Polishing Cue Shafts El Cheapo Cheapo

[Ball Banger]

As a small town Ball Banger I like to have a glass smooth cue and have no easy access to a Cue maker. Therefore I have Jury Rigged my own version of a Vertical Lathe.

A quick trip to the local hardware with Cue in hand, and I found 2 1/2" Stainless Steel bolts that fits my different cues perfect. After cutting off the head it fits my 3/8 variable speed drill which I hold with my feet while sitting and watching TV. As the Cue spins in vertical position I can easily polish it with 600, 800, and 1,000 grit sand paper. Car paste Wax can easily be applied and rubbed out to a super smooth finish. I honestly feel I get a smoother shaft than a Cue Maker because I put much more time into polishing.

I am not trying take away from Professional Cue Guys and their expensive lathes and experience. I do not recommend any more than just fine polishing of cues. Because the Cue is free standing as it turns it has some very minor wobble. I have scuffed tips but wouldn't recommend shaping them, however I have shaped tips successful. What the heck for the price of a Stainless Steel Bolt I now have very smooth cues.

PS. Yes I am a Ball Banger and Proud Redneck. Please feel free to criticize my Jury Rig. I am not a Professional Cue Maker but I would like to learn more about maintaining cues and tips.

 

[rhncue]

As a small town Ball Banger I like to have a glass smooth cue and have no easy access to a Cue maker. Therefore I have Jury Rigged my own version of a Vertical Lathe.

A quick trip to the local hardware with Cue in hand, and I found 2 1/2" Stainless Steel bolts that fits my different cues perfect. After cutting off the head it fits my 3/8 variable speed drill which I hold with my feet while sitting and watching TV. As the Cue spins in vertical position I can easily polish it with 600, 800, and 1,000 grit sand paper. Car paste Wax can easily be applied and rubbed out to a super smooth finish. I honestly feel I get a smoother shaft than a Cue Maker because I put much more time into polishing.

I am not trying take away from Professional Cue Guys and their expensive lathes and experience. I do not recommend any more than just fine polishing of cues. Because the Cue is free standing as it turns it has some very minor wobble. I have scuffed tips but wouldn't recommend shaping them, however I have shaped tips successful. What the heck for the price of a Stainless Steel Bolt I now have very smooth cues.

PS. Yes I am a Ball Banger and Proud Redneck. Please feel free to criticize my Jury Rig. I am not a Professional Cue Maker but I would like to learn more about maintaining cues and tips.

I was installing tips, polishing and making money that way over 40 years ago.

Dick

 

[Tommy-D]

Polishing Cue Shafts El Cheapo Cheapo

> I did the same for 3-4 years on my own cues,and eventually others. I even had a pin that came directly from SW to fit their shafts. Tommy D.

 

[Ball Banger]

> I did the same for 3-4 years on my own cues,and eventually others. I even had a pin that came directly from SW to fit their shafts. Tommy D.

Thanks for your replies. I expected to find others who have done the same thing. I wished more people would care for their sticks rather than smear Baby powder all over the Table. By waxing my stick heavy, I find a 1,000 grid sand paper makes just enough dust so I don't need powder.

Rather than buy an expensive Arbor for Uni-lock Predator cues, I was able to purchases a Butt pin that fits my drill. However I found a hardware bolt would screw in tight enough to work on my Break Cue which also has the quick release pin of a different size. As my screen name suggests, I am a Ball Banger and not a Pro. My Jury Rig Vertical Cue Polisher is the first step in my learning process. The last thing I want to do is mess up someones Cue. Therefore I am not ready to take on work from others. In the past I have seen homemade Cues that were good, and also many that were very bad. I would rather step aside and let the Professionals do their job while I spend my time on the table.

 

[Ball Banger]

I was installing tips, polishing and making money that way over 40 years ago.

Dick

Dick

Over 40 years ago Little Melvin, Ricky and Tommy C., Joey and Ricky S. and even Clem Metz as well as names I forget, were regulars at Mergards in Cinti. But that was a Different Era.

