My first tip install

SSDiver2112 said:
My homemade lathe spawned from my need to do something in during my house arrest in 2020. My DIY lathe had its limitations, which led to the acquisition of a Mid-America cue lathe. Having no experience or knowledge I simply built a bench top to put my new lathe upon and began working on a bunch of bar cues. Inevitably my workstation evolved as my need, knowledge, and experience grew. Some changes spawned from efficiency improvements, some new tooling, and just “I want its”.

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Now with a few years experience I decided to update the lathe station to better fit what I have learned. I was disassembling the chuck on the head stock to clean, grease, and bore and decided to keep going. I had already been thinking about how to build a box around it to reduce the noise while using the router as well as the dust. I also decided to add a riser under the lathe so I am not hunching over the lathe so much. Simple idea that should only take a few days… yeah right.

My workspace is limited and I don’t have all of the woodworking tools I would like. One piece of plywood required a bank loan and it would be difficult for me to cut, so I made an executive decision while at the depot and switched to a sheet of foam board. Lightweight, easy to cut, and adds some extra sound barrier. I did my best to plan for all contingencies as I built the framework. Missed a couple things, but I was able to adjust as I went.

What a mess I made.
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The plan was to build a riser with a raised back panel for general use and then attach a removable front piece when using the router. Simple. The first part came together nicely. The logistics of the tool bar became an issue. I ended up making the tool bar removable so they are not in the box while the router is running. There is space underneath to put the lathe parts when not in use (cross slides and tail stocks). The side walls clip in and the windowed front gate is on slip hinges to easily attach and remove.


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Sides clipped in.
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The Dynamat dampened the sound down to around 65 decibels making it a little less than my shop vac. No more dust in the air and all over the floor! The lighting is better and the raised height is great. Better on the back and easier to see what I am doing. The extra drawers are a big plus to have more things conveniently at hand. I knew I would have to rewire the switch on the power feed unit so I could operate it outside the box. I put the ShnitPwr (chuckle) power supply in one of the small drawers along with the re-wired switch. The station will probably get a tweak or two as I get back into using it, but so far I am very pleased.

Cleaned back up.
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That drawer set up is bad to the bone!!👊🏻
 
Busy, busy, busy...

My first international cue just arrived in England to a fellow AZB'er. He had a forearm from Prather shipped to me. After some back and forth on the design and it was off to the races. As a newer cue maker, I picked a slow horse, and it did take me a bit longer to make than I had anticipated. He was very patient with me and I appreciate that. I was doing a couple new things, and I really wanted this cue to shine. I have recently quit my Sunday side job so I can have another full day to be able to be in the shop.

6 point Curly Maple, Olivewood, and Rosewood with a Rosewood butt sleeve
Phenolic and maple rings with Black Mother of Pearl inlays
Imitation ivory collar and butt plate
Brass 3/8-10 mod joint pin.
Maple shaft with Tomahawk ferrule and Thoroughbred tip
Kielwood shaft with Aegis ferrule and Zan tip
Olivewood, and Rosewood Joint Protectors
Chalk holder made from forearm scrap.

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Here is the build:
 
SSDiver2112 said:
Busy, busy, busy...

My first international cue just arrived in England to a fellow AZB'er. He had a forearm from Prather shipped to me. After some back and forth on the design and it was off to the races. As a newer cue maker, I picked a slow horse, and it did take me a bit longer to make than I had anticipated. He was very patient with me and I appreciate that. I was doing a couple new things, and I really wanted this cue to shine. I have recently quit my Sunday side job so I can have another full day to be able to be in the shop.

6 point Curly Maple, Olivewood, and Rosewood with a Rosewood butt sleeve
Phenolic and maple rings with Black Mother of Pearl inlays
Imitation ivory collar and butt plate
Brass 3/8-10 mod joint pin.
Maple shaft with Tomahawk ferrule and Thoroughbred tip
Kielwood shaft with Aegis ferrule and Zan tip
Olivewood, and Rosewood Joint Protectors
Chalk holder made from forearm scrap.

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Here is the build:
Click to expand...
I have seen this cue and one of a kind describes it perfectly!! The finish is some of the finest I've ever seen.🤩
It looks amazing and I compliment you on the build Scott!! Eye catching pairings.
If that bad boy plays half as well as it looks, you've got a winner!!
I know the owner and I can assure you he is ecstatic about his new wand.
I can see why.
You made him a damn nice cue brother!!!
I wish you all the best in your cue making venture.
Thanks for doing my buddy a solid. 👊🏻
Mad respect.
 
