For about a year now I've been interested in becoming a cuemaker. Tried not to think about it too much because I thought it might just be a little fad of mine. Not too sure if it is or not. Recently I've been talking with one of my close friend of mine and we're thinking about trying to do this together. What I had in mind was in the middle of our college years, we'll save up some money and first buy probably hundreds of pieces of woods (not sure which ones i should get though, probably hard rock maple for shafts, but what about other woods for the butts and stuff?), and just store it somewhere until we graduate and get a steady job, and then we'll buy the machines needed. I probably will try to take a few woodshop classes when I'm in college. Me and my friend are still not sure where we'll actually learn the skills and techniques to make a cue though. Not so sure they have cuemaking classes in New York City since it's not really that much of a high demand job currently. Could somebody help steer me and my friend into the right path to become a cuemaker?
Where Do I Start to Become a Cuemaker?
- Thread starter xtenglong
- Start date
Do you like to play pool? If you do becoming a cuemaker will put an end to that. Unfortunately if you are building cues you will be around pool all the time but won't have much time to play.
That being said I would say buy some wood and a lathe and make a couple cues using the videos or books available. If you still enjoy it after the first few then start investing in alot of wood. Some people build a few and realize it is not for them. If you have dreams of becoming rich, this is not the way. You have to love building cues to do it for a living. Chris.
That being said I would say buy some wood and a lathe and make a couple cues using the videos or books available. If you still enjoy it after the first few then start investing in alot of wood. Some people build a few and realize it is not for them. If you have dreams of becoming rich, this is not the way. You have to love building cues to do it for a living. Chris.
I recommend a good...
First, I would recommend a good therapist. But if you insist on going ahead with this I would suggest that you get every book, video, DVD and any other training materials you can find.. Read and study everthing you can find on the web. If you know someone who is already into it spend as much time as you can watching. If you are still interested you may wish to start out doing tips and other basic cue repairs. If you can do them well, then move on to more advanced repairs. and if you can do a good job with that then try building. Good luck!!
First, I would recommend a good therapist. But if you insist on going ahead with this I would suggest that you get every book, video, DVD and any other training materials you can find.. Read and study everthing you can find on the web. If you know someone who is already into it spend as much time as you can watching. If you are still interested you may wish to start out doing tips and other basic cue repairs. If you can do them well, then move on to more advanced repairs. and if you can do a good job with that then try building. Good luck!!
Buy Chris Hightowers book FIRST...read it cover to cover...then make educated choices. :smile:
Machine classes. Woodshop you probably won't get much out of. Now Machine shop/metalworking lathes and mills will most definitely help. Spend every last cent you have on wood tooling machines more wood and parts for about 5 years. Read and more importantly do as many different techniques as you can to see what works and what doesn't. Don't expect to be an instant cuemaker by reading what is here on AZ. You will only be a wizard in your own eyes. Remember that what you learn by doing you understand why and not just what someone says.
~~~~just some rambling by a wood nut~~~~~~
~~~~just some rambling by a wood nut~~~~~~
I'm not planning to be a full time cuemaker, it's just something that I'd like to do on the side. Like I said in my first post, I'm going to college and then getting a job (hopefully a decent paying one, but I have no aspirations to become rich). "Diekman's Second Law of Cue Building: Do not quit your real job in order to build cues."
Why would becoming a cuemaker prevent me from playing pool?? I know it's a bit time consuming, but I don't think I'm going to be making dozens of cues every year.
I'm going to see if I can get a few books on DVD's on this stuff this summer and try to learn on my free time. Does machine shop teach me how to handle woods too?
Why would becoming a cuemaker prevent me from playing pool?? I know it's a bit time consuming, but I don't think I'm going to be making dozens of cues every year.
I'm going to see if I can get a few books on DVD's on this stuff this summer and try to learn on my free time. Does machine shop teach me how to handle woods too?
Focus
I like you'r words . Don't listen to anyone who does'nt know you (about what you should do) just try it ...I did .It's an adventure it's fun ,frustrating,great ,complicated, exacting and very expensive$$$$$$ But this is a GREAT place to be .So much knowledge here you really can ask almost anything . Good luck and by Chris Hightowers CD's you will love them..PS Chris is a great guy to deal with ...but very busy...take care:thumbup:
I like you'r words . Don't listen to anyone who does'nt know you (about what you should do) just try it ...I did .It's an adventure it's fun ,frustrating,great ,complicated, exacting and very expensive$$$$$$ But this is a GREAT place to be .So much knowledge here you really can ask almost anything . Good luck and by Chris Hightowers CD's you will love them..PS Chris is a great guy to deal with ...but very busy...take care:thumbup:
xtenglong said:
One thing you need to purchase above all else even if you do this part time, hobby, experiment, etc. is a GOOD dust collection system and wear a good respirator (not that little white piece of cloth either). Some of these woods you will work with will KILL you. ie, Cocobolo is a very popular wood for cues, it will stay in your lungs and some c/m have allergic reactions to it ---- ask Chris Hightower, I think he is highly allergic to it. When you start finishing your cues, you will need to do something with that too since some of the finishes used are again going to put you at risk. Me, I don't want to be sucking air from a tube in my golden years.
