and usually a few good mechanics.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
This is an extremely arrogant statement, in my opinion. Just what exactly gives you the impression that of all the thousands of cue mechanics in this country, that only the few that post here are the absolute elite. I believe a customer has a much greater chance of having damage or loss of a cue in shipping than having the bad luck of finding a poor repair person. After all, putting on tips and polishing shafts certainly is not rocket science, although, apparently, some would like people to believe it.

It shouldn't be to great a problem to ask around a little to see who in an area has done good work. Every metropolis usually has at least one and usually a few good mechanics.

Dick
Click to expand...
Sorry Dick...I guess it sounded bad. I just meant that if you had no one decent in your area that it'd be wiser to ship it off to Webb, Petree, Ratcues, or yourself and be assured of professional work. No its not rocket science but let me give you an example. I recently had a fine player playing in a session ending league event. It was a small league not APA or anything. Point of the story...they had a guy there doing cue repair. The league owner had asked him to set up and didn't even OK it with the room owner first. The gentleman figured since he was set up at such an event he was competent, so he handed him his Schon shaft that had a small crack in the ferrule. Repairman said come back in 20 minutes and you'll be ready. When he did return...his Schon shaft had a plastic ferrule with a screw on tip, it was more than 1mm to small, and had glue dried for 6 inches down his shaft. Also he shortened the shaft by almost an inch.:eek:
Sometimes its wiser to seek a professional before risking it with an unkown.;)
 
his Schon shaft had a plastic ferrule with a screw on tip, it was more than 1mm to small, and had glue dried for 6 inches down his shaft. Also he shortened the shaft by almost an inch.:eek:

I think I've read 5 different other versions of that story.:eek: :D
60 grit sanding disk on ivory ferrule story as well.:D
 
Local so called "experts"

Varney Cues said:
Sorry Dick...I guess it sounded bad. I just meant that if you had no one decent in your area that it'd be wiser to ship it off to Webb, Petree, Ratcues, or yourself and be assured of professional work. No its not rocket science but let me give you an example. I recently had a fine player playing in a session ending league event. It was a small league not APA or anything. Point of the story...they had a guy there doing cue repair. The league owner had asked him to set up and didn't even OK it with the room owner first. The gentleman figured since he was set up at such an event he was competent, so he handed him his Schon shaft that had a small crack in the ferrule. Repairman said come back in 20 minutes and you'll be ready. When he did return...his Schon shaft had a plastic ferrule with a screw on tip, it was more than 1mm to small, and had glue dried for 6 inches down his shaft. Also he shortened the shaft by almost an inch.:eek:
Sometimes its wiser to seek a professional before risking it with an unkown.;)
Click to expand...

Sorry, I have to agree that local amateurs are not the guys that should be doing work on a cue. I live close to Evansville, IN (pop. aprox. 130,000) and have nothing but bad experiences with "shade tree mechanics". From chipped ivory ferrules, to threads being messed up, to the taper on the shaft being changed. The nearest guy that I trust is 70 miles from me (Chad Carter does really nice work for me) It really sucks to send off a cue for a few days, but in some areas you have no other choice. I need a new tip right now, but I am just waiting for the right time between work, family, etc. to get over to see Chad.

Jim
 
Last edited:
Michael Webb said:
Another option would be to just use the joint protector to turn the shaft which is okay as long as it's discussed before doing so.
Click to expand...





This is what I used to do before getting the proper drives. Only difference Is I had My own delrin protector I used, instead of the customers cap, so I took no risks of marring theirs up, altough I suppose steps could be taken to avoid that also. I guess that's reason I mentioned above that I could'nt imagine the cap not being removed. I would have never considered using theirs, since there was no need for taking a risk in My situation. I sold billiard supplies back then, so always had extra sets on hand.



As far as reputable repair guys go, there are many people that do good work out there, and are not very well known at all, but at the same time it is true that there may be as many or more that are doing things the incorrect ways, or just simply don't have the proper equipment to take on some of what they do. It's usually easy to tell when a customer has had work done By one, because of how they are blown away by a well done, but yet simple repair job that most people might take for granted including the guy doing the work;) :D .

My opinion only here, but I feel a good repair guy should be honest with himself as well as the customer as to whether he is properly equiped or experienced in the type of work they need done. The best way to find this out is through word of mouth first. Find the guy most people recomend, then talk to him and ask him what equipment he uses. I for one have never had a problem telling a customer what equipment I use, or a basic rundown of what procedures I will use on their repair job. If I'm not comfortable with the type of repair, or not equiped for It, I have been honest, told them so, and My reasoning for It. If after that they still wanted me to try, and providing I was even willing, then I try to make it clear that any risks would be shared between both of us equally if I wiliing to do that.
Now when It comes to something as simple a tip change & shaft cleaning, I pretty much feel I know that like the back of My hand, therefore very comfortable doing the work, and assume any reasonable liability in most cases, but then I have been lucky & never stripped any threads out doing that type of work. If somehow that was to happen though, and it was My fault, I would simply repair or replace the insert for them, but not everyone that does tip work is equiped to do that kind of work.