SSDiver2112 said:
Busy, busy, busy...

My first international cue just arrived in England to a fellow AZB'er. He had a forearm from Prather shipped to me. After some back and forth on the design and it was off to the races. As a newer cue maker, I picked a slow horse, and it did take me a bit longer to make than I had anticipated. He was very patient with me and I appreciate that. I was doing a couple new things, and I really wanted this cue to shine. I have recently quit my Sunday side job so I can have another full day to be able to be in the shop.

6 point Curly Maple, Olivewood, and Rosewood with a Rosewood butt sleeve
Phenolic and maple rings with Black Mother of Pearl inlays
Imitation ivory collar and butt plate
Brass 3/8-10 mod joint pin.
Maple shaft with Tomahawk ferrule and Thoroughbred tip
Kielwood shaft with Aegis ferrule and Zan tip
Olivewood, and Rosewood Joint Protectors
Chalk holder made from forearm scrap.

View attachment 926467

View attachment 926468

View attachment 926469

Here is the build:
Click to expand...
Should have kept it 😁
 
Scott, you were a pleasure to work with. The cue turned out great. Well worth the wait😎
Thanks for letting me send you the blank and some of the other parts I tracked down.
 
Looks great Scott .. very nice work 😎👍
SSDiver2112 said:
Busy, busy, busy...

My first international cue just arrived in England to a fellow AZB'er. He had a forearm from Prather shipped to me. After some back and forth on the design and it was off to the races. As a newer cue maker, I picked a slow horse, and it did take me a bit longer to make than I had anticipated. He was very patient with me and I appreciate that. I was doing a couple new things, and I really wanted this cue to shine. I have recently quit my Sunday side job so I can have another full day to be able to be in the shop.

6 point Curly Maple, Olivewood, and Rosewood with a Rosewood butt sleeve
Phenolic and maple rings with Black Mother of Pearl inlays
Imitation ivory collar and butt plate
Brass 3/8-10 mod joint pin.
Maple shaft with Tomahawk ferrule and Thoroughbred tip
Kielwood shaft with Aegis ferrule and Zan tip
Olivewood, and Rosewood Joint Protectors
Chalk holder made from forearm scrap.

View attachment 926467

View attachment 926468

View attachment 926469

Here is the build:
Click to expand...
 
SSDiver2112 said:
Well... I just got home from trying out my newly installed Thoroughbred tip.

I thought it would be simple. Sunday is free pool, so why not go shoot a few racks and see how it feels? I walk in and find out they just started a locals tournament. I sign up, pay the entrance fee, get a beer, start watching the matches, and also start worrying how I will shoot with a new untried tip when it's my turn.

My match comes up and I'm playing an older gentleman that I later learn is nicknamed "The Assassin". I managed to make a couple, but that was it and I lost miserably. As I sat back down to cry in my beer, I began to think back on my bad shots. I made a kick shot that went wildly off course, and miscued giving ball him in hand. I first started to blame the tip of course. Then I started thinking about it. The kick went wild because the left I put on it really took hold more than I was used to. The miss cue was my fault because I was stretched out over the table and not comfortable, I should have used the bridge. The second game I won, and the third I lost because he put me behind his ball and I couldn't get to the eight.

I was starting to have doubts and beginning to wonder if I made a mistake with this tip. Once the tournament was over, and I could just get on the table and knock the balls around, I really got some better feedback on this tip.

I really believe I have a winner here!

I realized the ball was actually going where I was aiming, and when I used English it was spinning way more than before. It worked before, but now it was dramatically working. So much that I realized that was why I had some problems in the tournament. I was over doing it with my other tip just to get a little action, and with this tip it was amplifying the top, bottom, left, or right I put on it.

I know it was just one night, but I am feeling really positive about this tip's performance. I will update if things change, but right now I am giving this tip a giant thumbs up!
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Leave that tip on for 2 months minimum, it takes a little while for a tip to "break in" and you may find that in that time the way the tip feels changes, I would never have tried a hard tip but after leaving a tip on I thought would be a medium but wss a hard tip for a couple months I came to like a hard tip, tried the Bulletproof Recoil Green tip which is their hard tip, 2 years later still love this tip.
 
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