Cuetec and Becue are two companies I know of that offer wood veneer as a wrap on a handle, and wondered are there any custom cue makers out there that also do this? I personally like the idea if the line on the wrap is seamless, and there are no issues down the road. A high quality piece of veneer with consistent grain wrapped all the way around the cue, no A/B sides when rotated.
Wood veneer wrap as handle
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There are some old discussions in these forums about making a cue "wrapless" that cover this. You might search for those.
Probably many cue makers could/would do it. Making the seam not visible is the challenge. The first thing would be selecting the right wood I would think.
We'll see if the cue makers have much to say on this.
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
Making the veneer line invisible would only be possible on a very select few pieces of veneer from very straight grain, dark woods with no figure. Even then it is a bit of a crapshoot.
I wouldn't ever do a one-piece wrap. I might do a segmented veneer wrap to incorporate the veneer changes into a design on an existing cue, but that would be an extremely rare occurrence that would depend on a lot of factors.
For every person who thinks a cue with a veneer wrap is cool, there are probably a dozen who would think it looks cheap. The two companies mentioned are not really known for building great looking cues. They have incorporated something in their manufacturing process that reduces the changes they have to make to their existing cues to drastically change the look. In other words, this is the cheapest and easiest way for them to create a 'new' line of cues.
If a person wants a cue that looks more consistent radially, as the OP mentioned, I would strongly push them toward a well-done radial segmented cue as there are actual benefits to that method of construction.
Thanks. That nails it down I think.
When this comes up I always wonder if there is any real "good reason" to do it.
Often people will ask about it because a cue has a wrap and they prefer wrapless "feel". The easiest answer is get a different cue. But if they really want that specific cue, just have it done with the finish over the wrap.
Then, if they are going for the wrapless look aesthetic, again, get a different cue. If you must have a specific cue, have the wrap finished over.
Years ago we had a maker on the forum selling "custom cues" It turned out his points, rings, inlays, and everything were veneers and he was hiding that. And he was doing it on cheap Taiwan imported cues. It makes me think of the old marquetry cues. That could be a thing...beautiful things can be done with veneers, but not if you are hiding it or being dishonest about the work.
As you said, those mass producers doing it are just creating a way to add options or models without redesigning a cue or building a different cue. It's cheaper. I didn't even know they were offering that! But I never look at thos cues, so how whould I know?
I suppose there are makers willing to do it to a cue if the customer requests it and they are willing to pay, and there are those who will just say no "I don't do that".
Just about any cue maker can do it. Fewer would do it.
I just don't see a good reason to do it anyway.
New cue with said veneer wrap. Cored exotic even double cored exotic wood if the burl for example is heavy.
Doing an existing Cue converting it to a veneered wrapless
YOU'D be nuts to try.
Doing an existing Cue converting it to a veneered wrapless
YOU'D be nuts to try.