 

[BHQ]

Dick

Over 40 years ago Little Melvin, Ricky and Tommy C., Joey and Ricky S. and even Clem Metz as well as names I forget, were regulars at Mergards in Cinti. But that was a Different Era.

way before my time,
my stepdad ken, is ed mergards son.
i cant remember the names of all the brothers that owned the seven MERGARDS. herman??
there is still the remnants of thier sign, faded but can still read it, on the front of the covington location

 

[rhncue]

Dick

Over 40 years ago Little Melvin, Ricky and Tommy C., Joey and Ricky S. and even Clem Metz as well as names I forget, were regulars at Mergards in Cinti. But that was a Different Era.

I used to play Melvin and Joey some back then although I was out classed. Bill C. was playing then and he was better than his 2 brothers. Clem was the best but was always in jail.

Dick

 

[socalplayer]

Cheaper than "El Cheapo"

I noticed that you sprung for stainless steel bolts in stead of the cheaper cad plated or plain steel bolts. How come?

 

[Ball Banger]

I noticed that you sprung for stainless steel bolts in stead of the cheaper cad plated or plain steel bolts. How come?

Social

Cad plated are Ok but stay away from the Galvanized bolts because they tend to tear up the cue Threads. I prefer SS because they seem to have a smoother thread. While they cost a little more, why not, you only need one for each thread size.

Dick & BHQ

I guess I am showing my age and was talking about the McMillian St Mergards. Ricky C. walked me for $ 100 (I jointed a very large Club that day). My Claim to fame is beating Ricky S. out of a $ 100 but he was only 14 yrs old at the time and spotted me. :embarrassed2:

Yes I remember when Clem got pull over DUI with Hot Jewelry laying in the back sit of the car in plain site. I also Remember Ricky C's Brother ( I think it was Billy C) had some problems about Postal Money orders. I talked with a Guy from Cinti about a year ago and he said Little Melvin was still around. I remember Melvin had a one piece stick he carried from pool Hall to Pool hall. Living on the $145 a month GI bill and going to college had me very tight for money. But I still manage to have a great time. I left Cinti in 1969 when I graduated from U C. But I have many fond memories of Cinti. Today I live in a very small town and I am just an other fish in a very tiny tiny pond.

I think Pool was a different game in those days. While Pool has become a socially accepted Game today with Leagues and TV pro tournaments, I kind of miss the action of the good old days.

 

[JimS]

A rubber crutch tip can be substituted for the bolt. Just put a 1/4" bolt about 2" long through the end of the crutch tip with a 1" washer on each side and two nuts on the outside. The joint end of the cue will be held snugly in the crutch tip while you spin it to your hearts delight.

I've been using my crutch tip "lathe" for several years and it does a fine job of polishing shafts.

 

[Ball Banger]

A rubber crutch tip can be substituted for the bolt. Just put a 1/4" bolt about 2" long through the end of the crutch tip with a 1" washer on each side and two nuts on the outside. The joint end of the cue will be held snugly in the crutch tip while you spin it to your hearts delight.

I've been using my crutch tip "lathe" for several years and it does a fine job of polishing shafts.

JimS

Sorry but I don't follow you on the Rubber Crutch Tip. I believe what you are trying to say is by using a Lock system on the bolt you snug it tightly to the shaft???????

BTW I believe a point about turning speed should be made. Too fast is not good for fiction heat build up. This is where professional lathes have a big advantage with constant speed settings. I believe before anyone tries this, they should read as much information as they can find about refinishing shafts.

 

[JimS]

It's much simpler than you're trying to make it... I think. Picture a crutch tip. Drill a hole in the bottom of it... straight down through the bottom and put a bolt through the hole with a washer on the inside and the outside of the crutch tip and snug it up with a nut on the outside. The cue joint fits snugly in the part of the crutch tip where the crutch would go. Maybe I can find a link. I'll go look.


Edit: Here we go! http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=54938&highlight=crutch+lathe Take a look at post #3. Aha you say! It works great. I've been using it for about 7 years, and have used it at least 100 times. Great for shaft spinning. You can hold the tip end of the shaft in your hand as it spins.

 

[Ball Banger]

It's much simpler than you're trying to make it... I think. Picture a crutch tip. Drill a hole in the bottom of it... straight down through the bottom and put a bolt through the hole with a washer on the inside and the outside of the crutch tip and snug it up with a nut on the outside. The cue joint fits snugly in the part of the crutch tip where the crutch would go. Maybe I can find a link. I'll go look.


