Where to get started in cue repair?

mamono

mamono

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am interested in dabbling in cue repair as a hobby when I don't have time to go shoot and maybe even dabble in custom joint protectors. Where is a good place to start and what kind of equipment should I consider for a good starting point? I would probably be okay with budgeting $1k - $1.5k for this hobby.
 
mamono said:
I am interested in dabbling in cue repair as a hobby when I don't have time to go shoot and maybe even dabble in custom joint protectors. Where is a good place to start and what kind of equipment should I consider for a good starting point? I would probably be okay with budgeting $1k - $1.5k for this hobby.
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Just to let you know, cue repair is in many was harder then building cues. Someone hands you their $600.00 favorite cue for a repair you are expected to fix it and not mess it up. I see cues that have been wrecked by some guy just putting on a tip. Just so you know. Repair is not necessarily for the beginner just to get their feet wet. You need to do a lot of experimenting on junk cues to be sure you have confidence you know what you are doing. Maybe some hands on help from someone who has been doing it for a while.
 
J.T.450r said:
Chris Hightower, cuesmith.com
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Thanks for the reference to Hightower, I've been considering picking up his videos and book for a while now.



macguy said:
Just to let you know, cue repair is in many was harder then building cues. Someone hands you their $600.00 favorite cue for a repair you are expected to fix it and not mess it up. I see cues that have been wrecked by some guy just putting on a tip. Just so you know. Repair is not necessarily for the beginner just to get their feet wet. You need to do a lot of experimenting on junk cues to be sure you have confidence you know what you are doing. Maybe some hands on help from someone who has been doing it for a while.
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I don't intend on starting with mid-high end cues. I will definitely not become instantly the expert after just reading a book or watching some videos, it will take a lot of practice and learning from mistakes. Was thinking of working on tips and ferrules first and maybe try making some joint protectors. When I get comfortable with joint protectors, was considering working with partial shafts, joint collars, and joint resurfacing. So, in a way, I guess it isn't exactly just cue repair but also some partial cuemaking. Once I learn how to finish the joint protectors properly, I might try my hand at refinishing cues. Then again, I'm only been thinking about it. As a result, I thought I'd better start doing research on where I need to start.
 
macguy said:
Just to let you know, cue repair is in many was harder then building cues. Someone hands you their $600.00 favorite cue for a repair you are expected to fix it and not mess it up. I see cues that have been wrecked by some guy just putting on a tip. Just so you know. Repair is not necessarily for the beginner just to get their feet wet. You need to do a lot of experimenting on junk cues to be sure you have confidence you know what you are doing. Maybe some hands on help from someone who has been doing it for a while.
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I like doing cue repair much more than building cues. There can be much more money and the work is always different and not so boring. You just have to start slowly and has been said, "lots of practice on junk cues". I love it when someone new in town decides to start doing cue repair as I'll get a number of ferrules to replace and shafts to make. Joe Barringer, who is the king of bull, does have at least one good idea on one of his videos being that you should cut off the end of a shaft about 6 inch long and practice repeatedly changing the tip. One piece tips are cheap and after installing a couple of boxes you should have your technique pretty well down pat without fear of damaging or "practicing" on someones valuable cue. Next start practicing cleaning and polishing shafts and then installing ferrules, once again on old junk shafts. These are what you will mainly be doing for cue repair. Wraps, shafts, replacing deco-rings, re-facings and such will need to be learned also but once you have the very basic mainstream repair techniques down you can practice with the other, not as common repairs. There are a number of videos available showing the basics of cue repair. They will pay for themselves very quickly if they save you from having to purchase even just one damaged shaft.

Dick
 
This is more as a hobby for myself, I don't intend to make anything off of it. I am quite happy with my day job. I might help a few friends and family, but I don't intend to go any further than that.
 
mamono said:
This is more as a hobby for myself, I don't intend to make anything off of it. I am quite happy with my day job. I might help a few friends and family, but I don't intend to go any further than that.
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hahahahahahaha, I know about 20 of us that said the same thing.
 
mamono said:
This is more as a hobby for myself, I don't intend to make anything off of it. I am quite happy with my day job. I might help a few friends and family, but I don't intend to go any further than that.
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You should consider offering a repair service to your local YMCA, Moose club, or other such organization that might have a pool table and cues.
Mr H
 
> Invest in safety glasses,and learn whatever machine you buy inside and out.

