How to get started?

[Flipmode]

My buddy and I would like to get started on making cues. Nothing to sell or anything special, just for a hobby. What is the best way to get started. What materials would we need besides a lathe. Any DVDs or youtube videos that show how to make a cue? How did you guys learn how to make cues?

 

[Sure Scratch]

buy Chris Hightowers book!!!

 

[tsp&b]

buy Chris Hightowers book!!!

That's a very good place to start. If you are still interested after you read Chris' book and you've got a few thousand to invest in machines and materials then go for it.

 

[Chris Byrne]

Start by buying wood now and then the book or videos or lessons. Practice on cheap woods and by the time you are ready for good woods they will be dry/aclimated. Even if you don't build cues wood goes up every year so you will be able to get your money back out down the road. Chris.

 

[Tommy-D]

> 1) Safety glasses.

2) Machinist's training.

3) Refer to #2. All of the nice wood in the world,and a shop full of state of the art machines will do you NO good at all if you can't turn a tenon accurately,properly use a micrometer,test indicator,etc. Without some kind of background/knowledge of precision instruments and techniques,it won't be long at all before you take an unplanned trip to the ER. Tommy D.

 

[d_flash]

books and videos from a variety of sources will do you good.... but, practical experience working with woods is a must. if you enter into this venture, remember, there are lots of cuemakers without all their fingers!

another good read for some ethical/unethical ranting is : http://www.insidepoolmag.com/forums/jimbo/2588-tt-custom-cues.html
....all 21 and counting pages of it...

 

[Flipmode]

there are lots of cuemakers without all their fingers!
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I could not stop laughing after reading that...even though I know its probably true