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Pin
Guest
I thought I'd do a bit of a project, make myself a cue case, a flat box-type one.
But I don't really have much idea how.
Any help?
But I don't really have much idea how.
Any help?
check out www.floridafred.com (I think that's the link). He makes custom wood cue cases (briefcase style) and there's some pretty detailed photos on there. I made a simple one when I was in Germany for a German friend of mine as a gift.
Best of Luck,
Zim
Best of Luck,
Zim
I
instroke
Guest
Pin said:
I always reccomend building from the center out. I would decide how many components you want to carry and then build the case around them. You can look at gun shops for an indication of how to construct a box case. Somebody already mentioned FloridaFred and I concur that you should study his stuff. You should also consider studying some woodworking information. Just about any techniques on building chests and jewelery boxes will help you for cue cases.
Go for light weight or you will regret it later. Also you may want to add rings for a shoulder strap. THese are never seen on box cases and I put some on the few box cases I have done and received only praise from the customers for doing so.
Finally, I would always try to make the case so the the cue will stay inside even when the case is open and upside down. This is a quirk of mine ever since my cue fell out a case and was damaged.
Good luck,
John
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Pin
Guest
Thanks. I think a wood stuff making book would be a good start, and a shoulder strap would be a good idea too.
Just need to find somewhere to buy a couple of the odds and ends...
Florida Fred had some great designs. I wouldn't have a clue how to get that detailing onto the wood though
Just need to find somewhere to buy a couple of the odds and ends...
Florida Fred had some great designs. I wouldn't have a clue how to get that detailing onto the wood though
S
Sputnik
Guest
I would stay away from a briefcase style. First, if it doesnt lie perfect (as the case wood can warp), your cue stick might warp with it. Second, since it is stored flat, unlike the tube cases, gravity will not be favorable with the cue laid flat. Lastly, it's a bore to carry.
For starters, I would suggest using illustration boards as tubes. Wrap it in a foam insulation and insert foam in the spaces between. Drop pieces of foam in every tube for protection, and put three layers of insulation at the base. Get yourself leather or a neat wall paper. Only your imagination will limit your outer design.
Whatever first cue case you will have will never fulfill your satisfaction, so your best bet is to make something easy. The second cue case is the more serious one.
For starters, I would suggest using illustration boards as tubes. Wrap it in a foam insulation and insert foam in the spaces between. Drop pieces of foam in every tube for protection, and put three layers of insulation at the base. Get yourself leather or a neat wall paper. Only your imagination will limit your outer design.
Whatever first cue case you will have will never fulfill your satisfaction, so your best bet is to make something easy. The second cue case is the more serious one.
illustration board is quite easy to use, I made my first case with illustration board for the insides and then leather for the outside covering...
the next cases I made I use a 1.5 inch pvc tube for the butt with pigskin lining for the insides , for the shaft i used 1 inch pvc tube, then wrapped everything in leather...
BTW...you should see Sputnik case......
Hey Sputnik got any photos ?
the next cases I made I use a 1.5 inch pvc tube for the butt with pigskin lining for the insides , for the shaft i used 1 inch pvc tube, then wrapped everything in leather...
BTW...you should see Sputnik case......
Hey Sputnik got any photos ?
S
Sputnik
Guest
I actually got the illustration board idea from qguy. If I am not mistaken about qguy's identity, he is the one who had it covered with felt hyde - indian mocs style with tussles and a wildboar tooth as a lock.
Sputnik...Right on.....
actually the handle is the Wildboar Tusk
see it here at this "over-engineered website"
http://www.geocities.com/indiancase/
actually the handle is the Wildboar Tusk
see it here at this "over-engineered website"
http://www.geocities.com/indiancase/
I remember
Hey man, I remember talking to this great fellow about doing a similar project. I liked the case and he said he would consider building one for me. He was too busy at that time looking for an amplifier I think. We hadn't had the opportunity to see each other to discuss the matter. Hope we get together soon.
Hey man, I remember talking to this great fellow about doing a similar project. I liked the case and he said he would consider building one for me. He was too busy at that time looking for an amplifier I think. We hadn't had the opportunity to see each other to discuss the matter. Hope we get together soon.
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Pin
Guest
Illustrayion boards?
Not sure what they are (maybe it's an American thing? (I'm in England at the moment)), but I'll look into it.
