Looking To Get A Leather 4x8 Cue Case

Bavafongoul said:
Basically what I said was thanks for reaching me and this case seems to be the best candidate so far. Some forum member suggested I also try Murnak, Barton & Swift Cue Case websites but I have to admit the leather and stitching on your case is indeed very fetching.

The only feature that I have to get adjusted to is the case lid's sideway snap which I've usually not fond of as a design style. Nonetheless, this quality and craftsmanship that went into making this case is apparent, at least to me.
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Thank you. The one I showed you doesn't use a snap. We use a latch that we build by hand called the Puzzle Latch. This one is the "Twist" version which just means that it is secured by the twisty part, like your Instroke but in leather. The stem of the latch is sewn and riveted to the body of the case so it's virtually unbreakable.

jb-tl-ot48-n-lt.jpg


We have several of these in the pipeline though where the lid is not yet made and I can make the lid a front-opening flip top if you like at no extra charge.

This is a flip top with a magnetic latch:

the-anito-kid-c-lid.jpg


This one has a twist latch:
angel-c-lid.jpg
 
I had no idea you would entertain such flexibility, I now have a question, could you do the twist latch front open, but do the latch itself out of steel or brass? Or maybe just explain the latch...is it just a piece of leather, or metal inside of leather?
 
8onthebreak said:
I had no idea you would entertain such flexibility, I now have a question, could you do the twist latch front open, but do the latch itself out of steel or brass? Or maybe just explain the latch...is it just a piece of leather, or metal inside of leather?
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The latch is made of veg tan leather that we have treated to be very firm. Those leather pieces are glued together and hand sewn to each other and then to the body of the case. It's reinforced with metal on the backside of the skin. The twist portion is a single piece of leather that has been hardened and it's attached with a securely set rivet.

The reason I don't use metal twist latches is that they break. When I owned Instroke I fought with those latches for ten years. Finally after ten years we (instroke) went ahead and created a metal latch that is strong enough for a cue case and still looks good. This is the Diamond Latch that Instroke uses.

So when I started JB Case my first thought was to create something similar and I did but the manufacturer did it wrong and it was weak. After some back and forth I finally got frustrated and decided that I was not going to depend on anyone else for my latches if I could avoid it. So I invented the puzzle latch as you see it here.

I do the magnetic version which has zero moving parts and the twist version which only has the one moving part. (as opposed to the type of twist latch out of metal that is typically seen on cases these days which have two or more parts inside that are moving.)

What I like about these in addition to the strength of them is the flexibility. I can customize them to fit any design as seen here:

portugal-e-lid.jpg

portugal-f-lidopen.jpg


Bruce was in law enforcement so I did one in a generic badge shape:

elements-f-lid.jpg


This is a reverse version where the brackets take all the weight so that the metal snap is not stressed. But I prefer not to use snaps at all when I don't have to.

hightcountry-cfrontt.jpg


I can use the space to personalize the case:

jg-c-lid.jpg


And I just think it looks better than a big hunk of metal. I can make it compliment the overall color theme or contrast it at will:

just-enough-c-lid.jpg


And if you're worried at all about how secure it is just ask those that own our cases. In the past three years I have only had one break and that was because the rivet was improperly installed. But even on that case the lid would still close securely because we fit each and every hand-built latch with little to no play so that the pressure alone is enough to keep the case closed.

Here are a couple videos of me demonstrating the latches.

Puzzle Twist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWpKA_vys2Y

Magnetic Puzzle Latch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08-tBou425s

Magnetic Latch (Portugal Case): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeCRrsGlo9w

Magnetic Latch (JG Cues' Case 5x10): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehr--5Ql7a0

As you will see I nearly break my wrist trying to get these cases to open by themselves.