I started out with a package of 10 Meucci-type ferrules (large thru hole,uncapped) and a 5/8 dowel rod I bought at Wal-Mart. I'd center-drill,cut a tenon,square the stud,install ferrule,face,apply a tip,and proceeed to blend it until it was perfect,then take the tip and ferrule off and start over. By the time I did this enough to run out of ferrules,I felt competent enough to start doing it for paying customers. I was also a good ways into a machining course as well.

Safety first,above all else. Tommy D.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Where in SoCal are you?
I'm in OC.
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Hi Joey, I am North OC/Southern LA County, 15 minutes away from HardTimes Bellflower.


Mr Hoppe said:
You should consider offering a repair service to your local YMCA, Moose club, or other such organization that might have a pool table and cues.
Mr H
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Not really looking to earn anything off it, but I see your stand point on getting good practice from it! Thanks for the suggestion!


Tommy-D said:
> Invest in safety glasses,and learn whatever machine you buy inside and out.

I started out with a package of 10 Meucci-type ferrules (large thru hole,uncapped) and a 5/8 dowel rod I bought at Wal-Mart. I'd center-drill,cut a tenon,square the stud,install ferrule,face,apply a tip,and proceeed to blend it until it was perfect,then take the tip and ferrule off and start over. By the time I did this enough to run out of ferrules,I felt competent enough to start doing it for paying customers. I was also a good ways into a machining course as well.

Safety first,above all else. Tommy D.
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Thanks for the suggestion! I'll make sure to get lots of practice before I touch anything of value.

I have some reject 2nd pool cue shafts that I got for free and am planning to use those as practice stock. Not intending to play with them, maybe give them away to friends after I'm done practicing.

I'm a big fan of protective wear. I always wore gloves when working on cars. Best investment I've ever spent, I've gone through at least 8 pairs of mechanix gloves and they have all paid their weight in gold from the number of times my hands would have been slashed from various sharp objects such as brake caliper shims and what-not.
 
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Lathes get along real good with respirators, dust masks and safety glasses. On the other hand Gloves and Lathes are not very good friends. They like to have it out and tangle when they get too close to one another. The lathe usually wins their fights and fingers get hurt as collateral damage. :smile:
 
cueman said:
Lathes get along real good with respirators, dust masks and safety glasses. On the other hand Gloves and Lathes are not very good friends. They like to have it out and tangle when they get too close to one another. The lathe usually wins their fights and fingers get hurt as collateral damage. :smile:
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I had a feeling that might be the case. There is only so much that can be done with gloves.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I hate cleaning too. When I do start, I will also invest some time and effect in a vacuum and air filtration system. I'm inspired on that part from Ernie! :thumbup:
 
Yep

cueman said:
Lathes get along real good with respirators, dust masks and safety glasses. On the other hand Gloves and Lathes are not very good friends. They like to have it out and tangle when they get too close to one another. The lathe usually wins their fights and fingers get hurt as collateral damage. :smile:
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Tap, tap, tap.

Well said! This is worth reading again...
 
Before you spend any money on equipment think of the scope you are buying the equipment for. Some cue lathes are designed for repairs only then you have equipment capable of doing conversions then cuemaking and they all have their limitations. And they are not all created equal. Once you decide what you might want to possibly do down the road after you have been bitten by this addictive bug. Start shopping and asking as many questions to as many repair or builders you can. To figure out the scope I believe Chris's book is a very good place to start. While this process is going on save as much money as humanly possible not only for the machines but supplies and parts. Buy your stuff and experiment away. JMHO it is addictive so prepare yourself.

John
 
There are so many different kind of attachments and tools, I see what you mean. Time to go buy the book! Thanks!
 
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