Recommendations for Cue Lathe

[CrankyThunder]

Ok everybody, let me know what I should be considering for a cue lathe.

Thinking about this one for simple tip replacements but worried that I will wish I invested in something more substantial.

DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Those that have been down this road, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

 

[Keith E.]

Ok everybody, let me know what I should be considering for a cue lathe.

Thinking about this one for simple tip replacements but worried that I will wish I invested in something more substantial.

DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Those that have been down this road, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

CT,

I'd recommend getting one that is upgradeable. Start with the setup that meets your initial requirements. There are vendors that provide equipment like that where the only added expense for upgrading is the shipping cost for components purchased later on. As in, there's no discount for buying the do-it-all rigs up front. You pay for the extra components and shipping when you feel the need to upgrade.

Best of Luck,
Keith

 

[JerseyBill]

Ok everybody, let me know what I should be considering for a cue lathe.
Thinking about this one for simple tip replacements but worried that I will wish I invested in something more substantial.

DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Those that have been down this road, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

 

[kling&allen]

I've been down this road and recommend something a little more expensive that will at least let you do joint work and upgrade as discussed above:

Cue Smith Cue Lathes

<p style="text-align: left">The precision Cue Smith™ brand cue lathes.<br /> SINCE THE FIRST LATHES BUILT BY CHRIS IN 1988, CUE SMITH™ CUE LATHES HAVE BECOME KNOWN IN CUE MAKER’S CIRCLES FOR THEIR QUALITY. THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE IMPROVED THEM, BUT, WE’VE KEPT THE SAME QUALITY...

www.cuesmith.com

Professional Large bore headstock - Pool Cue Lathes by Mid-America

www.midamericapool.com

 

[GoldCrown]

That looks scary/dangerous. Save up and get a MidAmerica or CueSmith. Buy once Cry once.

 

[bbb]

That looks scary/dangerous. Save up and get a MidAmerica or CueSmith. Buy once Cry once.

mid america and cuesmith were recommended to me when i inquired about what to buy
i decided i was too clumsy to do tips so i pay a cue person

 

[kling&allen]

Chris' book is also a good start to read before you invest any money in a lathe:

The Cue Building Book: From Tree, To Tip, To Trade Show! Fifth Edition. - Cue Man Billiard Products

By: Chris Hightower This is the most extensive book on cue building written to date. As the title suggests, it takes you through the complete cue building process from the sawmill, to the finished cue, to marketing your cues. It covers many things that the videos don’t. However, it is said that...

www.cuesmith.com

 

[TheBasics]

Cranky Thunder, Howdy;

I like Mr. kling&allen's suggestion, basically gain some insight into what it is that you wish
to do and you'll be better able to make and informed decision. I've seen that same lathe
on the ebay in the past, so there is no hurry to get it. Take your time, it's your best ally.

hank

 

[bbb]

Cranky Thunder, Howdy;

I like Mr. kling&allen's suggestion, basically gain some insight into what it is that you wish
to do and you'll be better able to make and informed decision. I've seen that same lathe
on the ebay in the past, so there is no hurry to get it. Take your time, it's your best ally.

hank

hank/the basics is an upstanding guy
i respect his opinions

 

[63Kcode]

Doesn’t matter what you start with. Cue repair/building is a deep, expensive hole.

Welcome to the addiction!

Larry

 

[GoldCrown]

bbb.....You're welcome to test drive mine if you decide you might want one. I bought it for tips and cleaning shafts. Lately I have done joint protectors, canes/walking sticks, rings with it.

 

[bbb]

bbb.....You're welcome to test drive mine if you decide you might want one. I bought it for tips and cleaning shafts. Lately I have done joint protectors, canes/walking sticks, rings with it.

thanks for the offer goldcrown ....

 

[GoldCrown]

Doesn’t matter what you start with. Cue repair/building is a deep, expensive hole.

Welcome to the addiction!

Larry

Funny. Buy a lathe to make money and need a part time to support it. A great hobby if not for income.

 

[muskyed]

I got the Mid America basic repair with the 250 watt motor upgrade, and couldn't be happier. No one in my area had a lathe for tip repairs that I knew of, and I like doing my own things anyway. Have replaced many tips, replaced ferrules, and retapered, resized, and cleaned a few shafts. All this can be done with the 250 watt motor, but I wouldn't mind having the 3/4 hp motor. I did have extensive previous woodworking and lathe experience, so learning curve was short. Was it cost justifiable, no, but it is really enjoyable being able to do your on thing, with a quality machine, and get a better result than anyone locally provides.