Lastly, you can see some cases on my site that we did use metal twist latches. If you really want that type of latch I will do it and I will make sure that it is as secure as I can make it. But I give no warranty on latches I don't make so if it breaks all repair costs are on you. I have already been down that road with parts I don't make and don't wish to go there again. My friend Roy sells Murnak cases and he had three of these twist latches that Murnak uses break off in the customer's hands in his showroom the first time the customer tried to open the case. Not Murnak's fault really since he was only buying the commonly available latches of that type. These latches are made for purses and are not made to bear the weight of a cue case. So I would strongly discourage you from requesting a metal twist latch.

(unless you buy an Instroke and then be sure to get the Diamond latch, it's specifically made for cue cases and is proprietary to Instroke.) If I someday decide to mass produce cases with a twist latch then I am certain I will find a supplier I can work with and duplicate the Instroke latch.

So there you go, ask me what time it is and I will tell you how a watch is built :-)
 
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Love the cases, will put some thought to latch, good points you bring up. is the silver latch on the southwest 3x6 the diamond latch youre talking about?
 
8onthebreak said:
Love the cases, will put some thought to latch, good points you bring up. is the silver latch on the southwest 3x6 the diamond latch youre talking about?
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Not familiar with the "southwest 3x6" offhand but this is the Instroke Diamond Latch

DeluxeLatch.jpg


It's the best twist style metal latch out there for cue cases with flip-top lids. Instroke has them made only for them. These latches are not available on the market for any other case maker and it's impossible to find anything close.

As I said I designed a similar one but the supplier got it wrong and then gave us a bit of an attitude about changing the mold to correct the problem.



As you can see it's a good hunk of metal and the larger base makes it very sturdy.
 
Still looking For A Case....

I've contacted a couple of custom cue case makers who are going to get back with me with a quote, however,lead time could become an obstacle.....if you got a hard or soft 4x8 leather cue case for sale, please contact me.
 
CHICKY said:
South-Pak has in-house production of custom soft cases, pouches, covers, holsters and soft bags made from a variety of high-quality materials to suit your specific needs.http://www.south-pak.com/solutions/custom-soft-cases-soft-bags/
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What would you charge for a case that holds 4 butts and 8 shafts?

You all ought to make a line of cases specifically tailored for pool cues. I think that your cases would offer excellent protection.
 
I have been using a wave for a long time and it works great. I will get a leather case to look snazzier one day, but in the interim you can not go wrong with one of the nicest cases for the money I have seen. Good luck, and JB makes some damn nice cases. John
 
I checked out The SouthPak Website

Chicky,

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked the the southpak website and they appear to be more of a commercial box outfit with varying containers and sizes for cargo, cameras, guns etc. but the cases are totally impractical for carrying cues. Their cases would serve as great storage containers but transportation and functionality would otherwise be atrocious.

I've thought about the Sterling wave case, and Predator as well but I can't do it. I don't want to sound boastful because I'm not bragging, however, I spend thousands of dollars on my cues and then invest hundreds of dollars having Pipe1976 build me custom designed joint protectors. So the quality, appearance and durabiity of the cue case is very important...that's why I already own 3 Instroke cases (1-2x4 and 2-3x7 cases).

Once you actually own a high quality leather cue case, you'll never settle for a Wave case or anything that's not on a par basis with the quality of cues you own. I mean the average value of my cues is very high so I'm not going to haul them around in a case that isn't also very high quality. This is how is how I see it, when the joint protectors for just one of my cues cost more than the actual case, then that case probably isn't going to be the right brand/make for me.

Hope I don't come across as a snob or anything but that's why I only have a small cue collection ( 1 - early 70's Palmer, 1 -70's Joss West Cue & 1 -90's Joss West, 2 Schons...one by Bob Runde & one by Evan...... and 1 - '06 Tim Scruggs cue). I have my early Joss West up for sale right now because there's a James White and a Paul Mottey cue I'm interested in adding but gotta sell something first to help lower my cash outlay to buy one of these cues.
 
