x2 It's hard enough finding a small lathe with a thru bore, let alone one that size. Before I built my contraption I was always looking for a decent size lathe with a thru diameter over an inch. They NEVER came up in small units.
Lathe for tips
- Thread starter jtompilot
- Start date
I'd be uncomfortable with that. I like the security of a chuck. It might work...some people are good operators that can improvise and execute but that looks dangerous... to the shaft and maybe the operator. Just my view,
VFD's are fairly reasonable these days so that would fix that problem. I've heard claims that the 3 phase lathes run smoother with less chatter.
The few I've looked at listed the 1.5" bore but like I said they looked liked the same lathe just in different color and name.
Some of the others didn't list the bore size.
middleofnowhere
Registered
The problem with those kinds of setups like with a drill is it can get away from you. You need a foot switch or something so you can kill it quick in case something happens.
I have been messing with lathes for like 60 years and as it applies to cues for over 50. I have fixed a lot of things people have done to their own cues using homemade set ups.
If you just want to spin a shaft to say clean it or shape a tip. You can make a direct drive set up with an old fan motor. They have enough power but can be stalled by just gripping the shaft. Nothing real bad can happen.
I think most of that Chinese stuff probably comes out of just a couple of factories they all seem to look exactly the same although some are little better quality than others.
I'll tell you a trick about those little lathes the motors are usually crap and you can burn them up in no time.
If you can get one used with a burned out motor for very little money you can set it up belt driven from a motor mounted on the bench.
I'm not even going to bother trying to describe it if you look on YouTube you'll find people that have done it. That's going to be better than the original lathe. Forget that cheap electronic variable speed crap it's no good.
middleofnowhere
Registered
Here is one of my lathes with two chuck to hold a cue through the head stock. The other picture is an old thing I made up one time and it will spin a shaft with a few adapted arbors. It has a little grinder on the other end. Seems like most of the stuff you use for working on cues you pretty much make up yourself.
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You have to buy 2, but you could always sell one.
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L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
it's actually quite safe, I've screwed the wood block to the work bench and taken all the necessary precautions. Naturally there's a learning curve of how to adapt to it, but once that 's done it's quite workable. I've done ferrules, tips, shaft reduction butt wraps (removal) tips, and more with it.
Of course it's not a replacement for a real cue lathe, but for less than seventy dollars it does just about everything that I need to do.
I admire people with hands like yours and being creative. Can't beat a good DIY if the talent is there.
Sorry that is too Jewish. As for tips… never mind
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
Thanks and sorry muskyed. Hope you don't have to wait much longer. Enjoy the unboxing was awesome.
For what I am doing right now I would have to call this my hobby which can make it sound like such a non-serious activity, but I do take it very serious. Even though I can make a few bucks, I do not earn a living at it so I would call it a hobby. As of now I have a career and a very small work space, so this will probably stay in the hobby range. I cannot deny that I did have some hesitation before pulling the trigger, but I am so glad I did.
Look at it this way. If you are just fixing your shaft now and then, a cue lathe is pretty frivolous. If you are looking to make cue repair/building a hobby, you need the right equipment and you will need to spend money knowing you will not be getting it back.
People spend thousands of dollars on scuba equipment and worse go buy a boat to go diving (swap fishing if you want). Why spend 20-30 thousand plus dollars on a "hobby"? Because you like it, and you can. We work so we can pay to play. Many players spend thousands of dollars on pool cues and can still get beat by a guy with a house stick. i.e. hobbies cost. It is up to you to decide if it is overkill.
There is nothing like spending money on a hobby. The fun never ends. A good quality lathe will last a lifetime plus if taken care of. I’ll never wear mine out. I enjoy my lathes. If I use them a handful of times yearly it’s worth it. Aside from repairs, joint protectors… I made a few canes and more.
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SSdiver, just a hobby for me. Fortunately I have a fantastic 26x40 woodworking shop to put it in, ya thats another hobby. Add a hundred to your 20 to 30 figure and it about what my latest boat cost. Days spent with my son, my wife and friends out fishing are priceless to me.
With a 3 month backlog building these lathes, I think there is a lot of people like me that just like doing their own thing. No way they all plan on using them to make money.
With a 3 month backlog building these lathes, I think there is a lot of people like me that just like doing their own thing. No way they all plan on using them to make money.
one thing to weigh in is that pool players are cheap and it's often not worth the time/hassle. i don't do tips for others than a selected few nowadays. but a lathe can still be fun to play around with
snookered_again
Well-known member
on the subject of cheap little lathes.
I picked this one up a little while ago. Its actually very rare and made by "arcade" they made toy cars and coffee pots and things like that, they had a foundry.
this isn't a toy, its a toymaker's lathe, probably from about 1930
It is a wood lathe, also a grinder and even a tablesaw. yes it has a tiny cast iron saw top and a tiny fence that drop on over it. it has a little cast iron faceplate and a wood turning toolrest. even has a tiny machinists vice. .. its about 18" long, probably 50 lbs or so.
originally it had a crant that powered a little blade up and down like a jigsaw, I think I'm missing the crank. the little casting with two holes in it is to hold the tablesaw table in place and then the blade is mounted in the arbor. the blade is still pretty sharp, the motor is actually fairly powerful for it's size.
It's missing a few bits but even the paint was pretty nice, considering what it is. I guess it's somewhat usable, it runs. I just liked it. I think its more of a collectable than useful , but cute! I've never seen another one. evidently there is an Arcade museum and a following of cast iron toy collectors. I think Rockwell bought them out. they did make other small machines that were real, but very small. probably most of them got used by kids, kicked about the shop and this one somehow survived in really nice condition.
I picked this one up a little while ago. Its actually very rare and made by "arcade" they made toy cars and coffee pots and things like that, they had a foundry.
this isn't a toy, its a toymaker's lathe, probably from about 1930
It is a wood lathe, also a grinder and even a tablesaw. yes it has a tiny cast iron saw top and a tiny fence that drop on over it. it has a little cast iron faceplate and a wood turning toolrest. even has a tiny machinists vice. .. its about 18" long, probably 50 lbs or so.
originally it had a crant that powered a little blade up and down like a jigsaw, I think I'm missing the crank. the little casting with two holes in it is to hold the tablesaw table in place and then the blade is mounted in the arbor. the blade is still pretty sharp, the motor is actually fairly powerful for it's size.
It's missing a few bits but even the paint was pretty nice, considering what it is. I guess it's somewhat usable, it runs. I just liked it. I think its more of a collectable than useful , but cute! I've never seen another one. evidently there is an Arcade museum and a following of cast iron toy collectors. I think Rockwell bought them out. they did make other small machines that were real, but very small. probably most of them got used by kids, kicked about the shop and this one somehow survived in really nice condition.
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SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
I know, I know, I was just throwing out a lowball number for comparison. My last boat was $250,000, but part of that was the commercial Coast Guard safety aspect. Many years ago my little diving hobby turned into a 20 year business. Now I am at the beginning of another money pit.
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
That's what I love about my lathe. Joint protectors, rings, chalk holders, only limited to your imagination.
OP, not high jacking, just saying if you really want a lathe for tipping, get one that will be great for that and you will have other options if you want.
Magnetic chalk holders
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Quite nice. Any pens