help w/ buying tools

[zn418]

Ok I came across this lathe recently and its at a steal of a price. I believe that it will work very well for tips, ferrells and possible more. The question is, what else do i need to purchase to fulfill my needs and where is the best place to purchase them. Please lead me in the right direction w/ what i need to buy. I believe i need to build something to hold the shaft from the rear. Also does the chuck on the lathe need to have something to keep from scratching the shaft? Any info appreciated thanks, Zack
The attached picture is basically what the lathe looks like.

 

[tsp&b]

Stop!

Before you buy anything! Buy a book, DVD's, video cassettes etc. I think you will find out from the replys that follow, you are going down a path many others have already traveled. But the first step is to have it clear in your mind exactly what you want to do. (do you want to do basic repairs ie; tips and ferrules, or do you want to do joint repairs, rewraps, build basic cues, or high quality custom cues, or do you want to put Meucci out of business?) If you know exactly what you want to do then you can purchase the correct equipment to do the job.

 

[zn418]

lathe

well really just looking at tips and ferrules.....right now... What all is possible with this lathe? You see i have seen several people that use a metal lathe. Not the same one as this but the smaller one. I wanted to do tips and ferrules right now. I have been doing tips for a while by hand and im just trying to find a easier and better way to do this job. I cant pass up this lathe if it will do a grade A job. The cost on this lathe is Free99.

 

[olsonsview]

What is the size of the spindle hole?

Most combo mill/lathes I have seen have little or no through hole for the lathe spindle. I believe you want at least a 3/4 inch hole in order to pass a shaft through and do tips and ferrules. That size hole will also have a Morse Taper #3 so you can put a dead center in there as well. And the chuck must have a min 3/4 inch hole in it as well, some are tiny.

 

[rhncue]

well really just looking at tips and ferrules.....right now... What all is possible with this lathe? You see i have seen several people that use a metal lathe. Not the same one as this but the smaller one. I wanted to do tips and ferrules right now. I have been doing tips for a while by hand and im just trying to find a easier and better way to do this job. I cant pass up this lathe if it will do a grade A job. The cost on this lathe is Free99.

Well, the quality is not so good but the price is right. If the hole through the head stock is large enough for a shaft to pass through then with a little adapting to make a steady rest for the back of the shaft this lathe would be suitable for installing ferrules. I believe it would be more difficult and much less user friendly for installing tips however. With that half ass drill press in the way there isn't much room for manipulating a razor safely in my opinion. Other than that this lathe would be just about useless for any other cue repair operations.

Dick

 

[bubsbug]

Well, the quality is not so good but the price is right. If the hole through the head stock is large enough for a shaft to pass through then with a little adapting to make a steady rest for the back of the shaft this lathe would be suitable for installing ferrules. I believe it would be more difficult and much less user friendly for installing tips however. With that half ass drill press in the way there isn't much room for manipulating a razor safely in my opinion. Other than that this lathe would be just about useless for any other cue repair operations.

Dick

Manipulating a razor blade tells me that you probably do this by hand. Is this rather dangerous? I use a unique tipper tool that is very safe.

 

[zn418]

lathe

where do i get a unique tipper tool?

 

[rhncue]

Manipulating a razor blade tells me that you probably do this by hand. Is this rather dangerous? Do you want to loose your fingers, or better yet have that blade rickershade into your right Juglar artery. I use a unique tipper tool that is very safe. Who would have thought it, that just a few weeks ago you were giving me lectures in safety

Well, I don't believe I've ever given you lessons in safety but if I did then I am sorry for that mistake.

I, myself, don't use a razor for trimming tips but many cue mechanics do. I have a lathe that does nothing but install tips but it uses a skew which I doubt you even have any idea what that even is. I don't know how many tips you have put on in the last 40 years but I've put on over 100,000 and I've still got my jugler by the way.

Dick

 

[JoeyInCali]

Manipulating a razor blade tells me that you probably do this by hand. Is this rather dangerous? Do you want to loose your fingers, or better yet have that blade rickershade into your right Juglar artery. I use a unique tipper tool that is very safe. Who would have thought it, that just a few weeks ago you were giving me lectures in safety

Uhmm, you can leave the blade in the utility knife if u want.
The Unique taper tool can also break and hit u in the eye.
U can't loose u're fingers with the blade when it's floating and u know how to hold it. Works great in preventing delamination as well.
You can also tape half of the blade and use that side to hold.

 

[cuejoey]

Are you sure that milling machine has enough room for the length of a shaft ?

 

[zn418]

lathe

Alright look guys i really appreciate what info i have recieved but please lets cut out all the safety blade and etc.....This is not CUE SAFETY 101... I just need some help in the right direction....