I am not highly allergic to Cocobolo. It burns my son's hands instantly if he just touches it. I do have customers that have been to the hospital from dealing with Cocobolo, so that is why I warn people to be careful with these exotic woods.Jack Madden said:
Well, I used to play guitar a lot. Then I started building and repairing them for a living. Now after work I don't even want to look at a guitar, my guitars are in the closet and untouched, and I could'nt play a simple blues pattern to save my life. So Thats why I can understand that if you build and repair cues your game my suffer. Aside from that though, GO FOR IT !xtenglong said:
I am going to try my hand at cue building myself, but just to build one or two for myself ONLY. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I concurr, totally
This will enable you to determine with more accuracy, the direction of your path. If you are a person who is serious about this, make the commitment to set aside an initial $5000 + minimum, and invest the first few dollars on educational material. You will soon learn what is involved. It is not what you may think at first. It will be much more. Get one of those mid size lathes from Hightower or Unique and begin doing repairs, and other small stuff. In order to become a cue maker, you must learn to do maintenance. If you are in an area where there are local cue makers, surely they would offer to give small bits of advice for as long as you maintain respect and appreciation.
Dennis Dieckman's Cueniversity - http://www.cuemaker.com/cueniversity.htm
Cue Components dvd set (http://cuecomponents.com/cuebuvi.html) - $149 Worth buying
Also, look at some of their online stuff http://cuecomponents.com/cuebuon.html
Chris Hightower Videos (http://cuesmith.com/index.php?page=book_video)- 4 dvd's at $50 each basic repairs, advanced cue building, and finishing. Very worth it, packed with info.
Chris Hightower's book (http://cuesmith.com/index.php?page=book_video) - $69.95 Probably the single most important book for any aspiring cue maker out there.
Unique Products (http://uniqueinc.com/instructional_videos) dvd set - 5 vids at $39 each (haven't watched, but should be quite useful and very worth it.
Prather (http://prathercue.com/cue_building_manual/cue_building_manual.html)- Chip Albery Book Zen and the art of cuemaking - about $50 bucks, may be worth purchasing.
Brianna Products http://www.briannaproducts.com/learn.htm
Other souces include, Atlas cuestik.com,
After you have gone through some of this material, you should then be able to know 'what to do'. Good Luck
Varney Cues said:
This will enable you to determine with more accuracy, the direction of your path. If you are a person who is serious about this, make the commitment to set aside an initial $5000 + minimum, and invest the first few dollars on educational material. You will soon learn what is involved. It is not what you may think at first. It will be much more. Get one of those mid size lathes from Hightower or Unique and begin doing repairs, and other small stuff. In order to become a cue maker, you must learn to do maintenance. If you are in an area where there are local cue makers, surely they would offer to give small bits of advice for as long as you maintain respect and appreciation.
Dennis Dieckman's Cueniversity - http://www.cuemaker.com/cueniversity.htm
Cue Components dvd set (http://cuecomponents.com/cuebuvi.html) - $149 Worth buying
Also, look at some of their online stuff http://cuecomponents.com/cuebuon.html
Chris Hightower Videos (http://cuesmith.com/index.php?page=book_video)- 4 dvd's at $50 each basic repairs, advanced cue building, and finishing. Very worth it, packed with info.
Chris Hightower's book (http://cuesmith.com/index.php?page=book_video) - $69.95 Probably the single most important book for any aspiring cue maker out there.
Unique Products (http://uniqueinc.com/instructional_videos) dvd set - 5 vids at $39 each (haven't watched, but should be quite useful and very worth it.
Prather (http://prathercue.com/cue_building_manual/cue_building_manual.html)- Chip Albery Book Zen and the art of cuemaking - about $50 bucks, may be worth purchasing.
Brianna Products http://www.briannaproducts.com/learn.htm
Other souces include, Atlas cuestik.com,
After you have gone through some of this material, you should then be able to know 'what to do'. Good Luck
xtenglong said:
You have to decide if you are looking for a hobby or a business. I do it as a hobby because I was interested in it and wanted to try it. I started by reading Chris Hightower's book and watching his videos as well as researching equipment and supply vendors for a year before I bought a Cuesmith Deluxe about 4 years ago. I pick up a few bucks doing repair work and sell a simple cue every now and then but I really do it just because I enjoy it. I build cues when I feel like it and I don't if I don't feel like it. If I had to do it as a job I'm not sure it would be enjoyable anymore. I think it would be a tough (nearly impossible in this economy without something approaching mass production) way to actually make a living because there are tons of guys trying to fill a relatively small market and, considering the investment, time, skill and experience required to make high end cues, I don't think most cues sell for enough to cover expenses and still pay the builder a reasonable, professional wage.
You will make a sizeable investment in materials and equipment even to make a good quality, simple cue that won't sell for much. There is a lot to learn and you will make a lot of mistakes (and scrap a lot of wood and materials) while you are learning and you will never stop learning. Making an accurate, relatively defect-free cue is a lot harder than most people would imagine. I like the challenge of learning and trying to make each cue a little better than the last one.
If you make the plunge start small and do repair work well you are learning how to make a cue. My personal view is that if you think you will make any money doing this as an inexperienced one or two man team I would think again. I hope this helps.
dave sutton
Banned
Chris Byrne said:
amen and when you get time to play everyone under the sun will bug you between shots
call chris hightower first. get his book and videos. if then you feel like you want to continue he will give you a discount on one of his lathes for buying the book first.
if you dont you can always resell the book and video. ppl are always looking for them. they are worth every penny IMO and keep them for refrence if you continue. you will need them. so much info there
just an idea
depending on where you live maybe you can make arrangements to visit someones shop and get an idea whats involved there will be an initial start up cost and you will need a work area also i say if you want too go for it you never know til you try something .
depending on where you live maybe you can make arrangements to visit someones shop and get an idea whats involved there will be an initial start up cost and you will need a work area also i say if you want too go for it you never know til you try something .
There is a world of knowledge on this forum, For those who suggested Cueman, (Chris Hightower), There absolutely correct. You won't find a better Gentleman to get you started , He offers everything you need to scratch your itch.