How did you start?

[han]

Hello all,

I'm new to this forum (been lurking) and have always been interested
in cuemaking. And it seems like a background in engineering/wood working
is a prerequisite (or helps immensely). Some questions:

How did you start?

What was you're background prior to cuemaking?

What would you recommend for someone (me) interested in cuemaking?

Thanks in advance!

ps It's my first thread!

 

[cueman]

Hello all,

I'm new to this forum (been lurking) and have always been interested
in cuemaking. And it seems like a background in engineering/wood working
is a prerequisite (or helps immensely). Some questions:

How did you start?

Started doing tips by hand. Then got a wood lathe, modified it and starting doing more repairs. The progressed into cue building.

What was you're background prior to cuemaking?

No wood working or metal working experience to amount to anything. I grew up in the TV business.

What would you recommend for someone (me) interested in cuemaking?

Get the books and videos that are available. Watch and read them and then decide if you are still interested

Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[han]

I'll be calling you shortly!

I do have access to a Porper lathe (and Porper himself) and someone
who "tinkers" with making tips, and building simple cues. It's a start.

 

[BLACKHEARTCUES]

how did you start

In the town I grew up in, it was manditory in the eighth grade & freshman year of high school that the boys take woodshop, metalshop & drafting. Each class lasted 1/3 of the year. In my senior year I took a whole year of woodshop & drafting. When I started repairing & latter making Qs, I was a Design Engineer for the "Westclox" company, designing watch & clock movements. My son(then in highschool) & I, decided to begin selling Qs. We hoped that if we sold enough of them, we would use the money to buy a couple of really nice Qs, for ourselves. That was 1984. I started putting on tips for some of my customers & in 1986 made my 1st Q. I 1st bought a wood lathe & mounted a large chuck from A drill press on it. I made a sleeve for the joint end of the shaft out of cork. I also put a DC motor on the lathe. That way I could turn slowly ,but with great torque. When I decided to make Qs, I bought an old "Atlas" bench lathe. I made Qs for 3 years on that lathe, useing the tools that came with the lathe. Then I heard about someone mounting a router on the lathe, to do the cutting & did that. I now have those 2 lathes & 4 others. It grows on you. DON'T start in the cue business if you think you are going to make a lot of money. I do it because I love what I do. If you don't then find a bartending job, where you can make money & meet pretty girls...JER

 

[Mase]

Hello all,

I'm new to this forum (been lurking) and have always been interested
in cuemaking. And it seems like a background in engineering/wood working
is a prerequisite (or helps immensely). Some questions:

How did you start?

What was you're background prior to cuemaking?

What would you recommend for someone (me) interested in cuemaking?

Thanks in advance!

ps It's my first thread!

I was getting close to retirement and wanted some thing to keep me busy. So in about 1995 I started putting coin op pool tables in bars. I then had to retip the cues and when people saw me doing this they started asking if I could do theirs. Then is just started mushrooming. I made my first cue in about 1998. I currently run pool leagues with about 800 players in 4 cities, have a website as I am the Canadian distributor of a line of jump/break cues, am on the board of directors running the CCS (ACS in the states) and repair and build cues. So much for retirement.

 

[han]

BLACKHEARTCUES,

I plan on keeping my day job. This is something that's been on the backburner
for a long time (among others); since the early 90's. It's just now, after a 5 year
hiatus from playing pool (getting my $hit together) that the opportunity arose.
At the moment i know next to nothing about building cues. But with the help of
this forum, friends, books and videos, hopefully i can put something together in
a few months. It just sounds like fun anyway.

Mase,

I just a put on my very own tip a few weeks ago. And it came out pretty good.
It's amazing how much satisfaction i got from this. Ok, i did nick up the ferrule
a bit, but it's a cheapie cue (hits great though). Still, i'm very proud of my little
accomplishment! And it looks like that's where it really starts.

 

[Fred Agnir]

Hello all,

I'm new to this forum (been lurking) and have always been interested
in cuemaking. And it seems like a background in engineering/wood working
is a prerequisite (or helps immensely). Some questions:

How did you start?

What was you're background prior to cuemaking?

What would you recommend for someone (me) interested in cuemaking?

Thanks in advance!

ps It's my first thread!

Get the Blue Book II, order the Blue Book III (which should be out shortly). Each cuemaker has a blurb on much of what you're asking.

And, I know this is a little self-serving, and could be construed as an ad, but for more information on some cuemakers that don't post here, I suggest to subscribe to InsidePOOL Magazine. InsidePOOL Magazine has a monthly article featuring a different cuemaker. The articles are generally focused on the cuemaker and less focused on the cues themselves.

Fred <~~~ or so I hear

 

[han]

Blurbs are fine.

A professional's background, experience in other disciplines, is always
interesting. My personal approach to most projects start off with lots
of reading, interviews, and tinkering. Usually several months before
purchasing materials and tools (aside from books and videos).

Like a good newbie, i've spent several hours going through the archives.
Lot's of good stuff...