Setup for cue building

[Jason Robichaud]

Can anyone recommend equipment to buy for hobby cue building. I work with wood everyday and would like to make a cue. I am not happy unless everything I build is perfection so I think cue building would be a good choice. Can I get setup for under $5000. A list of equipment would be great. I know a lathe can be over $3000 so I will start cheap...really cheap.

Thank you

 

[JoeyInCali]

1. Wife who has a good job and a lot of patience.
2. 36-40" between centers metal lathe with a taper bar/attachment. 1 3/8" spindle bore and a precision chuck.
IF you want to build a perfect cue, it will take you years; if you even get there.

 

[ShootingArts]

metal lathe

I agree with Joey that you need a metal lathe. Might as well buy a 40" between centers bed, they come in handy sometimes. I would say don't buy a factory taper attachment however. They aren't suited for what you will be doing and you will find yourself building your own anyway. If at all possible buy a lathe with a brake, they are much easier to thread with. A DRO is nice but not a must.

You can buy or build a CNC router for less than what a good pantograph costs now so that is the ticket for inlays and such. When you want it really nice use the CNC to rough in things and clean up by hand. I still don't like the .030 points a CNC leaves.

Hu

 

[Varney Cues]

A metal lathe is nice if you are serious. As a hobby...nothing at all wrong with Hightower's Deluxe Cuesmith.

 

[ShootingArts]

been there done that

Been there, done that. Buy a metal lathe!

Hu

A metal lathe is nice if you are serious. As a hobby...nothing at all wrong with Hightower's Deluxe Cuesmith.

 

[Jack Flanagan]

you might get more responses if you ask this in the cuemakers section....


..........................j