Help on purchasing first lathe

tread2004

tread2004

New member
I'm a pool player wanting to learn to build cues. I want to start doing sneaky petes and need help with a lathe. I don't have a lot of money to spend on one. What would be a way to atleast begin. Or, are there ways to do the work by hand. I.E. Joint work. What tools would help with that. Thanks!
 
tread2004 said:
I'm a pool player wanting to learn to build cues. I want to start doing sneaky petes and need help with a lathe. I don't have a lot of money to spend on one. What would be a way to atleast begin. Or, are there ways to do the work by hand. I.E. Joint work. What tools would help with that. Thanks!
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Partner, if you do not have a lot of money, you should wait until you have around $10,000. This will allow you to purchase materials, and decent machine. You will be suprised how fast things add up, but $10,000 will get you started.
 
I started with 2,000 on used machine's but it wasnt anywere close after supplies, screwups, more parts, every tip and ferrule, I was ready for basic repair. do make new shafts and basic butts you need an assortment of ring work larger more expensive rods, Ivory. You need better machinery mor jigs. Well you get the point more money better equipment better finish product more repeat customers.

I started slow and I have spent atleast $15,000+ on equipment and I mainly do basic repair and a few shafts from time to time. I am happy with what I have built but my friends keep telling me to build more. Which means I need more equipment for spraying my finish on.

So it adds up fast think about how far you want to get into it first small budget is fine if you can find good equipment at the right price I got lucky with my first purchase as a package.

Craig
 
tread2004 said:
I'm a pool player wanting to learn to build cues. I want to start doing sneaky petes and need help with a lathe. I don't have a lot of money to spend on one. What would be a way to atleast begin. Or, are there ways to do the work by hand. I.E. Joint work. What tools would help with that. Thanks!
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I don't know how much money you have to spend, so I can't give you an opinion on which machine I think would be best for you. I would recommend starting small. Repair work will make you more money starting off and the initial investment is much less. If later on down the road, you decide to pursue cue building, you can upgrade to larger machines. It doesn't take much time to invest a ton of money into cue work. Go slow, be patient, and if you see that cue building is something that you want to pursue later, then you'll have a better grasp on what you'll need. There's been a gazillion dollars invested by people that think that they want to build cues only to find out later that it's not what they thought it might be, and they quit.
 
My advice is to do some repair work first.
Buy a new or used CueSmith or Unique Cue Companion.
They run about $1500 new give or take a few hundred for tooling and supplies.
Call Chris Hightower and buy his book.
Call Jim at Unique products and ask them the same question you just posted here.
Cue repair is actually harder than making a cue.
Learn tips, ferrules, then get some scrap house cues and do some joints.

A good repair lathe will allow you to make Sneaky Pete style cues from house cues.
But ... you aint gonna do it for a few hundred dollars.
If you cant afford $1500 to $2000 to start doing repair work then forget it.
However, look at it as an investment that might ... depending on your work ... return all the money you spend.
Do you have pool halls where you live?
Are there cue repair persons around you?
Any cue makers you can visit?
 
Some of what he said!

WilleeCue said:
My advice is to do some repair work first....
Cue repair is actually harder than making a cue.
Learn tips, ferrules, then get some scrap house cues and do some joints.

A good repair lathe will allow you to make Sneaky Pete style cues from house cues.
But ... you aint gonna do it for a few hundred dollars.
If you cant afford $1500 to $2000 to start doing repair work then forget it.
However, look at it as an investment that might ... depending on your work ... return all the money you spend.
Do you have pool halls where you live?
Are there cue repair persons around you?
Any cue makers you can visit?
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Tap! Tap! Tap! :smile:
 
tread2004 said:
I'm a pool player wanting to learn to build cues. I want to start doing sneaky petes and need help with a lathe. I don't have a lot of money to spend on one. What would be a way to atleast begin. Or, are there ways to do the work by hand. I.E. Joint work. What tools would help with that. Thanks!
Click to expand...


Joshrrrr........Not much more to say than what hasn't already been said.

But by this fact alone you are going to be at a clear start up disadvantage.
Maybe doing tips, ferrules, shaft cleaning and wraps you could get away with less start up $. But to build cues is really a whole different ball game.
It will cost you an investment that will take years to accumulate and even many more years to recover.
You will learn new words that are not fit for younger ears....drink more than you do now....and at times you will have a very strained relationship with your significant other because they will have to live in the shop with to be able to talk to you. (mine calls to talk with me on my cell phone when she is in the house that is 25 feet away)
You will lay awake at night and/or have many restless dreams about designs and how to do things better or different the next time.
You will lose weight from not eating or skipping meals..(don't worry it'll be back when you get older and your metabolism slows down).
If you play pool now....forget about it, until you get your table installed at your house.
Very few friends and family will see you grow old.......one day, much later, they will say, where the heck have you been?
Most all other chores and honey do lists will be put on hold for extended periods of time and/or may never get completed without outside intervention.
Sound funny or crazy...?? ..... I speak the truth.
All I can say is Good Luck with your venture and God Speed finishing your first cue.

<~~~may have forgotten a few other things that will definitely happen to you.............
 
BarenbruggeCues said:
Joshrrrr........Not much more to say than what hasn't already been said.

But by this fact alone you are going to be at a clear start up disadvantage.
Maybe doing tips, ferrules, shaft cleaning and wraps you could get away with less start up $. But to build cues is really a whole different ball game.
It will cost you an investment that will take years to accumulate and even many more years to recover.
You will learn new words that are not fit for younger ears....drink more than you do now....and at times you will have a very strained relationship with your significant other because they will have to live in the shop with to be able to talk to you. (mine calls to talk with me on my cell phone when she is in the house that is 25 feet away)
You will lay awake at night and/or have many restless dreams about designs and how to do things better or different the next time.
You will lose weight from not eating or skipping meals..(don't worry it'll be back when you get older and your metabolism slows down).
If you play pool now....forget about it, until you get your table installed at your house.
Very few friends and family will see you grow old.......one day, much later, they will say, where the heck have you been?
Most all other chores and honey do lists will be put on hold for extended periods of time and/or may never get completed without outside intervention.
Sound funny or crazy...?? ..... I speak the truth.
All I can say is Good Luck with your venture and God Speed finishing your first cue.

<~~~may have forgotten a few other things that will definitely happen to you.............
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Many good points. Don't quit your real job. Don't forget the huge phone bill.
If you want to build cues buy a cue building lathe. The repair lathes WILL NOT build a cue. Your limited from the first day. Used repair lathes are always for sale. Used cue building lathes are rare. If you decide cue building sucks the machinery is easy to sell. You'll get most of your investment back.
 
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While you're in Minnesota picking up the lathe you might as well grab this too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...o=CRX&its=S%2BI%2BSS&itu=ISS%2BUCI%2BSI&otn=4

This will allow you to do your points, ring billets and simple design inlays.
Then plan on spending a year or two in trade school learning to use them.

Actually, these aren't bad machines for the money. Even if down the road, you decide that cues aren't your cup of tea, you could conceivably make a living doing custom machine work; with the proper training.
 
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that clausing is a great lathe i just my second jet and spend around 4000.00 even if you could pick this up for 3500.00 and decided you didn't want to make cues it is a very sell-able item and its looks spotless. if you do want a bridge port i have one thats like new with DRO's on 2 axis's.
if your not wanting to spend that much look for a used porper lathe there good to start out on and come with all the goodies to get started also a great re-sell value i just one i had for $3700.00
 
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