Edit: Here we go! http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=54938&highlight=crutch+lathe Take a look at post #3. Aha you say! It works great. I've been using it for about 7 years, and have used it at least 100 times. Great for shaft spinning. You can hold the tip end of the shaft in your hand as it spins.

JimS

Thanks, With your system there is no need to change arbors. One size fits all or most?

Yes I should have known there was already a thread about Cheap Lathes that work. I actually have a homemade lathe very similar to the ones shown. However on the Tip Side I use a Ball Bearing that I got from a local machine specialty shop and had some machine work done. A 9 MM concave end, brass rod makes contact with the tip and spins with the shaft. Therefore I can cut down 14 MM tips to match the Ferrule with no wobble. Just because I was paranoid about lining it up, I made it adjustable both up and down a sideways with screws. That was an over kill for sure. I also use a Dimmer Switch like you use for lights to control the RPM. But for final polishing a shaft the free standing vertical Drill seems to work fast and easy for me.

My best customer is a friend who is a cue stick trader. I am surprised at how well some of the junk he brings me turns out. He says having a clean smooth cue with a new tip helps him move the sticks much faster with happier customers even if he makes a little less.

 

[Ballbreaker]

Modified

I made 2 yesterday, but i used a carriage bolt down through the crutch cap so the round end is inside the cap, then just used 1 washer, theres one already inside the crutch cap i bought at wallyworld, and a nylon lock nut, then i put a rubber washer inside that i picked up at lowes for 72 cents for a 2 pack, i put masking tape on the shaft before i put it in the crutch cap to avoid black marks on the shaft, they really work well, ill post pics if ya need me to, or make some for you if you would like, just pm me

 

[JimS]

I wish I could take credit for this invention but it's not 'my' system. I heard about it about 10 yrs back on the ccb. Az poster Rip made a cool one and he's trying to dig up the photos. They were online way back when.

 

[Ball Banger]

I made 2 yesterday, but i used a carriage bolt down through the crutch cap so the round end is inside the cap, then just used 1 washer, theres one already inside the crutch cap i bought at wallyworld, and a nylon lock nut, then i put a rubber washer inside that i picked up at lowes for 72 cents for a 2 pack, i put masking tape on the shaft before i put it in the crutch cap to avoid black marks on the shaft, they really work well, ill post pics if ya need me to, or make some for you if you would like, just pm me

Ballbreaker

Thank you for the kind offer to make me Crutch cap. I believe you explained how to make it well enough I can handle up. I will make one today just for those shafts I don't already have an arbor for. I will admit I was at a loss to understand what a Crutch Cap arbor was.

One Minor problem I see with the Crutch Cap is not being able to work on the last couple inches of the shaft near the joint. This is no big deal, but I like to refinish shafts all the way to the Joint.

Because I do this as a hobby and I don't try to make money at it. I take much longer to do it. One time factor envolves allowing my sealer to cure for a day before sanding it. Wax has the shorter time factor and I might even apply more coats than are really needed.

I might be messing up when I sometimes use Minwax wipe-able Polyurethane?? To really get it cured takes at least a week. But it gives a very smooth and hard finish that seems to last longer once polished with 1,000 grit.

Oops An Other Question

Twice I have ran into Shafts with the Joint Screw in the Shaft. IMHO these are cheap sticks and not worth fooling with but to each their own. I did manage to Jury Rig a way to turn them. But does any one know of a easy way with out hurting the threads.

 

[Ballbreaker]

pics

also with shafts with the screw on them, place the shaft though the crutch cap, put a washer and nut on the shaft bolt, then put some rubber fuel line hose over the threads then insert into the drill and polish

 

[JimS]

Or.. for shafts that have the screws in them, get a jp of that thread type, screw it on and insert it in the crutch tip.

I've notice too that there are different crutch tips of differing quality. I found one tip, beige colored, that was much heavier rubber than the black one's I had found. So, look around when in a drug store or KMart or Wal mart or Target or??

 

[Ball Banger]

Yo Guys

Thanks, both Ideas will work great. Last time I just used a few Nuts on the joint Screw and put it in a 1/2 chuck drill. Interesting enough the one guy with the K Mart stick is a fairly good player. Just goes to show you it is the man and not the stick. Sorry but I need all the help I can get, so I use better name brand cues.