inlay cuts

[JerseyBill]

Hey guys,
who can tell me if there is a standard (more or less) thickness for the inlay in a cue? Also is there a difference of size according to materials, like ivory, elforyn, wood, or pearl type inlays. I know they sell them at atlas at .080 thick.
thanks, Bill

 

[rhncue]

Hey guys,
who can tell me if there is a standard (more or less) thickness for the inlay in a cue? Also is there a difference of size according to materials, like ivory, elforyn, wood, or pearl type inlays. I know they sell them at atlas at .080 thick.
thanks, Bill

The thickness of the inlay material changes accordingly to the width of the inlay. The pockets are flat bottomed but the inlays will be rounded on it's outside edges. I cut the pockets when the cue is .010 over size which equates to .005 per side. I cut my pockets .120 deep in the center of the pocket. With the glue in the pocket it allows a .125 inlay to be proud of the surface of the cue. I very seldom use anything thinner than .125. as far as the inlays go. When I am using designs that are larger than .500 in width I then go to .150 or maybe even deeper in depth for the pocket and correspondingly thicker inlays so as to insure that the inlays don't wipe out on the edges when the cue is turned to final size and sanded.

Dick

 

[LGSM3]

Bill

I find it helpful to draw a section cut of the cue.
Basically 2 circles representing the diameters of the cue at which i start and finish. I will simply draw a line the width of the inlay and attach it from the mid-point to the quadrant "top dead center" of the circle. Then offsett that line down until i know the side of the inlay has decent embedment. Sometimes its .060 and sometimes its far deeper. I like to keep them as shallow as possible. After a while it becomes a no brainer, i usually only go to this extra step for programming 10-15 thou bits for cleanup so that i know how to lie to the machine about the actual depth as they cant get to typical pocket depth.

hope that makes sense

 

[Mc2]

Hey guys,
who can tell me if there is a standard (more or less) thickness for the inlay in a cue? Also is there a difference of size according to materials, like ivory, elforyn, wood, or pearl type inlays. I know they sell them at atlas at .080 thick.
thanks, Bill

Bill, the standard for inlay parts is at .125". The limitation does not stop at the part not going in deep enough so as to not get sides cut out but also the depth of cut that the end-mill is capable of. A standard 1/32 end-mill typically only cuts .125" deep. It would be smart as Dick pointed out to make sure that your pocket is a little shallower than your parts. In most cases in a butt sleeve if an inlay is wider than say .650" then you may want to consider cutting your pocket a little deeper. Experience will help you out. You will want to do simple parts and pockets on a cue and then experiment with it. As far as other materials, ivory as an example may get translucent on the edges if the pocket is not deep enough. Precise bits sell several different types of end-mills for special materials as you mentioned however, I have had good success cutting most of them with a standard end-mill.

Jim.

 

[JerseyBill]

a thankyou

Hey guys,
who can tell me if there is a standard (more or less) thickness for the inlay in a cue? Also is there a difference of size according to materials, like ivory, elforyn, wood, or pearl type inlays. I know they sell them at atlas at .080 thick.
thanks, Bill

Thanks Guys,
I sort of thought the answer might be not an exact size because of the variations. I was really wanting to figure out what to buy and how thick?
I'll try and experiment with various sizes until I get it right.
thanks again.
Bill