 

[rhncue]

Alright look guys i really appreciate what info i have recieved but please lets cut out all the safety blade and etc.....This is not CUE SAFETY 101... I just need some help in the right direction....

Like I said earlier, the price is right (free) so I would use it for ferrules, if the thru hole is big enough, and little else. If I was in need of equipment and this lathe was 150.00 then I would pass on it.

Dick

 

[pdcue]

Well now you've done it

Well, I don't believe I've ever given you lessons in safety but if I did then I am sorry for that mistake.

I, myself, don't use a razor for trimming tips but many cue mechanics do. I have a lathe that does nothing but install tips but it uses a skew which I doubt you even have any idea what that even is. I don't know how many tips you have put on in the last 40 years but I've put on over 100,000 and I've still got my jugler by the way.

Dick

Be prepaird to hear about how the bug is a woodworking genius,
and could teach you a thing or two.

Dale

 

[pdcue]

Alright look guys i really appreciate what info i have recieved but please lets cut out all the safety blade and etc.....This is not CUE SAFETY 101... I just need some help in the right direction....

Take the free lathe, by all means.

You really should buy Hightower's book(cueman)
given the stage you are at in cue repair.

go to the Library and get a book on operating a metal lathe,
they won't have any on cue repair

you will need some way to support/stablize the rear of the shaft.
or you could break it

rotating center
bearing block
"v" cut in a cardboard box
folded bath towl
left hand of your first born child

learn how to do a search,
there have been MANY posts, some with pictures,
detailing all you need to know about doing tips

Dale Pierce

 

[bubsbug]

Take the free lathe, by all means.

You really should buy Hightower's book(cueman)
given the stage you are at in cue repair.

go to the Library and get a book on operating a metal lathe,
they won't have any on cue repair

you will need some way to support/stablize the rear of the shaft.
or you could break it

rotating center
bearing block
"v" cut in a cardboard box
folded bath towl
left hand of your first born child

learn how to do a search,
there have been MANY posts, some with pictures,
detailing all you need to know about doing tips

Dale Pierce

This is pretty good advise. I wouldnt turn down anything that is free, does dpcue care to explain the fore mentioned post, "woodworking genius" back to topic. To do complete shafts you do need a bigger through hole. since the machine is free you could perhaps take the spine out, take it to a machine shop and have it boared to size. Most cuemakers wouldnt go through this hassel in today setting. Do lots of reserch on the subject, speak to as many people as you can. When speaking to salesmen, remember their job is to sell you, not necessarly inform with factual information, but to sell you. For tips and ferrules you dont need much. Im sure this machine can be made to work but at what cost. I highly recommend Hightowers book its a great book after all im a genius you know.

 

[cueman]

There is an old saying that goes: If it is easy it won't be cheap, and if it is cheap it won't be easy. I have sold many short pieces of my dovetail bed and a steady rest to mount behind the lathe for $125. Collets to protect shaft in headstock chuck $9 per set. That makes it real easy but not cheap.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[DaveK]

...To do complete shafts you do need a bigger through hole. since the machine is free you could perhaps take the spine out, take it to a machine shop and have it boared to size.

I'm thinking that you meant "take the spindle out" and have it "bored" larger. My gut feel is that there will not be enough spindle wall thickness to hog it out much bigger (pun intended, and hopefully appreciated ). There is a risk that the spindle will become too flimsy and bend under any significant load, kinda like those old Craftsman lathes (the old model 101 iirc). Also, you would remove the taper at the same time, and it will cost a fair bit to have a new taper reamed or ground into the spindle (again, IF there is enough metal remaining on the thing), especially if you specify a tight runout spec for the job.

Trying to make a small machine into a big machine is most often a bad idea.

Dave

 

[tsp&b]

Take the free lathe, by all means.

you will need some way to support/stablize the rear of the shaft.
or you could break it

rotating center
bearing block
"v" cut in a cardboard box
folded bath towl
left hand of your first born child

Dale Pierce

Dale, I believe you may have eaten just a little too much saw dust. But I love a slightly sick twisted sense of humor!

 

[pdcue]

Trying to make a small machine into a big machine is most often a bad idea.

Dave

Spot on once again

Machinist mantra:
"You can make small parts on a big machine.
You can't make big parts on a small machine."

Dale

 

[LOU'S CUE'S]

grizzly book has 3 of them combo machines.......spindel bore 3/4........1-1/8 and like 1-1/2............the 3/4 should do ferrul/tip...........but what the hell......if it's FREE take it..............PERIOD !!!

whats to decide ???