Made some acrylic ferrules

[RidgeRaider]

Been monkeying around with new ferrule material (new to me). Acrylic is a nice hard material, but a little difficult to work with due to chipping easily. This also means it's probably not very impact resistant, so no breaking with these. Mainly for looks.

 

[Chopdoc]

Looks cool. Cracks easy from what I know. Gotta be more modern versions than I am familiar with...I guess.

 

[Paul_#_]

Your ferrule has more depth to its appearance than these from Temu or ones I bought and photographed in sunlight:

_

 

[RidgeRaider]

Your ferrule has more depth to its appearance than these from Temu or ones I bought and photographed in sunlight:
View attachment 844855_View attachment 844856

Thanks, it's important to start with high quality material to begin with. Then get good at wet sanding and polishing!

 

[RidgeRaider]

Looks cool. Cracks easy from what I know. Gotta be more modern versions than I am familiar with...I guess.

Yeah, the cracking is what's gonna put this idea in the dust most likely. I did look into implex which is impact resistant acrylic, but you're not gonna get all the fancy colors and swirls, and it's expensive.

This is really just me experimenting with what's available for cheap as I cut my teeth as a hobbyist machinist and cue mechanic.

 

[Chopdoc]

Yeah, the cracking is what's gonna put this idea in the dust most likely. I did look into implex which is impact resistant acrylic, but you're not gonna get all the fancy colors and swirls, and it's expensive.

This is really just me experimenting with what's available for cheap as I cut my teeth as a hobbyist machinist and cue mechanic.

Implex is a brand? Maybe if you look outside the box there are others. I haven't looked in 10 years. Must be newer producers/materials.

 

[Bavafongoul]

There’s a market, albeit a small one, for a variety of ferrule colors if you can come up with something.

I think you’d be better off sticking to only a few colors and see if you can come up with a durable, stain
resistant ferrule that has the best compression properties, durability and appearance. Ivory ferrules are
the best, IMO, but are becoming very expensive and harder to obtain. A substitute is needed and what
are the options? Then see if you can come up with something better or at least different but never inferior.

Presuming you were successful, don’t embark on a making a large variety of colors but rather a select few.
You could become a huge success since cue makers aren’t looking to be innovators & just use the best stuff.

 

[GoldCrown]

Yeah, the cracking is what's gonna put this idea in the dust most likely. I did look into implex which is impact resistant acrylic, but you're not gonna get all the fancy colors and swirls, and it's expensive.

This is really just me experimenting with what's available for cheap as I cut my teeth as a hobbyist machinist and cue mechanic.

Looks real good appearance and workmanship. I have a piece of acrylic like that I got from Cuemsn. Will use on butt cap.

 

[RidgeRaider]

There’s a market, albeit a small one, for a variety of ferrule colors if you can come up with something.

I think you’d be better off sticking to only a few colors and see if you can come up with a durable, stain
resistant ferrule that has the best compression properties, durability and appearance. Ivory ferrules are
the best, IMO, but are becoming very expensive and harder to obtain. A substitute is needed and what
are the options? Then see if you can come up with something better or at least different but never inferior.

Presuming you were successful, don’t embark on a making a large variety of colors but rather a select few.
You could become a huge success since cue makers aren’t looking to be innovators & just use the best stuff.

Yeah, I've been down the road of trying to produce a product before, and I don't think it's really my game. I don't like turning hobbies into jobs unless it's stupid easy.

For the cue work I do, it's probably gonna stay one off work for friends and some people who ask for work done. I don't want to be standing in my garage on a 90* and humid day trying to turn out 4 dozen acrylic ferrules on my manual lathe haha.

 

[RidgeRaider]

Looks real good appearance and workmanship. I have a piece of acrylic like that I got from Cuemsn. Will use on butt cap.

Thank you very much!

 

[SSDiver2112]

I did one recently. Gave all the warnings first, but he liked the look and that’s what mattered.

 

[fastone371]

How about using old bowling balls? It might be on the heavy side (or not), it should be tough enough, and they come in a bunch of colors, especially the plastic ones (not really sure if they were actually plastic but that's what they were called).

 

[GoldCrown]

How about using old bowling balls? It might be on the heavy side (or not), it should be tough enough, and they come in a bunch of colors, especially the plastic ones (not really sure if they were actually plastic but that's what they were called).

Bowling ball ferrules? I’d be shooting gutter balls all day.