How to start making my own cues?

[Baileysnooker]

Hey!

Making my own cues is something i've always wanted to do, but have never found any tutorials/help/advice etc on starting with. Does anyone know what equipment i will need to start up with? What size planes? Will i need a lathe? how to get the taper and smooth cylinder of a cue without one? (As i know JP uses only hand planes)

This would just be a personal hobby, something to keep me bisy over the summer. Can anyone help??

[bigandyg]

Buy some brush shafts to experiment on any smallish plane but make sure blade is super sharp and forget about the lathe.

[Ninja.cues]

Hey!

Making my own cues is something i've always wanted to do, but have never found any tutorials/help/advice etc on starting with. Does anyone know what equipment i will need to start up with? What size planes? Will i need a lathe? how to get the taper and smooth cylinder of a cue without one? (As i know JP uses only hand planes)

This would just be a personal hobby, something to keep me bisy over the summer. Can anyone help??

Yes you can do it all with hand planes....I do but have been a skilled trades for over 30, don't let that stop you.

You will need a good block plane at some point but start with something like a Stanley No5 and also learn to sharpen it well as it will make things so much easier.

Like had been said, start with some ash broom handles and have a look on YouTube for done videos on what to do.
Till you really get a hang on things, start slow and keep checking things.
Good luck

[jim evans]

Not worth doing as a business,too many at it.

[sanman]

Not worth doing as a business,too many at it.

Spot on Jim and too much snob value attached to cue brands.

[andy carson]

Spot on Jim and too much snob value attached to cue brands.

not to mention newcomers charging same as top end cue makers for basically cues a beginner has made

[Ninja.cues]

not to mention newcomers charging same as top end cue makers for basically cues a beginner has made

Not all are like that, plus making a cue is not a 5 minute job, also materials are not cheap for some timbers...

Just saying

[andy carson]

Not all are like that, plus making a cue is not a 5 minute job, also materials are not cheap for some timbers...

Just saying

some are.... charging over £300 for a cue when they have made 2 or 3 previous, no time served in nurturing thier skill or knowledge of how the wood is going to react to being tooled yet think they have a god given right to charge over this for something worse than a novice apprentices piece...

[Ninja.cues]

some are.... charging over £300 for a cue when they have made 2 or 3 previous, no time served in nurturing thier skill or knowledge of how the wood is going to react to being tooled yet think they have a god given right to charge over this for something worse than a novice apprentices piece...

I've not seen any myself but there are always people around like that....
Legends in your own lunch time.....

You will always find this, some are not honest with themselves but this happens then with players too..
It's not a matter of much there charging but more so if it's a good cue...

[sanman]

not to mention newcomers charging same as top end cue makers for basically cues a beginner has made

May be the case but poor quality and playability quickly gets found out and thereafter a poor reputation will surely kill any hopes of a decent prices

[Catch 22]

I'm onto my fourth cue now . Each one is getting better . I'm actually using my second cue as my playing cue now . It just hits the ball so nice . Aesthetically not as good as I'd like but decent .

I rekon I'm about £85 in materials for each cue including butt joint . Ferrule , tip etc


I had no previous experience with this stuff and it's tough figuring out each stage , but very rewarding .

You won't need a lathe at all . just a selection of hand planes . I have a no 5 no 4 and a block plane. ( I'd like a no 7)

Ask your club for broken hall cues and practice tapering them down with the planes to make little cues for kids . Then get snapped ones to practice splicing the butt with cheap wood .

Good luck

[Shockerz]

I'm onto my fourth cue now . Each one is getting better . I'm actually using my second cue as my playing cue now . It just hits the ball so nice . Aesthetically not as good as I'd like but decent .

I rekon I'm about £85 in materials for each cue including butt joint . Ferrule , tip etc


I had no previous experience with this stuff and it's tough figuring out each stage , but very rewarding .

You won't need a lathe at all . just a selection of hand planes . I have a no 5 no 4 and a block plane. ( I'd like a no 7)

Ask your club for broken hall cues and practice tapering them down with the planes to make little cues for kids . Then get snapped ones to practice splicing the butt with cheap wood .

Good luck

Got any pics of your progress Catch22?

[Ninja.cues]

I'm onto my fourth cue now . Each one is getting better . I'm actually using my second cue as my playing cue now . It just hits the ball so nice . Aesthetically not as good as I'd like but decent .

I rekon I'm about £85 in materials for each cue including butt joint . Ferrule , tip etc


I had no previous experience with this stuff and it's tough figuring out each stage , but very rewarding .

You won't need a lathe at all . just a selection of hand planes . I have a no 5 no 4 and a block plane. ( I'd like a no 7)

Ask your club for broken hall cues and practice tapering them down with the planes to make little cues for kids . Then get snapped ones to practice splicing the butt with cheap wood .

Good luck

Make sure you make up were your planning off and you will find after some practice, you will be able to work to the lines.
Would be interested in seeing some pics too.