What lathe to buy?

cueman said:
I really like the vacuum system you hooked up there. What percentage of the dust and chips do you estimate it catches?
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Thanks, It's just something I rigged up in about 15 minutes when I changed My router positioning, It's only hooked up to one of those small portable collectors on wheels though. It does alright, maybe more then half, but chips still pile up over time. It does however redirect what's not picked up away from Me. Since I changed the positioning, I'm getting shavings instead of that fine dust, so I can get away without mask on this maple, and can even breath without the need for a box of Q-tips afterwards;) :D "Don't anyone try this at Home Clause inserted here";)

The bracket is just a piece of 2" flat aluminum I heated up and bent, then drilled My hole for the hose with a hole saw. Just Your basic quick fix, so I could try the new positioning out, and not get sprayed down by chips. I may try to do something that wraps around alittle better, and has more protection.
 
What part of the bit contacts the wood? I like the vertical set-up. It might be less taxing on the carriage system too. Is that the quick connect system Chris sells? I'm thinking about putting this on my list to Santa.
 
Alan said:
What part of the bit contacts the wood? I like the vertical set-up. It might be less taxing on the carriage system too. Is that the quick connect system Chris sells? I'm thinking about putting this on my list to Santa.
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Vertical is better imo.
I've only seen one with a vertical router setup ( meaning the router cut from the top of the wood and that gravity pushed it to follow a taper groove ) and that is the Prewitt taper machine. Now out of production.
 
Alan said:
What part of the bit contacts the wood? I like the vertical set-up. It might be less taxing on the carriage system too. Is that the quick connect system Chris sells? I'm thinking about putting this on my list to Santa.
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On Gregs lathe he has a Multi-Position Router bracket $35. It is not the quick change tool post that the router is hooked to. The side of the bit is doing the cutting. Your bit has to be real sharp to cut that way, unless you slow your lathe down by adding a second motor to get it slower than the normal motor will allow.
 
cueman said:
On Gregs lathe he has a Multi-Position Router bracket $35. It is not the quick change tool post that the router is hooked to. The side of the bit is doing the cutting. Your bit has to be real sharp to cut that way, unless you slow your lathe down by adding a second motor to get it slower than the normal motor will allow.
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Yes sir You are correct:) , I found that out today after initial cuts on about 10 shafts. As the blade starts to dull you have to either decrease the depth of the cut or change to a good part of the blade ( I think Joey mentioned that to me in the other thread). What seems to happen is the blade will push off the piece, creating a step in the taper. Someone that lurks here mentioned something to Me about keeping spare bit on hand at all times, Now I understand why first hand.;) I'm going to slow My spindle speed down tomorrow and see what happens. Either way no big deal It does'nt hurt the shaft, and a lighter cleanup pass smooths it right out no problem. I just finish up with a light pass, because it only happens on the deep cuts, and the final results are of the quality I desire.:) I could probably save some life by cutting the initial turns with the end of the bit, an save the sides for the finish passes.


Greg C
 
cueman said:
That would depend on which Hightower machine they buy as to whether it has variable speed or not. Midsize and Micro 3 both have variable speed motors. Deluxe, Full Size and Micro 2 have regular main motors and variable speed wrap motors. For tapping under power at slow speeds the large single speed motors are hard to beat. That is one of the main reasons I have not put the variable motor over onto the Deluxe Cue Smith.
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unique can adjust speed from 0 to ??? ppm

but Deluxe only have fix speed (4 or 5 speed),
if you want more low speed , you can't adjust
 
If you want a flimsey micky mouse toy that is over priced get a Cuecompanion. If you want a nice machine that will last buy Hightower. All you have to do is purchase both videos to see which machine is better. In one part of the Unique video the owner actually shows how incompetent (or limetations)the cuemaker machine is.
 
which lathe to buy?

well I can say I Had no problem with any of the unique products Lathes i've bought,The motor and switches are solid running ,Ive used them for years now...Im not going to nit pick on other lathe makers,I Don't have any nor do i wish to try any other lathes.
 
joe porper lathes

I have the 36th machine Joe Porper built back in 92' it was the model "A" lathe from creative inventions in Ca. less than a year later I had it upgraded to the model "B" I have been running that machine for several thousand hours and it still is simply the best and Mr. Porper is an excellent man to do business with he stands by his products 100% and will assist you anyway he can to help you with any tech. issues or basic understanding... I have had the unfortunate intitial experience with hightowers "lathes" and all I can say is that they are cute and are for very light work I would never recommend them for any kind of commercial application or heavy use.
I also build complete cues on the model "b" and just use my align rite CNC to finish up the tapers and do the inlays and inlay pockets as well as points but honestly the porper lathe is simply the best and for the money you will be estatic....

