Thank you so much for informing us all, about the little secrets that MOST cuemakers use. I was just wondering, which are the ones that dont use these little tricks
Inquiring minds want to know...

Thank you so much for informing us all, about the little secrets that MOST cuemakers use. I was just wondering, which are the ones that dont use these little tricks
Here's a buttsleeve pic of the original - floating Ivory points, interlaced Sterling Silver & Ivory crowns, Mother-of-Pearl inlays with Sterling Silver "eyelash" accents; all in Ebony. Circa mid-1990's.
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TW
Thank you so much for informing us all, about the little secrets that MOST cuemakers use. I was just wondering, which are the ones that dont use these little tricks
I don't know Steve. Why don't you tell us? Someone asked a question and I tried to explain how it was done. Whats the problem?
Here's a buttsleeve pic of the original - floating Ivory points, interlaced Sterling Silver & Ivory crowns, Mother-of-Pearl inlays with Sterling Silver "eyelash" accents; all in Ebony. Circa mid-1990's.
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TW
All of a sudden you dont know.....you stated that most cuemakers use this TRICK......
Again I ask you, name some that dont use this little TRICK. Being you were trashing Searings and Black Boars, I guess there a couple that use the trick.
That is so amazing. We constantly hear all about Searing, Scianella, and Szamboti (who are great).....and then Thomas comes in with a picture of a buttsleeve and blows sh*t out of the water. Wow.....
and what's even funnier is "when" thomas' cue was actually made. He was/is way ahead of his time and i still believe he is one of the best cue makers that ever lived.
You didn't really ask me. It was a sideways remark just phrased as a question. It's easy to tell which cue makers dont use the trick. Just look at their inlays and they are usually rounded at the edge.
Now as far as trashing BB and Searing......
I have never said that their work wasn't awesome and have in fact actually stated in this thread that this cue was very nice. I have commented that they are way over priced. But hey, that's my opinion. You want to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a PJ then that's your business. I just think that it's crazy and there are MUCH better values out there. There is NOTHING they can do that dozens of other cue makers can't. Well except for in Tony's case where he actually "tunes" the cue to each and every customer.
And just for the record, if you actually believe that, I have a bridge I want to sell you in Brooklyn. Lol
Why are you so angry with me Steve? Is it because I tell it like it is and you don't like the fact that what I say may someday damage the resale value of your beloved Black Boars?
I would love to see what your take on BB would be if you didn't have the money you have. Wouldn't it be horrible if you have to live like the common folk?
But "Monstermash", you know your comments to Steve should not have been made on AZ & I cannot understand why you lost your "cool". It seems that an apology is indicated. Paul Del Giudice.
Which comments are you referring to? Would it be the first post where I stated it was very nice and I answered a question for another member regarding inlays? Or are you referring to after when Steve tried to bait me like several others do on this forum?
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The pockets the inlays are in are actually not as sharp as the inlays. It's a trick used by a lot of cue makers. When the inlays are in ebony, as these are, they are glued in with epoxy that is dyed black to give the illusion that they are sharp.
While it is possible to make the pocket pretty sharp, it can only be as sharp as the size of the tool. Here is an example that might help explain it. If you look at the diamonds in this photo, you'll notice that they are slightly turned in the pocket. That is because the tool used to cut the pocket is larger than the inlay and turning them slightly allows a uniform look. This is one of those things that goes largely un-noticed until someone points it out.
I often get a good laugh when I see someone "explaining" how intricate inlays are actually super easy, if you just know the secrets. But I'm afraid your knowledge is a little dated - maybe a couple of decades or so. I haven't seen any cuemaker worth a damn filling oversized pockets with dyed epoxy for a long time.
Not that it wouldn't be handy though. The problem is, it's just so darn hard to find dye to match Sterling Silver and Ivory (photo 1 below) or fancy burls (photos 2, 3).
They say "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing", but in my experience a little ignorance is too. In the time I've been building cues - you know, the post-Balabushka era - top cuemakers have developed a huge arsenal of clever methods and skilled techniques that hobbyists and railbirds have absolutely no idea even exist. Nevertheless, there's no substitute for good old-fashioned hard work. The smallest end mills I typically use are 0.010" diameter, but my chisels and scalpel blades taper right on down to zero. Hand cutting pockets for razor sharp details in a single cue can often take several days.
Dyed epoxy indeed.
TW
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