Lathe question

PaulieB

PaulieB

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have some spare time and some spare cash and was thinking of destroying some perfectly good wood. I know absolutely nothing about cue making but I love the idea of making my own cue some day. I'll start out by buying some books and DVDs and see what I can learn from that, but the question I have is that a friend of mine has a Grizzly G1495 wood lathe that his father used to own and it's just sitting in his garage.

Could I use that style of lathe for learning how to build cues? It seems big enough from his description. What would need to be converted on it for cue making? I know I'm asking these questions prematurely, as I should probably at least get the books/DVDs to get a basic understanding, but I want to be able to tell him not to hold on to the lathe for me if it's something I can't eventually use.

Thanks in advance.
 
PaulieB said:
I love the idea of making my own cue some day.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the addiction! You just spent ten grand and don't even know it yet!

The wood lathe will have some uses, but shouldn't be the first lathe you buy.

Larry
 
63Kcode said:
Welcome to the addiction! You just spent ten grand and don't even know it yet!

The wood lathe will have some uses, but shouldn't be the first lathe you buy.

Larry
Click to expand...

Any suggestions for a fool like me looking to start out cheap? I just mentioned that particular model because I can use it for nothing. I don't have serious intentions of making this my life's work, I'm just hoping I find that I have some aptitude for it and can make a few cues for myself and friends. I also have about 6 months off of work so I figured this could be a good time to start. I might only end up making some really fancy napkin holders by the time I'm done realizing I can't make a cue to save my life!
 
Paulie, I used my monster wood lathe to turn squares to round, design joint protectors. With a few mods, you can use a wood lathe for sanding, cleaning and finishing but beyond that and a ton of mods, which might be pretty pricey, I am afraid that you really can't build a cue with it.

I believe Chris Hightower advertises on his site that he has mods for wood lathes so if your heart is set on it, you could PM him.

I think that whatever money you would spend modifying a wood lathe would be better spent on a repair lathe for a start in your new venture.

Great luck to ya and be prepared to drain your bank account in short order.
Just kidding of course. If you are going to part with your hard earned money
for a hobby, I can't think of a better way in which to do it.

There are tons of fun things to do with a wood lathe, pens, wine bottle stoppers, canes, bowls etc.
You could sell those locally at craft fairs and put the money into a cue lathe.
Jim Baxter (of joint protector fame) has made some pretty canes and sold them for a nice profit.
There are some senior citizens that have a bit of money and like fancier canes.

It beats the heck out of sky diving with a used chute. Which will cost you about the same amount of money to get yourself started
in cue repair and building.

Terry.

PS - If you can tag down a couple of Bebot Bautista's videos of him working in his shop that will totally amaze you of what can be done with a modified wood lathe. I love watching his vids. Truly an artist in his own right.
 
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I just picked up a deluxe cue lathe from chris hightower about a month ago, got his book and dvds also, LOTS of info in them! With everything, tools, lathe, wood and misc other stuff i have about $7000 invested.

Good luck to ya! It is alot of fun, but main thing to have is patience lol
 
I just got into cue trashing a couple months ago and after I pick up my south bend lathe this weekend, ill have over $3500 invested with absolutely zero return so far, lol. I don't mind that though, its all part of the learning process. The biggest thing is to ask questions. I ask all the time and everyone has been more than helpful to me. Large amounts of bourbon after you are done working helps too, lol.

Joe
 
Awesome guys, thanks for the responses. At least now I know not to bother my buddy regarding that lathe. I'll probably just shell out a couple of bucks for an entry level cue lathe. I saw the ones by Hightower, anyone else with suggestions or maybe used equipment that can get me started out, please feel free to PM me or reply here, as appropriate.

Thanks again for the input!
 
Thanks for searching around craigslist for those listings, Trent. My concern is, since I'm such a complete rookie at this, I wouldn't even know what to be looking for regarding a used lathe and sure as heck wouldn't know if I was buying a lemon.

I'll have to start some research. :)
 
well youll need a ground rod and dial indicator to check runout and the grab hold of the ways they should feel solid not alot of play and look at the bed make sure its not all beat to hell.

this is aboout the cheapest and for sure most accurate way to get started.

if your goign to do this and have the room pull the trigger you wont regret it.
14x40 would be best to find but 36 inches between centers works just fine good luck
 
PaulieB said:
Thanks for searching around craigslist for those listings, Trent. My concern is, since I'm such a complete rookie at this, I wouldn't even know what to be looking for regarding a used lathe and sure as heck wouldn't know if I was buying a lemon.

I'll have to start some research. :)
Click to expand...

I have bought five metal lathes in the past two years. Only one was a lemon and I use it to cut points on. The price of the five used lathes is about what a fully loaded cue lathe would cost. Buying and learning how to run a metal lathe might be a first good step in cue making. Be warned though. They can cost you an arm, leg, finger, toe, eye or just about any other part you are fond of.

Larry
 
Thanks again for the replies. Yeah, this is really a ground up project for me, so even the basics of running the machinery is going to be new to me. I just love the idea of building a cue. I have some spare cash and spare time and building a cue beats hanging out in a bar spending money.

I'll post a picture of my horrible injury with my "used lathe for sale, only slightly bloody" advertisement if it comes down to that!
 
You have a couple of PM's.

Gary

PaulieB said:
I have some spare time and some spare cash and was thinking of destroying some perfectly good wood. I know absolutely nothing about cue making but I love the idea of making my own cue some day. I'll start out by buying some books and DVDs and see what I can learn from that, but the question I have is that a friend of mine has a Grizzly G1495 wood lathe that his father used to own and it's just sitting in his garage.

Could I use that style of lathe for learning how to build cues? It seems big enough from his description. What would need to be converted on it for cue making? I know I'm asking these questions prematurely, as I should probably at least get the books/DVDs to get a basic understanding, but I want to be able to tell him not to hold on to the lathe for me if it's something I can't eventually use.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
 
PaulieB said:
... My concern is, since I'm such a complete rookie at this, I wouldn't even know what to be looking for regarding a used lathe and sure as heck wouldn't know if I was buying a lemon.

I'll have to start some research. :)
Click to expand...

Here is a start for your research, from an outstanding contributer to the Internet home shop machinist world, Mr. Dave Ficken :

http://www.mermac.com/advicenew.html

Agree to the terms and read on !

Dave
 
Thank you to everyone helping out a clueless rookie! I'm still trolling craigslist and shopping for DVDs etc and reading what I can before I jump into this ... and all the information you guys are providing is great.

Thanks again.
 
Cuemaker03, if you see this, your mailbox is full and I was hoping to send you a PM. :)
 
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