Roy Billiard Cue Repair Machine

Scott44 said:
Do you have one that you would recommend for basic work?
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Not for that amount of money.
A proper shaft lathe cost four times that.
A basic mini or midi wood lathe can be picked up on the used market for cheap, but with the tooling and other things that make tip/ferrule work possible tends to run the cost up.
One problem with mini lathes is that the bed length between centers often requires a bed extension.
Buying a dedicated shaft repair lathe would probably prove cheaper.
 
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Cuebuddy said:
So many things that I don't like about that machine.
I cringed the whole time I watched the videos.
It seems that for basic shaft/tip work, I would find another option.
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Ok. What do you recommend? Because I'm kinda intrigued by this, for the $. What's better in a similar range?
 
There inlies the problem.
Not anything that I have found in that price range seems like a decent tip repair machine.
I have been spinning wood and metal on lathes since the 70's.
Machining, Enco, Southbend and Clausings. Jet, Delta and a host of others for wood turning.

I have a Delta Midi lathe that has two bed extensions on it and the total length is 80".
Due to the fact that I collect vintage cues and many are one piece I wanted a machine that I could work on these relics.
This same lathe is what I use to make my mini pool cues with.
I also have a Cuesmith waiting to get set up.

So, after working on so many types of lathes over the years I cant get behind these tipping lathes that have drills for motors. Risky roller wheels for holding the shaft tip.
And relying on a benchtop instead of a lathe bed.

Mid-America makes a lathe for shaft work and looks like a nice machine for around 9 bills.
 
Cuebuddy said:
There inlies the problem.
Not anything that I have found in that price range seems like a decent tip repair machine.
I have been spinning wood and metal on lathes since the 70's.
Machining, Enco, Southbend and Clausings. Jet, Delta and a host of others for wood turning.

I have a Delta Midi lathe that has two bed extensions on it and the total length is 80".
Due to the fact that I collect vintage cues and many are one piece I wanted a machine that I could work on these relics.
This same lathe is what I use to make my mini pool cues with.
I also have a Cuesmith waiting to get set up.

So, after working on so many types of lathes over the years I cant get behind these tipping lathes that have drills for motors. Risky roller wheels for holding the shaft tip.
And relying on a benchtop instead of a lathe bed.

Mid-America makes a lathe for shaft work and looks like a nice machine for around 9 bills.
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Thanks for the info. I have looked at both Cuesmith and Mid-America lathes and they do look nice and are made in the USA but I just don't think I can justify spending that amount of money to just put a few tips per year on. I did try to search for used ones and there just doesn't seem to be much out there.
 
Scott44 said:
Thanks for the info. I have looked at both Cuesmith and Mid-America lathes and they do look nice and are made in the USA but I just don't think I can justify spending that amount of money to just put a few tips per year on. I did try to search for used ones and there just doesn't seem to be much out there.
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Search for a metal lathe like this one locally: https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-x14-Benchtop-Variable-Precision/dp/B0DLNK42SM

One caveat is that you will need to buy/build something like a steadyrest to support the shaft on the rear side of the chuck.

It needs to have a bore in the chuck of 23mm or more. Bigger than that and you can use collets. The closer it is the more likely you will need to use a drive set.
 
Thanks Jason. I will do that. Yesterday when I was searching for different cue lathes I was on some site that they had a support for sale for just that purpose. Of course I don't remember what the site was. LOL If I remember right they wanted something like 50 bucks for it.
 
Funny i bought one of them for $80 on amazon a few months back. But for some reason it never made it to my house so my order was refunded
 
Scott44 said:
Thanks for the info. I have looked at both Cuesmith and Mid-America lathes and they do look nice and are made in the USA but I just don't think I can justify spending that amount of money to just put a few tips per year on. I did try to search for used ones and there just doesn't seem to be much out there.
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i soon have a used one for sale. problem is i'm on the other side of the atlantic 😉

you can also use bearing blocks and collets, like this:


or search for other diy cue lathe on youtube. there was a thread on a 3D-printed one here some pages back.
 
Save up for a Hightower or MidAmerica. The lathe shown in post #1 is Mickey Mouse and scary to and dangerous looking. Also the operator will need new lungs soon if the dust doesn't kill him.
 
JasonATX said:
It's basically the Sparkcar repair lathe:

I seem to recall it not reviewing very well.

Here's a prior thread on the subject: https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/affordable-lathe-to-put-on-new-cue-tips.515618/
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One does not turn using a milling tool, one uses a turning tool (fixed single point)
One does not face using a milling tool, one using a facing tool (fixed single point)
The object being turned spins, the tool does not.
Did anyone notice the runout of the shaft in the lathe prior to work ?!?
Did anyone notice the runout of the new ferrule after installation ?!?

So many things backeards--as if one was trying to use a mill as a lathe::
it is generally known that one can use a lathe as a mill but generally not vice versa.
 
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