One other tip for finding a good repair guy without risking your more valuable cues is to pick up a cheap, but good import cue, let the guy do work on that until your comfortable with him working on your more valueable cues. I have had quite a few people do that in the past, then when they saw the work, raved, gave a tip, and said that they have 3-4 more cues that needed work on. If you have a special thread on one or more of Your shafts, ask him If he has a drive for It, If not, but your happy with the tip and shaft work he does, tell Him you are willing to wait for Him to get one, so there's no risk of something like this happening. I know It's not the kind of thing that most customers would think of, so this thread could be of benifit there.

we don't advertise, or really give any strong effort to hustle for work, so If you lived In my town you would not even know I was here except for word of mouth from the room owner we tip housecues for, or through other players in the area. That's where all our work comes from, included the many repeats We have had for years. Most of them know us on some kind of personal level, or get to through the work we do for them or through league play when we have the time to be involed with that. My point is there could be someone like this in any town, and It just may take alittle digging to find out who they are, and how to get in contact with them.

I have had some ask to send me work, and done that, but altough I've had no incidents, I admitt I somewhat dislike the added responsibility of something possibly happening during shipping, If not shipped securely enough, and with the added cost to ship some work to and from securely, It can get kind of expensive. for a simple tip and shaft cleaning It would be well worth the effort to really dig, and try to find someone locally that does good work, and could still throw them a small tip to show apprietiation for the money saved, and good work, but if all else fails, then you may have no choice, and be forced to drive to the next city or send It someone reputable.

My appologies for the long post here, just trying to lend some ideas for those in need. Hopefully something I mentioned will help some out, I hate to hear stories like this, because I can easily Imagine how upsetting It would be.
Good Luck in the quests.:)

Greg
 
despotic931 said:
Ok so I posted this in the main forum as well, but I thought I would put it here as well...

So, a couple of days ago I left my 314 shaft with a local cue maker. It is a first generation shaft with a Uniloc joint off of my Predator SPJ (wood to wood joint, 4 points, red veneers). Anyways I wanted him to put a sniper tip on (I supplied the tip), and clean up the shaft. I personaly handed him the shaft, with the joint protector on as always, snug but not tight, as I always keep it when the cue is not together.

Tonight I went to go pick it up, the first thing i noticed was how incredibly tight the joint protector was on. When I tried to put the shaft on my cue the threads would not even catch (since it's Uniloc)! After further inspection it looks as though they had been "worn" away, and when I tried to install the joint protector back on, it wouldn't even go on straight!

In total dismay I went to show him (He was at the pool hall), he said he wouldn't look at it tonight, that I could bring it to him monday or just leave it with him. And, he said that he never removed the joint protector the whole time he had it! So, here I am left with a cue that I have always taken excelent care of, that I can't even put together! I'm so upset right now, this cue is my baby, and my player.

So, my first question is, what could have happened, what could cause this?

Second, is what do I do from here?

Thanks guys...
-Justin <--- So Bloody Pi553d Off that He Could Scream!!!
Click to expand...


hey jus.ya need to clean out yer pm's.....i tried to send ya one and i would not go through
 
Hey guys thanks for all the replies, I'm going to have a little "chat" with the cue maker today. Hopefully he will own up to it and do something about it.

Turns out Ratcues is authorized to do repairs on predator equipment and allow the equipment to keep its warrenty, so I may just send it off to him.

Anyways thanks agian, you've all been helpful in allowing me to understand the things that could have happened in his shop while I wasn't there.

-Justin
 
despotic931 said:
Hey guys thanks for all the replies, I'm going to have a little "chat" with the cue maker today. Hopefully he will own up to it and do something about it.

Turns out Ratcues is authorized to do repairs on predator equipment and allow the equipment to keep its warrenty, so I may just send it off to him.

Anyways thanks agian, you've all been helpful in allowing me to understand the things that could have happened in his shop while I wasn't there.

-Justin
Click to expand...

Juston good luck with him owning up to it. I would just send your cue off to get a new incert put in the shaft rat or mike webb would do a fine job for ya. Uniloc probally cost ya 20 to 30 bucks maybe a little more .Good luck.I bet Dave striped it out probally using a 5/16 14 drive pin as he don't have a uniloc pin to work on the shafts that I no of. LOL here one for you guys out there this is the same guy who does all aaron painers ivory ferrules and linen wraps.:eek: :eek: :eek:
 
bigpocket said:
Juston good luck with him owning up to it. I would just send your cue off to get a new incert put in the shaft rat or mike webb would do a fine job for ya. Uniloc probally cost ya 20 to 30 bucks maybe a little more .Good luck.I bet Dave striped it out probally using a 5/16 14 drive pin as he don't have a uniloc pin to work on the shafts that I no of. LOL here one for you guys out there this is the same guy who does all aaron painers ivory ferrules and linen wraps.:eek: :eek: :eek:
Click to expand...

LOL Matt you really need to learn how to spell, hehe. Yea, so I am guessing that Erin told you what happened? He told me flat out that he doesn't have a uniloc pin, after he screwed up! Anyways him and I are going to hopefully have a little chat today if he is down at the hall, I'll let ya know what happens.

-Justin (matt you may want to note the spelling of my name ;) )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top