Wood lathe conversion?Mini- lathe?

[showme87]

I 've read several posts on this subject but don't understand why there are not more people offering tips on converting the wood lathes and mini lathes over to work on cues? I don't claim to have a degree in engineering, but have done some research and feel that for the average Joe spending less than 1000.00 could benefit greatly from new ideas. I do understand that there is constant promotion of the Big 3 or 4 companies products for cue repair/building on this site but also would like to hear what some have made to do quality work for themselves. I appreciate any positive comments or suggestions that could possibly be constructive for all AZers looking to maintain there own cues. I have looked at all of the machines out there and found none to be perfect, I'm just looking for options thats all. I was at derby recently and saw quality tip and ferrule work done on a 400.oo mini that had a homeade steady rest and the guy probably paid for it after his first day of work. I would like to see some pics of members set-ups if you have any.Thanks for replies!!!

 

[rhncue]

I 've read several posts on this subject but don't understand why there are not more people offering tips on converting the wood lathes and mini lathes over to work on cues? I don't claim to have a degree in engineering, but have done some research and feel that for the average Joe spending less than 1000.00 could benefit greatly from new ideas. I do understand that there is constant promotion of the Big 3 or 4 companies products for cue repair/building on this site but also would like to hear what some have made to do quality work for themselves. I appreciate any positive comments or suggestions that could possibly be constructive for all AZers looking to maintain there own cues. I have looked at all of the machines out there and found none to be perfect, I'm just looking for options thats all. I was at derby recently and saw quality tip and ferrule work done on a 400.oo mini that had a homeade steady rest and the guy probably paid for it after his first day of work. I would like to see some pics of members set-ups if you have any.Thanks for replies!!!

In cue building or repair a wood lathe can be used for sanding, polishing, wrapping cues and little else. A clever person with lots of time on their hands probably could rig up some jigs and routers to put a taper on a butt or such but for any precision it is sort of ridiculous to even consider. A little mini lathe can be used for putting on tips and ferrules as have been said on this forum many times. By the way, that little 400.00 mini lathe that Joe uses actually costs over 2,000.00 before any upgrades were made to it plus he uses a Hightower lathe for shaft work and a couple of other mini lathes put together for wraps.

Dick

 

[Craig Fales]

In cue building or repair a wood lathe can be used for sanding, polishing, wrapping cues and little else. A clever person with lots of time on their hands probably could rig up some jigs and routers to put a taper on a butt or such but for any precision it is sort of ridiculous to even consider. A little mini lathe can be used for putting on tips and ferrules as have been said on this forum many times. By the way, that little 400.00 mini lathe that Joe uses actually costs over 2,000.00 before any upgrades were made to it plus he uses a Hightower lathe for shaft work and a couple of other mini lathes put together for wraps.

Dick

I think he might have been talking about Guido's lathe...
________

 

[Tommy-D]

> Right,the lathe Joe uses and swears by is an Emco Compact 5,a pretty expensive unit considering the size. When his stuff was stolen,he probably replaced it with another. He is right about the home-made steady though. Joe's looked like an eyebolt with a bearing in it,has a small round base,and uses a screw for adjusting the height. Joe says it's the best one you can buy,but having the X-axis dial on the end isn't natural for me. Tommy D.

 

[FLYINGSNAIL]

Guido's????

I think he might have been talking about Guido's lathe...

I having heard of that name for long time. I used to know that guy... He used to stay in San Francisco at the Great Entertainer pool room do repaired.

 

[chuckpilegis]

Wood And Mini Lathe

Here is what I use for my stick upkeep. Under 500.00 for both

 

[Jack Flanagan]

Chuck, looks like we had the same thoughts in cue repair,,,lol

I took the bowl face plate on the wood lathe and drilled it to fit a flat-faced chuck. I extended the wood lathe to dress up house cues and discovered they wobble profusely. Then I made a steady rest with skateboard wheels, remounted the wood lathe on 10" channel iron. Now I have no shakes or wobbles,,,,,worked for me,,,,,j

 

[showme87]

Nice setup!