Quick note Matt: This is more for the readers than for you but I wanted to make sure everyone understands that the interiors in the Wave Cases, and in all the cases featured here www.sterlingcuecases.com are all the same ones that we put in our JB Cases. We use two main types of interior, a bouncy one with padding called the Organic Rebound and a super cushy one with lots of padding called the UtraPad. When it comes to cue protection the lower priced Sterling cases are just as good as the $3500 JB Cases.

This sounds cliche' but my sentiment is that we wrap the cues in layers of protection and then put as much decoration around that as you want to pay for. But for me it all starts with the cue and making sure that it's secure.

www.jbcases.com/protection.html If you need something to help you sleep here is one of my essays on the subject.
 
matt, i have a modest cue collection myself as well as a nice selection of cases. the case i use when i play league or go out to play with friends is a 4x8 wave case. i really like the interior as well as the compact size and light weight. i believe it is equally important to store my cues in quality cases so i have some sterling 4x8 cases (with the same interior as the wave) that i keep some cues in. don't get me wrong, i also have whittens, justis, and meltons as well as others that i keep cues in also. my point is that for me the wave case is perfect for carrying my cues to play. good luck.

guy
 
Thanks For The Input

John B & Guy,

Thank you for the input. I think the quality of the JB Cases is unquestionably high and I don't have much personal experience with Sterling cases. It helps to get feedback from someone who actually uses it. And John Barton's leather case-making talents are obvious.

After pondering the various cue case manufacturers, I decided that I only want to deal with a US based company. Returning the case to a manufacturer that's overseas for repair doesn't appeal to me at all and in fact, speaking personally, is a deal killer. At the same time, I feel obligated to buy US to help support our economy at a time when every dollar spent should first be looked towards spending it with a resident company in my state first and then next, within the US.

JB Cases makes quality products but their overseas location squashes any chance for me to do any business with them. I know buying a used case from someone on AZ doesn't create any new revenue for the case's manufacturer but since I haven't found the right 4x8 hard leather cue case yet, it looks more like I'm going to wind up buying a new case from some U.S. based cue case manufacturer.

Anyone out there know much about or have any opinions about Dennis Sterling Cue Cases? He has a 4x8 design that's the best hard leather case interior configuration of any of the cases that I've been able to find.

Thanks,

Matt
 
Bavafongoul said:
John B & Guy,

Thank you for the input. I think the quality of the JB Cases is unquestionably high and I don't have much personal experience with Sterling cases. It helps to get feedback from someone who actually uses it. And John Barton's leather case-making talents are obvious.

After pondering the various cue case manufacturers, I decided that I only want to deal with a US based company. Returning the case to a manufacturer that's overseas for repair doesn't appeal to me at all and in fact, speaking personally, is a deal killer. At the same time, I feel obligated to buy US to help support our economy at a time when every dollar spent should first be looked towards spending it with a resident company in my state first and then next, within the US.

JB Cases makes quality products but their overseas location squashes any chance for me to do any business with them. I know buying a used case from someone on AZ doesn't create any new revenue for the case's manufacturer but since I haven't found the right 4x8 hard leather cue case yet, it looks more like I'm going to wind up buying a new case from some U.S. based cue case manufacturer.

Anyone out there know much about or have any opinions about Dennis Sterling Cue Cases? He has a 4x8 design that's the best hard leather case interior configuration of any of the cases that I've been able to find.

Thanks,

Matt
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That's understandable. Just as a point of reference you don't have to send cases back to me if they break. I have people who can fix things in the USA that I send the rare broken case to. Sometimes I will simply make a new case and send it free of charge.

Thank you for whatever consideration you gave us and for the opportunity to explain my product in detail.

Dennis uses hard plumbing tubes covered in felt liner. They are durable. I personally do not feel that felt is the right material to use because it absorbs moisture but it's been used for decades with no problems in cases like Dennis'.

This is my version of the tube 4x8

bone-u-interior.jpg


I think that this is the best available in a multi-tube interior but then I am heavily biased :-)

I think you will be happy with the Dennis Swift case. It probably offers the best protection you are going to find in a USA produced top-loading cue case.

