SUPPLIES
- Joint pin
- Plastic ring or felt material
- Drill
- Lathe
- Carve cutter
Overview
A pool cue is also known as a cue stick or the cue. It is used to hit the balls in the game of pool. They come in various sizes depending on the age of the person playing. For kids the cue will be smaller in length whereas for an adult the average size is 57 inches in length. The pool cue has two parts: the tip or shaft, which is connected to the butt or forearm. Building one will take some knowledge on how to work the machinery needed.
Step 1
Get a piece of maple wood approximately 57 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter. Cut the wood in half, leaving each side with approximately 28 1/2 inches on each side. One piece will be the butt of the pool cue while the other half will become the tip of the pool cue.
Step 2
Insert one piece of maple wood into the lathe machine. Use a doughnut-shaped blade that moves on the rails of the machine. This will carve the tip portion of the pool cue and make it round down to approximately 2 inches in diameter. Determine which side you will want your tip and which side you want the joint.
Step 3
Use the carve cutter at the side of the very tip of the pool cue. Cut the tip into a 1 inch diameter and work your way toward the joint, making it 2 inches in diameter. Therefore, begin at the tip, making it 1 inch in diameter for the first 7 inches in length. Then allow the piece of wood to enlarge slightly to a measurement of 1 1/4 inches in diameter for the next 7 inches and continue to 1 3/4 inches in diameter for the next 7 inches and finally 2 inches in diameter for the final 7 inches.
Step 4
Cut into the joint end of the piece of wood with a drill. This will be where the groove is made for the connection of the forearm part of the pool cue. The groove should be indented about 1 inch in length. Place a steel joint pin into the hole and place a piece of felt material or a plastic ring over the pin. The material or ring helps prevent a lot of noise when hitting a ball.
Step 5
Insert the other half of the maple wood onto the lathe. Use the doughnut-shape blade to round off the wood. Cut the butt part of the pool cue similar to the way you cut the tip. After wood is rounded off, then use a carve cutter to adjust the diameter of the end. Begin with the same diameter you left off with the tip which will be 2 inches. Continue the 2 inches in diameter for 7 inches in length and then increase to 2 1/4 inches for the next 7 inches and so on with 2 3/4 inches and finally 3 inches in diameter.
Step 6
Drill a joint hole into the part of the pool cue that will connect to the tip. Drill into the wood about an inch. Connect the tip and forearm of pool cue together by screwing in the pin from the tip into the joint hole on the other half of the cue.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : You can paint the pool cue or cut a design into the wood by using a carve cutter or leave it plain.
You can add black grip tape on the area that the pool cue is held for a better grip.
