Asking for a friend…neighbor wants to turn pool cues. Has NO turning experience, tools or idea as to what he
is getting into. Asking for some direction. Thanks
is getting into. Asking for some direction. Thanks
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Duplicator capable lathe
- Thread starter Larry Mitchell
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Hmm.. most any lathe can work with a duplicator, some duplicators you may have to custom build (not that difficult to do, there seem to be several versions of plans on a google search for a DIY lathe duplicator bed) But, turning pool cues (I looked into it myself) I rather doubt it is anything you can do on a budget, and likely just to get started to where you can work on your skill may get into 5 figure territory, from what I read into it - way more to doing pool cues than just the lathe, even as simple as they seem in form... and then again, if you want one-of-a-kind pool cues that someone would pay a few hundred (or thousand) dollars for, why would you want a duplicator?
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Ditto
Rather than a duplicate a 3 ft long tool rest will make the job easier.
A 2nd banjo is nice for this.
However a wooden support works well since you never have to move it.
I have a long wooden tool one I used a few times with one end clamped to the tailstock.
Teach him to use an SRG and a 3/4” - 1” skew.
Lots of glue ups and joining 2 pieces. A daunting task.
Rather than a duplicate a 3 ft long tool rest will make the job easier.
A 2nd banjo is nice for this.
However a wooden support works well since you never have to move it.
I have a long wooden tool one I used a few times with one end clamped to the tailstock.
Teach him to use an SRG and a 3/4” - 1” skew.
Lots of glue ups and joining 2 pieces. A daunting task.
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Ditto yet again. I can't see how any affordable/simple duplicator could help; any one which would be capable would be very pricey. As Hockenbery says, a long tool rest, even a wooden one. And practice. A spindle that long and skinny, and the precision required for a pool cue, are not a beginner project.
A second banjo can easily and cheaply be made from wood rather than bought; I used some chunks of scrap oak. I made it for use with a long rest (2-post) I bought cheap long ago ($10-20?). If I hadn't bought that rest by chance, I would likely make a wooden one, perhaps with a strip of steel for the tool. I use the long rest setup for turning Windsor chair legs/posts and baseball bats. A turning friend who also does Windsor chairs uses a shorter rest with beautiful results, but a long rest simplifies the process.
A second banjo can easily and cheaply be made from wood rather than bought; I used some chunks of scrap oak. I made it for use with a long rest (2-post) I bought cheap long ago ($10-20?). If I hadn't bought that rest by chance, I would likely make a wooden one, perhaps with a strip of steel for the tool. I use the long rest setup for turning Windsor chair legs/posts and baseball bats. A turning friend who also does Windsor chairs uses a shorter rest with beautiful results, but a long rest simplifies the process.
Thanks guys, sounds like a stout piece of angle iron would work. Have told him to be prepared for lots of kindling!
Why a duplicator? He has a cue by a “known” maker (has passed on) and would like to “duplicate” it as close as possible…his words.
Larry,
Google on "table saw lathe to turn pool cue shafts". Following that should give you some ideas.
Back in the day I built two of the "lathes" for a customer. The machine would go from a square blank to a ready to be sanded shaft in one pass. The blank has to be very straight grained to maintain straightness after the material removal.
I had a neighbor, years ago, who turned pool cues. He had a router set up and a slow speed lathe. Tool pressure and 'whipping' can cause the cue tip end to go wonky. With a router and template sort of taper jig, you would get better results.
robo hippy
robo hippy
Most pool cue makers work with tools that would normally be used in a metal working business. Super precision, with an emphasis on slow material removal to prevent curving in the cue. There is no aftermarket duplicator capable of making precision cues. Go to YouTube to see how others do it before investing in tools you can't use.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGJloHOUvCc
Agreed. I know someone who makes beautiful high end cues. He does all the turning with a machinist's lathe.
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We had a cue maker talk to the club years ago and he said he could not do what we do on lathe and as a matter of fact it was scary. Then there is all that glue up to be done. Takes a long time to make one from what I have heard.
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There are several videos on YouTube similar to the one shown by @Richard Coers
of manufacturing pool cues using specialized production equipment including
Motorized dowel cutters, CNC machines, and metal lathes. If you are making 100s the equipment is a good investment.
However there are a few low-tech videos using wood lathes and hand held tools.
Here is one. Lathe steady is essential here. If you make 10 this may be a method to consider.
This is more resin than wood but shows a nice effect using a mold for the resin.
View: https://youtu.be/plf0qgha3Mw
of manufacturing pool cues using specialized production equipment including
Motorized dowel cutters, CNC machines, and metal lathes. If you are making 100s the equipment is a good investment.
However there are a few low-tech videos using wood lathes and hand held tools.
Here is one. Lathe steady is essential here. If you make 10 this may be a method to consider.
This is more resin than wood but shows a nice effect using a mold for the resin.
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Richard Coers is correct, most cue makers use metal lathes. They also use a router mounted on a lathe to cue shafts, though many use a CNC now. A pantograph was the way inlays used to be cut, now all use CNC.
It is possible to make a cue on a wood lathe, thought about doing that myself.
There are cue lathes sold which I can't recommend as I have not used them, just Google "cue lathe".
There are a number of construction techniques, the basic structure being a full or half splice, you can look that up too.
It is possible to make a cue on a wood lathe, thought about doing that myself.
There are cue lathes sold which I can't recommend as I have not used them, just Google "cue lathe".
There are a number of construction techniques, the basic structure being a full or half splice, you can look that up too.
Gentlemen ALL…thank you very much for all the suggestions, ideas, techniques and video links.
All of this information will certainly give him what he needs to know/consider and whether he is up for the
task
All of this information will certainly give him what he needs to know/consider and whether he is up for the
task