 

[Chili Palmer]

bbb.....You're welcome to test drive mine if you decide you might want one. I bought it for tips and cleaning shafts. Lately I have done joint protectors, canes/walking sticks, rings with it.

Good looking ring, well done

Funny. Buy a lathe to make money and need a part time to support it. A great hobby if not for income.

LOL, that's the conclusion I came to for me also. When my life slows down I will start making cues that I like and if they sell, great, if not, no worries.

When I'm looking at things to do for money I think of the gold miners, a miniscule amount of them got rich (if any) but the people supplying them did pretty well

 

[TheBasics]

hank/the basics is an upstanding guy
i respect his opinions

bbb, Howdy;

Thanks Larry.

hank

 

[JerseyBill]

I've been down this road and recommend something a little more expensive that will at least let you do joint work and upgrade as discussed above:

Cue Smith Cue Lathes

<p style="text-align: left">The precision Cue Smith™ brand cue lathes.<br /> SINCE THE FIRST LATHES BUILT BY CHRIS IN 1988, CUE SMITH™ CUE LATHES HAVE BECOME KNOWN IN CUE MAKER’S CIRCLES FOR THEIR QUALITY. THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE IMPROVED THEM, BUT, WE’VE KEPT THE SAME QUALITY...

www.cuesmith.com

Professional Large bore headstock - Pool Cue Lathes by Mid-America

www.midamericapool.com

Cuesmith lathes are used in conjunction with larger metal lathes to make cues. Can't hurt to buy one and if in the future you want to make cues you can get another lathe and keep the one you have for other operations.

 

[SSDiver2112]

Ok everybody, let me know what I should be considering for a cue lathe.

Thinking about this one for simple tip replacements but worried that I will wish I invested in something more substantial.

DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DELUXE CUE REPAIR LATHE, BED EXTENSION, CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL, HOW TO MANUAL at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Those that have been down this road, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

I had this struggle as well and looked at that same lathe. Since covid started I got the bright idea that I could build my own lathe for general maintenance. In the process of building the lathe I had to add some new tools to help with the build. My genius plan was to spend hundreds of dollars and months of time to save $20 for someone else to change my tip. I like the satisfaction of doing things myself if it is within my ability. A professional is needed for many things, but many other things are doable. Sometimes I get delusional and venture into the wrong territory though. Many things may be doable but require the right equipment to do it right or to be efficient. I succeeded in building the lathe and it is adequate for cleaning the shaft and tip installs. When my last daughter moved out, I moved everything into that room, so now the spare room is a workroom full of new tools. Guests will get the couch or blow-up right now. I've since made other things in my new workshop, like cue rests and chalk holders.

I've spent way more on new equipment than what I have produced is worth monetarily. I look at it as money spent on a hobby so it's fine. Plus, new equipment can be used for other things in the future too...

Now I've been eyeing up the Mid America lathe. If I was younger, I would definitely have interest in learning how to build a cue. I realize the time needed to perfect that skill is not realistic. General maintenance, ferrules and tips, even making joint protectors would be fun and within my current skill set.

Most hobbies are money pits, but if I get a couple bucks back now and then, why not?

 

[tykcarp57]

So I have an old wood lathe 12x36”. I need to know what parts I need to do tips and cleaning of the shafts. Basic. Not trying to cut cues or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kling&allen]

So I have an old wood lathe 12x36”. I need to know what parts I need to do tips and cleaning of the shafts. Basic. Not trying to cut cues or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You'll want one of these maintenance arbors that is held in your headstock and screws into the shaft:

http://www.cuefits.com/index.php?route=product/product&search=arbor&product_id=142&search=arbor (this is radial, you'll want one for whatever thread shafts you are working on)

You'll want a steady rest to hold the shaft near the tip. You can make your own, but you can find a few simple ones on ebay depending on your wood lathe:

Billiard Cues for sale | eBay

Get the best deals on Billiard Cues when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices.

www.ebay.com

You'll want something on your tailstock to hold and press the tip while glueing. And something to cut and trim the tip on your toolrest. There are youtube videos with some good examples.

I'm always in favor of experimenting and trying to make stuff, but I think you'll get responses here saying this is a fool's errand. There are specialty cue repair lathes:

Basic Repair Lathe w/4 foot bed - Pool Cue Lathes by Mid-America

www.midamericapool.com

Or even full cue lathes of course. And some here will say that these are all toy lathes, and that you should be making your cues on a 2-ton Bridgeport kneemill or a 5-axis CNC. All these are options.