With these types of cases, I take it you have the vertical tubes for the pieces of the cue. Is there any padding / lining inside the tubes? If not I'd have thought it'd be worse for the cue than a flat case.
But if so surely the lining would need to be thicker for the narrow end of the cue...
I guess that's what Sputnik's suggestion of dropping bits of foam in was for.
Just seems a little.. hit and miss.
I used to use a vertical case for my old cue, but eventually found the shaft got quite badly bent. I can't be sure, but I put it down to the space the cue had to rattle around in there, along with a lack of padding.
Maybe I'm a little biased too - I don't know so much about this type of case, whereas the briefcase style is pretty much the standard over here.
I'm definitely going to have to think about this a lot more...
Not sure what they are (maybe it's an American thing? (I'm in England at the moment)), but I'll look into it.
With these types of cases, I take it you have the vertical tubes for the pieces of the cue. Is there any padding / lining inside the tubes? If not I'd have thought it'd be worse for the cue than a flat case.
But if so surely the lining would need to be thicker for the narrow end of the cue...
I guess that's what Sputnik's suggestion of dropping bits of foam in was for.
Just seems a little.. hit and miss.
I used to use a vertical case for my old cue, but eventually found the shaft got quite badly bent. I can't be sure, but I put it down to the space the cue had to rattle around in there, along with a lack of padding.
Maybe I'm a little biased too - I don't know so much about this type of case, whereas the briefcase style is pretty much the standard over here.
I'm definitely going to have to think about this a lot more...
I dont think you would want to make the lining thicker for the thinner end of the cue. If you did so you would be forcing yourself to only put the cue inside the case thin ends first. Problem is many people like to put a cue into their case butt end first when it is put together for storage. You could not safely hold a cue in your case together if it was put in shaft end first.
I have been building a case for a while now (OK the project is on hold atm, I am having issues with it). I thought about building the wood style case but I changed my mind for one main reason. A cue is much better protected in a tube style case when said case is built well then in a well built briefcase style case. Add onto that the fact a briefcase style case will not hold your cue unless it is in two pieces and you lose the security of having a case to slip the cue into instead of leaning it on a chair or on the wall when you are racking or have your break cue in your hand.
Yeah, vertical tubes are used and which tubes you use can make a big difference on how the case comes out. The case I am building right now I am using PVC tubes, they were made for plumbing and came in long lengths I had to cut. They were lined with super soft cow leather (the inside layer of skin closest to the meat) with a suede like feel to it. You would definately want to line the tubes with some very nice material as this is what your cue will be rubbing against, it should be totally non-abrasive.
The only problem with my case is the weight. Right now I have the tubes completely lined, it is a 3X4 case. The tubes are glued together at the tops and the bottom on the outside part of the leather that folded over the tubes when I lined the inside in this design (though with only maybe a couple millimeters between the tubes caused by the leather). ATM with the tubes together and the leather lining in place the case weighs 9 pounds! This is not even with the outer leather, memory foam parts at the bottom of the shafts, wood parts for the top and bottom of the case, and anything else I may add to complete it. I will be lucky if the case is less then 18 pounds empty when I am done.
oo
OOO
oo
The only good thing is that the tubes work awesome, the cues fit perfect and the leather is amazingly soft and protects the cues well. The cues would also likely have a better chance surviving a plane crash then the little black box that records flight data.....
Instroke. What the heck kind of tubes do you guys use for cases? I know that the tubes and the leather are the problem, both were heavy and when all the tubes came together this thing could not have weighed less with the way I built it. What does a completed 3x5 standard case from you guys weigh, a real leather one?
I have been building a case for a while now (OK the project is on hold atm, I am having issues with it). I thought about building the wood style case but I changed my mind for one main reason. A cue is much better protected in a tube style case when said case is built well then in a well built briefcase style case. Add onto that the fact a briefcase style case will not hold your cue unless it is in two pieces and you lose the security of having a case to slip the cue into instead of leaning it on a chair or on the wall when you are racking or have your break cue in your hand.
Yeah, vertical tubes are used and which tubes you use can make a big difference on how the case comes out. The case I am building right now I am using PVC tubes, they were made for plumbing and came in long lengths I had to cut. They were lined with super soft cow leather (the inside layer of skin closest to the meat) with a suede like feel to it. You would definately want to line the tubes with some very nice material as this is what your cue will be rubbing against, it should be totally non-abrasive.