Have you looked at Steve Price cases? He doesn't have a website but he is a member here. He has been making cases since the 60s and does a damn good job. He, like Dennis, also uses schedule 40 plumbing pipe for his cases which provides great impact protection and crush resistance.

Also I don't know know what happened to Two Shades leather but they were making some very nice cases down in Texas. you should be able to find their contact information with a search on the gallery section.

Any of those three makers should be able to build you something that is satisfactory to you.
 
I Stand Corrected....

In a prior post, I mentioned that Dennis Searing cue cases had the best configuration I'd yet seen in a hard leather case. John Barton subsequently posted a photo of his 4x8 design and I was mistaken...his arrangement/configuration of the cue butts and shafts is the best I've seen. I really like its fi=unctional simplicity having the four cue butss placed on the exterior of the inner case walls 2 on the left and 3 on the right) and the cue shafts are placed 2x4 in the middle of the cue case which so easily identifies theshafts for eaxh cue butt......the best design configuration I've seen yet...much better than Dennis Sterling's design I earlier referred to.

John, thank you for posting the photos of your 4x8 design. Gotta admit you make it hard to resist buying one of your cases....a very nice, well thought out design.......Cudos to you.

Matt
 
Apologize for the typos in my prior post....

Sorry about the typos in my prior post but you catch the drift.....JB Cases has a killer 4x8 cue arrangement.
 
Bavafongoul said:
In a prior post, I mentioned that Dennis Searing cue cases had the best configuration I'd yet seen in a hard leather case. John Barton subsequently posted a photo of his 4x8 design and I was mistaken...his arrangement/configuration of the cue butts and shafts is the best I've seen. I really like its fi=unctional simplicity having the four cue butss placed on the exterior of the inner case walls 2 on the left and 3 on the right) and the cue shafts are placed 2x4 in the middle of the cue case which so easily identifies theshafts for eaxh cue butt......the best design configuration I've seen yet...much better than Dennis Sterling's design I earlier referred to.

John, thank you for posting the photos of your 4x8 design. Gotta admit you make it hard to resist buying one of your cases....a very nice, well thought out design.......Cudos to you.

Matt
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Thanks. I have been doing this a long time and try to find configurations that are very user-friendly and stable.

Dennis, or any maker who uses individual tubes should be able to do this arrangement for you. The beauty of using tubes is that they can be arranged in many ways and then the maker just has to wrap that form. I doubt that he will do the half-cut tubing at the top the way we do it. This is a complicated technique with sewing the liner that I invented to add more stability and protection for the cues at the top of the case while allowing easy access to the part.

If it's any consolation, when you buy a case from me the money will go back to the USA in the form of rental car fees, hotels, food, and gifts when we travel there in March.

Also when I design cases for Sterling those cases are made here but the bulk of the sales happen in the USA where the money pays for 18 Americans and one Brit and their families in addition to fueling the pay for the dealers and their families and the delivery drivers and everyone down the line to the customer.....

Conversely, you can't be certain if you give your money to a local case maker that he won't run out and buy himself a nice new Chinese made TV........ I just feel like you should reward the person who makes the product the way you want it with your business no matter where that person happens to live. The cash makes it's way around the globe and back no matter what.

So I will step off the soapbox now, step all the way out of your thread and wish you luck in getting the case that you want. A JW is on my bucket list and is one of the cues that I have always coveted and never owned.

Although I did have a Joss that was made when Bill and Danny were still partners......let that one slip through my fingers as well......


P.s. Sorry I meant to tell you that Steve Price is steveinflorida on AZB. Contact him, I think you both might be on the same wavelength in terms of what you want.
 
You Make Some Great Points

John,

Sent you a PM ....you make some excellent points about the economical aspects of buying domestically vs. abroad. By the way, I included information in my PM about my early Joss West cue (4 veneers) that's listed e-bay under the same handle as my forum identity just in case you want to take a peek.

Matt
 
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