Number of turns- Time between

Jeff

Jeff

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have seen several posts on here from owners as well as cuemakers talking about the time it takes to turn a shaft. By time, I mean the whole process, drying, turning, waiting, turning, waiting....you get the picture.

Could some of the cuemakers express their views and their methods for making shafts, time between turnings, how much you remove each turning, etc.

I would very interested in the process, and I think it would help us owners/buyers to know. I know there are probably lots of people that really don't appreciate just how much time and effort goes into it.
 
Jeff said:
I have seen several posts on here from owners as well as cuemakers talking about the time it takes to turn a shaft. By time, I mean the whole process, drying, turning, waiting, turning, waiting....you get the picture.

Could some of the cuemakers express their views and their methods for making shafts, time between turnings, how much you remove each turning, etc.

I would very interested in the process, and I think it would help us owners/buyers to know. I know there are probably lots of people that really don't appreciate just how much time and effort goes into it.
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I take a minimum of 8 passes, usually more unless the shaft is going to be a large diameter. I wait a minimum of a month between passes, sometimes as long as 6 months, depending on my scheduleing. I take aproximately 1/4mm off on each pass.

The real trick to shaft wood is learning to read the grain and placing the centers properly to accomodate the grain. It's not something I'd even attempt to explain, writing in a forum like this, but it can as much as double your yield of shafts from a batch of shaftwood.

just more hot air!


Sherm
 
Number of turns-Time Between

Jeff said:
I have seen several posts on here from owners as well as cuemakers talking about the time it takes to turn a shaft. By time, I mean the whole process, drying, turning, waiting, turning, waiting....you get the picture.

Could some of the cuemakers express their views and their methods for making shafts, time between turnings, how much you remove each turning, etc.

I would very interested in the process, and I think it would help us owners/buyers to know. I know there are probably lots of people that really don't appreciate just how much time and effort goes into it.
Click to expand...


I start with a 1" dowel
1st turn---.750
2nd turn-- .700
3rd turn---.650
1st,2nd & 3rd are cut with 2 weeks rest between.

4th turn---.600
5th turn---.575
6th turn---.550
7th turn---.530 Then sand to .512
These are cut with 3 weeks rest between.

I used to make 8 turnings,but found that I could eliminate one. Mcdermott claims to cut theirs only 4 times.

I cut my shafts using a router on my tool post, in one of my Porper Lathes.
I have no idea, in minutes how long it takes me. I don't like clocks & don't count my beers...JER
 
I don't understand why people want to waste time on wood that will be cut away...
I cut shafts down very rapidly to .580, one or two cuts. Then they get nelsonite and hang for a month or 2 (or 3). I then cut .010 off(.560), and let them sit for anothr month or 3. I cut most of them one more time to .540 (saving some for very large dia. shafts) and they stay that size until I am ready to make a cue.
 
Jeff, why don't you direct ALL of your questions to Sheldon, then you won't have to be bothered, by any one elses ideas...JER
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
Jeff, why don't you direct ALL of your questions to Sheldon, then you won't have to be bothered, by any one elses ideas...JER
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As I said, it would be "interesting" to hear different views on making shafts. We get to see who takes the time to do things right and who doesn't. :)
 
I just started turning my 2007 shaft wood last month. I do a minimum of 12 turns over a 12 month period. Been doing it this way for too many years to remember and will not change. I do the final turn to within three or four thousandths then sand/polish. I have always felt that sanding more than that you lose a lot of the accuracy in your turnings. Nelsonite? Not in my shop! That stuff is horrible!
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
Jeff, why don't you direct ALL of your questions to Sheldon, then you won't have to be bothered, by any one elses ideas...JER
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I'm sorry, did I offend you in some way? :confused:

If you don't like my advice, please disregard it. There is no need to take offense.
 
TellsItLikeItIs said:
Just curious-In what way do you believe it would help owners/buyers to know?
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I think it helps by making people appreciate how much time and effort goes into making a good playing cue.

I'd like to have a work (production) sheet of every make of cue out there to compare just how much time goes into each cue that leaves the shop. How many hands it goes through, etc.

How would you like to have a video of your cue from a raw piece of wood to the day it gets shipped to you showing all the different steps it went through. Of course the cuemakers on here already know this but I find it very interesting.
 