- Eddie Wheat
 
Eddie,
I've heard some good things about the Porper Model B, but I've not seen one in action or used one. I have the Deluxe Cue Smith, and I'm happy with it. I can't say it is cute, however. I consider it utilitarian in appearance.
Comparing all of the Cue Smith lathes to the Model B isn't really fair. Chris makes several models designed for different uses. The smallest one (Micro Cue Smith II) is not designed to make a cue, and it even states that on Chris' website. Comparing a $1,200 Micro Cue Smith (designed primarily for repairs) to a $4,000 Model B (designed for cue repair and building) doesn't help the initial poster. Also, complaining about a Hightower lathe without giving any details of the model or your reasons for dissatisfaction isn't very helpful. It's a nobel goal to protect the poster from making an error, but give them reasons and fair comparisons to help them make an intelligent choice.

Alan
 
WheatCues said:
I have the 36th machine Joe Porper built back in 92' it was the model "A" lathe from creative inventions in Ca. less than a year later I had it upgraded to the model "B" I have been running that machine for several thousand hours and it still is simply the best and Mr. Porper is an excellent man to do business with he stands by his products 100% and will assist you anyway he can to help you with any tech. issues or basic understanding... I have had the unfortunate intitial experience with hightowers "lathes" and all I can say is that they are cute and are for very light work I would never recommend them for any kind of commercial application or heavy use.
I also build complete cues on the model "b" and just use my align rite CNC to finish up the tapers and do the inlays and inlay pockets as well as points but honestly the porper lathe is simply the best and for the money you will be estatic....

- Eddie Wheat
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I don't think you've seen the latest Model B's.
What you have is the model before Joe subbed the work on them.

Btw, I have a Logan metal lathe, Taper Shaper and Cue Companion by Unique.
The people at Unique stand by their products.
 
Which lathe to buy?

Although I do not and have not owned any of the machines discussed here, I can say this:

I have dealt with Chris Hightower on many occasions and have nothing but top notch service from him. With all the positive responses about his machines I would have to believe that they are constructed with the same excellence he uses in his other business practices.

I have witnessed the use of the Cue Companion by Ron Geyer who owns The Custom Cue Connection. Ron has worked these little machines extremely hard for a long, long time and he has nothing but positive things to say about them.

All my personal experiences have been with larger machine lathes that I have adapted to cue work, or with machines I have built myself. I can honestly say that "I have done it the hard way" a few times. I think that either machine will do an excellent job. Just take a look at what you want to do and choose the machine that is best suited to your needs.

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
lath

The thing to remember here is cost effectiveness. Uniques products do an average job. Its the person working the equiptment that determins the quality. Unique product Inc are theives! (In my opinion)! Look at any thing they sell. UV light $10,000 come on, please. I ran into a guy from I think it was lebabon Indiana or something like that who suposedly was the desiner of this product and gave me one for $3000. Everything they sell is completely priced to high. I suspect that if they lowerd their prices there company would be more profitable because they would sell more business. Heck there linen press is $150. And for what 2-mapel handels and 3 Cam Followers. It might cost $20 bucks to make. All Im saying is that the cost of uniques products doesnt warrent buying because they have priced themselves out of the market. Just go to Cue Componets and read there reviews. Hightower is right in line with their product and cost. The real issue here is repair lathe. Let quit comparing apples to oranges. Throw out porper model-B and Unique's cue maker. They are not repair lathes but cue making lathes. If you want a cue making lathe buy a metal lathe and be done with it. Bang for buck it goes to Hightower.
 
I've found that each has a purpose and each has its advantages. For every one person that post a negative, there are 10 nonposting people that have positve comments.

Usually the bad experieces speak the loudest but that does not mean the machine is of poor quality and functionability. Plus, some machines work better for different people. Find the one you like and buy it but at least you are trying to make an informed decision.

My advice, throw out the best comments and the worst comments for each because the ones in the middle are closer to the truth.
 
