Tiny tools for inlays?

Cuemaster98

Cuemaster98

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi Guys,

Have you seen the tools used by Philippine cue builders to do inlay works? Trying to find out what those tiny tools are and were to get them. They use them to chisel out the inlay pocket with precision. That's how I want to do inlaying works on my cues...seem to be really flexible. Check it out below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG6OyGkzeFo


Regards,
Duc.
 
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My guess would be the same way I get Mine. Making them yourself. I use a pantograph that I built from parts, but I also have several small chisels that I use for clean up, and they are much more rigid then using Exact o knives. I make them from whatever looks good enough to serve My purposes. Hardened metals work the best for me. For example I have needed very tiny chisels to get into tight spots before, and made them on My grinder from old worn out needle files, and then lapped them on a flat stone. I'm sure something similar could be done to make the wider chisels that I've seen them use in the videos on Youtube. More then likely Your gonna want to grind a single edge, so that You have a flat edge for the outside of the pockets. It's probably just a matter of making a few tools and practicing on scrap until You get what You need, and figure It out. Using black color inlays or bordering in black will probably be more forgiving when It come to hiding glue lines, but the better the fit the less troubles You should have.
 
Cuemaster98 said:
Hi Guys,

Have you seen the tools used by Philippine cue builders to do inlay works? Trying to find out what those tiny tools are and were to get them. They use them to chisel out the inlay pocket with precision. That's how I want to do inlaying works on my cues...seem to be really flexible. Check it out below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG6OyGkzeFo


Regards,
Duc.
Click to expand...
I would suspect they made them themselves. Tools like that would not be hard to grind. I just took another look and they defiantly made them. In fact the little tapper he is using is a piece of a vice jaw. You can see some of the tools laying there, they are made from hacksaw blades. If you look close at the one he is using near the end of the clip, it is a hacksaw blade broke off and ground down.
 
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Cuemaster98 said:
Hi Guys,

Have you seen the tools used by Philippine cue builders to do inlay works? Trying to find out what those tiny tools are and were to get them. They use them to chisel out the inlay pocket with precision. That's how I want to do inlaying works on my cues...seem to be really flexible. Check it out below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG6OyGkzeFo


Regards,
Duc.
Click to expand...
Hey Duc, those are hack-saw blades. I got a bunch of them. Want to trade? LOL. It does make sence as those blades are tough but flexable. If you notice on the video you can see the hole that was used in the saw. Also I noticed the teth that are still there on one edge.

Jim.
 
Those are called "penny chisels" and you usually have to have them made for you as its not a common chisel. Only reason I know is my wife had some herself, but she has developed RA in her hands and cant carve anymore.

But the ones in that video definately look like a hacksaw blade, hey it works !
 
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Thanks guys...saw one of those hand dremel tools at Home Depot and though it would be good to use it for routing out the slot and then use these fine tools to clean up and make them sharp. I saw other videos from them as well and they also hand cut out the points on the cue...that must be time consuming but their work looks fantastic.

Regards,
Duc.
 
Cuemaster98 said:
Thanks guys...saw one of those hand dremel tools at Home Depot and though it would be good to use it for routing out the slot and then use these fine tools to clean up and make them sharp. I saw other videos from them as well and they also hand cut out the points on the cue...that must be time consuming but their work looks fantastic.

Regards,
Duc.
Click to expand...

Although it would not be my first choice of how to do it. You can find info on using a dremal tool like you describe from people who do guitar and banjo work. I can do some pretty intricate inlay and I have only a pantograph machine. I make my own templates. Interestingly these machines are around for like nothing. I have a Gorton p 1-2 I bought for $300. This same machine before cnc came around cost over $15,000 now they are considered dinosaurs. For most cuemaker though this is all they need really.

I looked into cnc and for me I could not really see a need. This is not sour grapes I can afford it I really don't have the interest. The type of traditional designs I like can be done fine manually. Take a look around at sign shops trophy places and so on. They may have one in the back room collecting dust that to them is almost worthless.
Just some food for thought.

I found this and it may interest you
http://banjoist.tripod.com/inlaying.htm
 
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Depending on the tool being made, a power hacksaw blade may make a good choice in raw materials. They can be much beefier than the more common hand hacksaw blades.

Dave
 
Thanks...this is great info.

Regards,
Duc.

macguy said:
Although it would not be my first choice of how to do it. You can find info on using a dremal tool like you describe from people who do guitar and banjo work. I can do some pretty intricate inlay and I have only a pantograph machine. I make my own templates. Interestingly these machines are around for like nothing. I have a Gorton p 1-2 I bought for $300. This same machine before cnc came around cost over $15,000 now they are considered dinosaurs. For most cuemaker though this is all they need really.

I looked into cnc and for me I could not really see a need. This is not sour grapes I can afford it I really don't have the interest. The type of traditional designs I like can be done fine manually. Take a look around at sign shops trophy places and so on. They may have one in the back room collecting dust that to them is almost worthless.
Just some food for thought.

I found this and it may interest you
http://banjoist.tripod.com/inlaying.htm
Click to expand...
 
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