Suppliers-(cue repair)-any ones to avoid?

IA8baller

IA8baller

Family man.
Silver Member
Just as the title asks..........are there any suppliers I should avoid?

I'm going to be ordering a few parts to keep on hand-joint collars, joint hardware, buttcaps, rings, ferrules, etc. to hopefully be able to handle most repairs I'll be faced with.

Also if any of you long time repair men can give me any advice on what I should keep on hand that I might not be thinking of it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Trevor
 
I'm not gonna bad mouth any suppliers, because any I have had issues with, I have heard of others that had the opposite experience with, so I'm not sure If My dealings were not just a Isolated situation.


On supplies to carry, can never have enough, start with the basics, and what You can afford to stock at first, and keep adding to them. I try to keep as much variety as possible around, but sometimes By special request I still have to order, because I have been unable to stock everything in every type, and some things that I use a lot I have to constantly resupply.

Tips & backers
ferrule Materials
Glues
sealers
paper towels
Epoxies
cleaners
Shaft treatments (if you choose to use)
flat toothpicks & tongue suppressors for mixing
I also buy Packs of mini paper plates to mix on
Joint and butt materials as you mentioned already
Joint pins, inserts, & joint cap pins
Linen & leather wraps if Your offering those services
Magic erasers come in handy
sandpapers
weight bolts & bumpers
ring work dash and metals
Tenon threader and taps
The list goes on and on.

I can't think of everything right now Too early in the morning and I have the flu, so I'm sure I'm missing more then a few things, but I'd probably have to film a documentary to cover everything just in My little one man shop.:wink:
 
Cue Crazy said:
I can't think of everything right now Too early in the morning and I have the flu, so I'm sure I'm missing more then a few things, but I'd probably have to film a documentary to cover everything just in My little one man shop.:wink:
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The flu must be going around. That's why I'm at home on the computer today instead of at work. Thought I might as well use the time to get a little more knowledge and a few tips.

Thanks for the tips, there were a couple things you listed that I hadn't thought about yet.
 
I have added to the list of Cue Crazy:

Tips & backers
ferrule Materials
Glues
sealers
paper towels
Epoxies
cleaners
Shaft treatments (if you choose to use)
flat toothpicks & tongue suppressors for mixing
I also buy Packs of mini paper plates to mix on
Joint and butt materials as you mentioned already
Joint pins, inserts, & joint cap pins
Linen & leather wraps if Your offering those services
Magic erasers come in handy
sandpapers
weight bolts & bumpers
ring work dash and metals
Tenon threader and taps
Irish Linen Black with White Specks
Irish Linen Solid Black
Leather Wrap Material in Various Colors
Elmer's White Glue for Irish Linen Wraps


Black Linen Based Fiber in Joint and Butt Size
 
Atlas would be your best source & likely the only source you'll need. They have about everything you could need for basic repair work. Muellers has a few things that Atlas does not, mostly in the line of tips & ferrule choices. Both outfits are trusty.
 
qbilder said:
Atlas would be your best source & likely the only source you'll need. They have about everything you could need for basic repair work. Muellers has a few things that Atlas does not, mostly in the line of tips & ferrule choices. Both outfits are trusty.
Click to expand...

Prathers: http://www.prathercue.com/ who are probably the original cue supply operation can be added to this list. Nice people to deal with. They don't have a minimum order so if you only need one item quickly they are easier to deal with however with the cost of most supplies, Atlases minimum is not hard to reach.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
Prathers: http://www.prathercue.com/ who are probably the original cue supply operation can be added to this list. Nice people to deal with. They don't have a minimum order so if you only need one item quickly they are easier to deal with however with the cost of most supplies, Atlases minimum is not hard to reach.

Dick
Click to expand...

Tap Tap. I thought about them just after I posted. Very nice folks, easy to deal with & good stuff.
 
I have had good luck with the following:

Atlas - Hardware, rod, tube, adhesives, wraps, taps, drills, etc.

Prather - Same stuff as Atlas plus wood and, if you want pre-made pointed forearms and butt sleeves.

Chris Hightower - Cue making/repair machinery, wood and lots of other stuff.

Schmelke - Wood dowels and squares, shaft blanks, "Sneaky Pete" full-splice blanks and more.

Bell Forest Products - Turning squares (they will dowel them for you for 1$ per piece if you want which saves a bunch of time) and inlay slabs. Their "excellent" grade Birdseye and curly is hit or miss, that's my only complaint but they are good people to work with and will take returns.

Between these places you should be able to get everything you need to repair and build (Chris sells great machinery) cues. As somebody pointed out, Atlas may be all the only supplier you need to do repairs and they have some stuff that nobody else seems to have. I've become very fond of their self-aligning, center drilled joint pins. Atlas will also send you samples of their various tubing and rod so you can test machine and finish some small pieces and see what you like. This stuff can be very expensive so you want to be sure you have what you want before you buy a lot of it.
 
for parts i go atlas and prather chris hightower only. between them you will get everything you need do your homework bc the same products are cheaper with one then other and versa

wood i have local supplier and bell forest.

stay away from cuecomponents esp. ebay sales on wood. JMO. do a search and youll find out
 
Take the time to check prices. You'll be upset if you see something you ordered is half the price somewhere else.
Cuecomponents has treated me great.
 
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