The only problem with my case is the weight. Right now I have the tubes completely lined, it is a 3X4 case. The tubes are glued together at the tops and the bottom on the outside part of the leather that folded over the tubes when I lined the inside in this design (though with only maybe a couple millimeters between the tubes caused by the leather). ATM with the tubes together and the leather lining in place the case weighs 9 pounds! This is not even with the outer leather, memory foam parts at the bottom of the shafts, wood parts for the top and bottom of the case, and anything else I may add to complete it. I will be lucky if the case is less then 18 pounds empty when I am done.
oo
OOO
oo
The only good thing is that the tubes work awesome, the cues fit perfect and the leather is amazingly soft and protects the cues well. The cues would also likely have a better chance surviving a plane crash then the little black box that records flight data.....
Instroke. What the heck kind of tubes do you guys use for cases? I know that the tubes and the leather are the problem, both were heavy and when all the tubes came together this thing could not have weighed less with the way I built it. What does a completed 3x5 standard case from you guys weigh, a real leather one?
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Pin
Guest
Hmm. Yeah, I guess you'd need the shaft tip-up really.
It just seems to leave a lot of potential for it to get knocked around. Surely that could do more damage than horizontal storage in a briefcase-type case?
I guess it'd depend on the lining too of course...
Hmm. I now don't have a clue what to do!
It just seems to leave a lot of potential for it to get knocked around. Surely that could do more damage than horizontal storage in a briefcase-type case?
I guess it'd depend on the lining too of course...
Hmm. I now don't have a clue what to do!
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Pin
Guest
Zims Rack said:Pin- this is your case and your cue will be inside. Build what you like! JMO!
Heh, I guess so. I just now don't have a clue whether my cue would be safer in a horizontal or vertical case
Maybe I could make a hybrid of the two.
Or one of each.
How do you store your vetical cases? Leaning against a wall, or dead vertical?
It probably isn't even that important. I just don't want to screw up the cue
S
Sputnik
Guest
Hi Pin. If you are going to put aside a cue for storage, connect the 2 pieces and hang it away from direct sunlight. Hanging it will let gravity (the butt) pull the wood to its core and keep it straight.
Dominiak makes an air tight case, called the Cuemidor! Check it out at www.zimsrack.com "CASES".
Zim
Zim
I
instroke
Guest
The Instroke 3x5 weighs 7-9lbs empty depending on the outer material. Instroke has been using PVC tubing that is specially manufactured for them. This tubing has thinner walls than conventional plumbing tubing yet has a higher impact resistance. Also Instroke uses a strong fabric for the liner that is lightweight but very soft instead of leather.
The leather liner seems like a great idea but it adds a lot of weight and makes the whole case larger. Because of the thickness of the leather it is necessary to use tubes with a larger inside diameter, which means heavier and larger outside diameters.
As for whether the cue is better off being stored vertically or horizontally I kind of doubt that it makes much difference. I tend to think that the weight of a cue at any point is not enough for it to warp itself. I could be wrong. I think that as long as the cue is supported by at least two points and not subject to extreme variations in temeperature and moisture then it ought to be fine.
I know lots of collectors who keep their cues in drawers and they don't seem to have a problem. I personally keep my cue in the car all the time and the case is mostly lying flat and I don't have any problems with the cues warping. I do have them in an Instroke and I haven't used anything else much for the last 12 years.
John
The leather liner seems like a great idea but it adds a lot of weight and makes the whole case larger. Because of the thickness of the leather it is necessary to use tubes with a larger inside diameter, which means heavier and larger outside diameters.
As for whether the cue is better off being stored vertically or horizontally I kind of doubt that it makes much difference. I tend to think that the weight of a cue at any point is not enough for it to warp itself. I could be wrong. I think that as long as the cue is supported by at least two points and not subject to extreme variations in temeperature and moisture then it ought to be fine.
I know lots of collectors who keep their cues in drawers and they don't seem to have a problem. I personally keep my cue in the car all the time and the case is mostly lying flat and I don't have any problems with the cues warping. I do have them in an Instroke and I haven't used anything else much for the last 12 years.
John