Thanks for all replies, my original intent of this post was to learn and those pictures were exactly the machines I was thinking of useing. Chuckpilgas, I was wondering what type of bearing you used in your steady mini rest and I like the shaft spinners you have constructed. Those look rather inexpensive but functional. How were they made? Does anyone know if they sell a steady rest set-up for supporting the work such as the one Joe Blackburn was using? I would be willing to buy if you had an extra laying around. I understand totally that the wood lathe is pretty much useless for precision, but 500.00 to maintain cues is pretty darn sporty!

 

[bnall]

In cue building or repair a wood lathe can be used for sanding, polishing, wrapping cues and little else. A clever person with lots of time on their hands probably could rig up some jigs and routers to put a taper on a butt or such but for any precision it is sort of ridiculous to even consider. A little mini lathe can be used for putting on tips and ferrules as have been said on this forum many times. By the way, that little 400.00 mini lathe that Joe uses actually costs over 2,000.00 before any upgrades were made to it plus he uses a Hightower lathe for shaft work and a couple of other mini lathes put together for wraps.

Dick

What mini lathe would you recommend? The town I live in is where Homier Distributing Company is from. Also what size would the spindle bore need to be? Only looking to do tips and ferrules.

 

[rhncue]

What mini lathe would you recommend? The town I live in is where Homier Distributing Company is from. Also what size would the spindle bore need to be? Only looking to do tips and ferrules.

The one Homier sells is just fine. It is a 7X12 instead of a 7X10 and they are usually a little cheaper than H/F. The bore in it is .750 which is plenty big enough to install ferrules and tips. Just need to put a steady rest of some sort on the back and make up a few Colletts out of Delrin so that the chuck doesn't Mar the shaft and your ready to go. I have a booth that I used to take to tournaments with this lathe, a wood lathe for wraps and polishing shafts and another lathe I have that makes installing tips very easy. I have a trailer that this booth rolls into and I have made many thousands of dollars doing cue repair at tournaments. At league play-off tournaments where there are a lot of people there you can make around a grand a day if you hustle a little. If you jack your prices up like most do you could probably make a couple thousand a day.

Dick

 

[bnall]

The one Homier sells is just fine. It is a 7X12 instead of a 7X10 and they are usually a little cheaper than H/F. The bore in it is .750 which is plenty big enough to install ferrules and tips. Just need to put a steady rest of some sort on the back and make up a few Colletts out of Delrin so that the chuck doesn't Mar the shaft and your ready to go. I have a booth that I used to take to tournaments with this lathe, a wood lathe for wraps and polishing shafts and another lathe I have that makes installing tips very easy. I have a trailer that this booth rolls into and I have made many thousands of dollars doing cue repair at tournaments. At league play-off tournaments where there are a lot of people there you can make around a grand a day if you hustle a little. If you jack your prices up like most do you could probably make a couple thousand a day.

Dick

Thanks for the info.

 

[tsp&b]

Ebay item #180078530892

 

[Strokerz]

When I started doing repairs I more or less copied Joe Blackburn's set up. The steady rest I made for my 7x10 mini lathe was made like this. A 5/8 bearing lined with felt, I welded this to a piece of 1/2 square tubing which I then welded to a piece of 1/2 metal plate. This made the rest heavey so it wouldnt move but I could move it in and out as I needed to it was portable as well for setting up at tourneys. Of coures I made all the right measurements so It would work properly. I will post some pics of it when I get to the room today.

 

[Strokerz]

The one Homier sells is just fine. It is a 7X12 instead of a 7X10 and they are usually a little cheaper than H/F. The bore in it is .750 which is plenty big enough to install ferrules and tips. Just need to put a steady rest of some sort on the back and make up a few Colletts out of Delrin so that the chuck doesn't Mar the shaft and your ready to go. I have a booth that I used to take to tournaments with this lathe, a wood lathe for wraps and polishing shafts and another lathe I have that makes installing tips very easy. I have a trailer that this booth rolls into and I have made many thousands of dollars doing cue repair at tournaments. At league play-off tournaments where there are a lot of people there you can make around a grand a day if you hustle a little. If you jack your prices up like most do you could probably make a couple thousand a day.

Dick

Very true I use to do about 1k a day just in repairs at our state vnea events. Never jacked up my prices actuall I offered a deal 1/2 price shaft clean with the purchase of a new tip! I cleaned a lot of shafts