How many makers would.............??

Ruthless

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Silver Member
How many makers would cut out a few hundred $ worth of ivory because of a 5/1000" alignment problem on points? Something I don't think anyone would notice with the naked eye.

I went over to Chris Nitti's today and the 4 high points on the 8 ivory points in the forearm were cut back out. The problem was with the guide hole in the end of the piece had moved slightly when he cut the short points.

I do have to salute him for fixing something that he would prob only notice in a 100+ ivory inlay cue because he does it all without cnc. If he had cnc I wouldn't have even have ordered a cue.

This cue Chris calls "bling, bling" will be in the new billiard encyclopedia and at VF, but he does that tight of a quality control on all of his cues.

I'm just wondering how many others do that tight of work? Not just say they do, but actually do it.

FL Dave
 
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<---------- Chris Nitti fan. :D

Although, I will tell you, that the cocobolo points on my 2002 Nitti are not exactly even...:(

Two match up to each other and the other two match up to each other, as well...but the first set is a tiny bit longer than the other two (but enough to see with the naked eye)...

Someone told me (Ruthless, in fact...lol) that about 5 years ago he made some changes...increased quality, etc...

Wondering if maybe my cue was one of the last to have such imperfections? No biggie, though...I like the way it plays! :D
 
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That's usually how they are if off alot of times, pairs of 2's that match close together like that. This use to be common amoung most cues I saw or owned before the 90's, I rarely saw one with even points that had actual V-grooves. I believe this perfection has been more about the demand for It then anything. It does'nt change the play a whole lot from what I'm aware of. In some cases It could be alittle more work for the builder, and in some cases there may not be much room to even them up. Alot of people don't expect as much out of the conversions, but they may be more in tune to It on a higher dollar cue, It depends on the person. Atleast most makers I know would strive for that perfection, but as I mentioned I believe that depends on what they have to work with, and how much room there is to reset the points. It's a shame at how much waste is created simply because builders don't want to get a bad reputation based on such a minor issue, because alot of people would get some good deals on some great playing cues for the money that otherwise they may not get to try.
 
Are you saying the pocket was 5/1000th too big or the points uneven? alignment can mean alot of things...
________
 
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Ruthless said:
How many makers would cut out a few hundred $ worth of ivory because of a 5/1000" alignment problem on points? Something I don't think anyone would notice with the naked eye.

I went over to Chris Nitti's today and the 4 high points on the 8 ivory points in the forearm were cut back out. The problem was with the guide hole in the end of the piece had moved slightly when he cut the short points.

I do have to salute him for fixing something that he would prob only notice in a 100+ ivory inlay cue because he does it all without cnc. If he had cnc I wouldn't have even have ordered a cue.

This cue Chris calls "bling, bling" will be in the new billiard encyclopedia and at VF, but he does that tight of a quality control on all of his cues.

I'm just wondering how many others do that tight of work? Not just say they do, but actually do it.

FL Dave

I think he should throw the cue in the fireplace and commit suicide

FWIW - the ivory to make four points is only a small fraction of
several hundred dollars

Dale
 
Top of The Food Chain

The first time I saw Chris's cues I new immediately that he was moving right to the top of the food chain. His cues are meticulous in execution and balanced in design. I have two at the shop at the moment but they won't last long. Keep up the great work Chris. See you at Hopkins.

Vic
Professor Cue
 
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Professor Cue said:
The first time I saw Chris's cues I new immediately that he was moving right to the top of the food chain. His cues are meticulous in execution and balanced in design. I have two at the shop at the moment but they won't last long. Keep up the great work Chris. See you at Hopkins.

Vic
Professor Cue
 
working on your cue

Ruthless said:
How many makers would cut out a few hundred $ worth of ivory because of a 5/1000" alignment problem on points? Something I don't think anyone would notice with the naked eye.

I went over to Chris Nitti's today and the 4 high points on the 8 ivory points in the forearm were cut back out. The problem was with the guide hole in the end of the piece had moved slightly when he cut the short points.

I do have to salute him for fixing something that he would prob only notice in a 100+ ivory inlay cue because he does it all without cnc. If he had cnc I wouldn't have even have ordered a cue.

This cue Chris calls "bling, bling" will be in the new billiard encyclopedia and at VF, but he does that tight of a quality control on all of his cues.

I'm just wondering how many others do that tight of work? Not just say they do, but actually do it.

FL Dave
Chris is a fine cuemaker. He, like many more of us, will do our best to get it "RIGHT" before it leaves our work bench. It's tuff to make all happy, we as cuemakers must make ourselves happy first, then ship them out.
Chris is a very good friend, and does very clean work. I would have no problem recomending him at all.
blud
 
Craig Fales said:
Are you saying the pocket was 5/1000th too big or the points uneven? alignment can me alot of things...

They were 5/1000ths off center to the other points.

Chris has came a long way in the last few years. He gives a lot of credit to the other cue makers he knows and a whole bunch of trial and error.

He called earlier about another cue of mine he is doing some work on. I will try to take a few pics of the one in progress tomorrow when I'm there. He should have the handle (4 pc ebony) joined to the forearm (amboynya burl) and about ready for the pantograph to start cutting in all of the inlays and silver.

:)
 
Ruthless said:
They were 5/1000ths off center to the other points.

Chris has came a long way in the last few years. He gives a lot of credit to the other cue makers he knows and a whole bunch of trial and error.

He called earlier about another cue of mine he is doing some work on. I will try to take a few pics of the one in progress tomorrow when I'm there. He should have the handle (4 pc ebony) joined to the forearm (amboynya burl) and about ready for the pantograph to start cutting in all of the inlays and silver.

:)

Your eye is very good at discerning distances if there is something near to compare with. .005 sounds very slight, and normally it would be, but if it happened to be adjacent to other inlays or points it could very well stand out like a sore thumb. I have a number of mechanical indexers that go down to one degree and more than once I have indicated to the wrong number and had to scrap the piece. I also have a CNC indexer that cost me about 900.00 which has paid for itself a number of times as it doesn't make mistakes.

Dick
 

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and Chris chained to the pantograph where he will remain for the next month (I believe he has 30+ cues ready to inlay) :)
 

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rhncue said:
Your eye is very good at discerning distances if there is something near to compare with. .005 sounds very slight, and normally it would be, but if it happened to be adjacent to other inlays or points it could very well stand out like a sore thumb. I have a number of mechanical indexers that go down to one degree and more than once I have indicated to the wrong number and had to scrap the piece. I also have a CNC indexer that cost me about 900.00 which has paid for itself a number of times as it doesn't make mistakes.

Dick

Dick - Do you cut out the corners with an exacto or similar tool after they get run on the cnc?

I used to work for Sherikon Precision Metals/Space Systems programming cnc in the mid 90's. But I have never done anything involving wood items.

I have seen some of your cues and they look Great. I may have to add you to my list for a cue order later this year.
 
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