Jeff said:
As I said, it would be "interesting" to hear different views on making shafts. We get to see who takes the time to do things right and who doesn't. :)
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I dont get it? First you ask for advice or ideas, then you say "We get to see who does things right and who doesnt?????????? Is there any right or wrong idea or system here??? As far as i can see the average consumer /cuebuyer might not understand the process which by shafts are cut and length of time involved in the shaft and cue process but by no means is there one system or process by which it can be done" RIGHT" ??????? I am a union millwright by trade and find everyday there are multiple ways to do a certain job ...... This doesnt mean necesarilly that any one way is the correct way !!!:)
 
pooldogue said:
I dont get it? First you ask for advice or ideas, then you say "We get to see who does things right and who doesnt?????????? Is there any right or wrong idea or system here???
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You don't get it because you obviously either didn't read my post or you are attempting to put your own spin on it to suit your conclusion.

I NEVER asked for "ideas" OR "advice". If you read my first post, I asked the cuemakers to "express their views and their methods for making shafts".

And yes I think there are right and wrong ways to do things but maybe this is just an example of shortening the process. Shortening the process is the goal of any company to increase profits but in the end does it affect quality?

I have some opinions on that too, but it sounds like you don't want to hear other opinions.
 
Jeff said:
...I think there are right and wrong ways to do things but maybe this is just an example of shortening the process. Shortening the process is the goal of any company to increase profits but in the end does it affect quality?
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Turning several times over a long period.
This method in theory, gives a much lower cull rate.

Turning a lot, all at once.
This method, would likely increase the cull rate (this is not a problem for the consumer).
This is a sink or swim, survival of the fittest type of philosophy.
I think the theory does make sense.

What really matters to consumers.
Above are two very different schools of thought, but in the end, the thing that really matters is, if the shaft is straight and it stays that way.
IMO, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Tracy
 
Jeff said:
I think it helps by making people appreciate how much time and effort goes into making a good playing cue.

I'd like to have a work (production) sheet of every make of cue out there to compare just how much time goes into each cue that leaves the shop. How many hands it goes through, etc.

How would you like to have a video of your cue from a raw piece of wood to the day it gets shipped to you showing all the different steps it went through. Of course the cuemakers on here already know this but I find it very interesting.
Click to expand...
I see. I would think that a "work/production sheet" like that might take a long, long time to compile. Unless the reader had actual hands on experience, would it really be of much value? Other than the joint screws, tips, & rubber bumpers, mine only go through one set of hands (mine). Naturally, some cues take longer to build, but I would not even consider building one in less than 20 weeks.

I guess the video would be nice for the buyer from an historical stand point, but honestly, I hope something like that never comes to pass. It's only my opinion, but I personally feel there is too much information being shared with the public as it is. Someone is going to throw flack at me for making that comment I know, but that is how I feel. I do not disagree with the buyer being somewhat informed, however, much of the information required to make a cue is proprietery in nature and should be guarded. Cue makers are not educators, they are business persons.

There is always going to be someone that disagrees with how a certain task is accomplished. That disagreement can (and usually does) turn into comments that suggest a certain maker is doing things in an unacceptable way. I read this often as it concerns coring cues (just as an example). Obviously, (by reading this thread) there are differences of opinion as to the best way to turn shafts. I say, there is no one particular way to turn them. What works well for maker X, may not work as well for maker Y.
 
TellsItLikeItIs said:
I see. I would think that a "work/production sheet" like that might take a long, long time to compile. Unless the reader had actual hands on experience, would it really be of much value?
Click to expand...

I was actually thinking more in the lines of a "flow chart" with a simple time line.

No trade secrets or materials used.
 
Jeff said:
I was actually thinking more in the lines of a "flow chart" with a simple time line.
No trade secrets or materials used.
Click to expand...

I do use something of a "flow chart". Pretty simple to set up, but my being a one man shop, a visitor would really be confused trying to read my notes :o As long as I can decipher them I'm good though.
 
Jeff said:
You don't get it because you obviously either didn't read my post or you are attempting to put your own spin on it to suit your conclusion.

I NEVER asked for "ideas" OR "advice". If you read my first post, I asked the cuemakers to "express their views and their methods for making shafts".

And yes I think there are right and wrong ways to do things but maybe this is just an example of shortening the process. Shortening the process is the goal of any company to increase profits but in the end does it affect quality?

I have some opinions on that too, but it sounds like you don't want to hear other opinions.
Click to expand...

Im not trying to "spin " anything first you wanted to hear cuemakers "views" and then you say you want to see who is doing things right and whos doing things wrong...........I simply stated that there is "more than one way to skin a cat", and thats MY OPINION...You just confused me ...........I listen to all opinions and yes im sure there are right and wrong ways to do things as well as there are more than one way to turn shafts.................:) :)
 
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