I thought about this. Instead of critizing everybody's lathe, why don't we give examples on how to make each machine a better product. Everyone wins that way. Don't just say "lower the price" but actually give some examples or pics of modifications.
 
Lathe

Ratcue: I agree with you in many ways But unfortinatly cost is a factor in everything that we do. If the price were lower people would think that they got a good deal. And thats really all people want. I never said that unique's product was of poor quality. I stated that it was mearly average. But when you fiqure in the cost, unique looses ground. There are many ways Unique could offset this issues. The could throw is a starter kit of some sort. say 50, tips- 50 ferrules,-sandpaper, tipshaper blades, 1lb of linnon rap,-mabey a video or something. none of which are very expensive. Instead they nick pick you to death and that is wrong. As far as service goes Hightower and Sickles are equal. They are both wonderful people. The auction should be evidence of that. It all boils down to cost. Would you pay someone $100 dollors or $10 dollors to wash your car if you knew it was going to rain the next day. Dollars a head. It doesnt make good sence to spend more money to buy the same machine with a difference face. If Hightoweres lathe were $1600-$2000 I would say the same about his product. He was smart enough to figure this out in advance.
 
Lathe

Fair price for unique repair lathe.
Cue companion 1 $950
Cue Companion 2 $1050
Cue Companion 3 $1150
Shop Companion $1400

I wonder how much this would help unique's business and hurt other cue machinery business. I wonder how many cue builders actually think this is a fair market analysis as opposed to those who disagree. Unfortinatly we live in a society where we can charge what ever we want and get a way with It. Do you think that life saving treatment, procedures, medicine, should cost what they do. Greed Is the root of all evil. Buy Hightower.
 
ratcues said:
I've found that each has a purpose and each has its advantages. For every one person that post a negative, there are 10 nonposting people that have positve comments.

Usually the bad experieces speak the loudest but that does not mean the machine is of poor quality and functionability. Plus, some machines work better for different people. Find the one you like and buy it but at least you are trying to make an informed decision.

My advice, throw out the best comments and the worst comments for each because the ones in the middle are closer to the truth.
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I aggree, alot of It is in the way that use It, or what it's mainly designed to do. I've learned that with alot of tools or machines I have used for many different things. The More I learn the characteristics of any given tool, the more I learn It's limitations or or how to ajust for that paticular machine to get quality results. Alot of things that are human error can seem like there machine related also until you realize different with any given machine. In perfect world We would have every machine setup to do only It's strongest operation, but unforunatly that's not possible for everyone, so getting good at setting up for different operations on any paticular machine falls into the equation too. I think you will probably find mixed reviews about those on any of the machines in question, just depends on who it comes from, and whatever circumstances led to their opinion. the only thing you can do Is do your research well and make sure the one you get Is the one for you. I also believe different people will have different results on different machines.
Altough I have not tried all out for Myself, of the top of the line compact cuebuilder lathes I have heard & read good things about all of the big 3, as well as any bad that may go with each. Some people have the luxury of having equipment from more then one of the makers and using them for their advantages in different operations. I would think the most important thing if your not sure, is to make sure the lathe you get has a good resale value, that way if not happy, you can recoop most of the investment and try something different on for size. I like & aggree with the idea of looking in the middle when it's hard to tell also.:)
 
Fair price for unique repair lathe.
Cue companion 1 $950
Cue Companion 2 $1050
Cue Companion 3 $1150
Shop Companion $1400

I wonder how much this would help unique's business and hurt other cue machinery business. I wonder how many cue builders actually think this is a fair market analysis as opposed to those who disagree. Unfortinatly we live in a society where we can charge what ever we want and get a way with It. Do you think that life saving treatment, procedures, medicine, should cost what they do. Greed Is the root of all evil. Buy Hightower.

Supply and demand plus competition more often than not determines the selling prices. Always and always will.
Now, if I can get a cnc machine that does tapering, inlaying/making billets and v-pointing for less than 10 grand....
 
JoeyInCali said:
Fair price for unique repair lathe.
Cue companion 1 $950
Cue Companion 2 $1050
Cue Companion 3 $1150
Shop Companion $1400



Supply and demand plus competition more often than not determines the selling prices. Always and always will.
Now, if I can get a cnc machine that does tapering, inlaying/making billets and v-pointing for less than 10 grand....
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Hey.........Looks like JimBum is having a fire sale!!!!
Joey ........your just always looking for a steal, aren't you?
 
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