This section is devoted to providing bits of information that don’t fit anywhere else

Joint Pins

The 5/16 x 14 pin is the most popular in my area. Therefore most of the cues I build have this pin. However the UNILOC RADIAL pin is my personal preference. It is easy to put together and take apart and stays tight during use. It provides maximum wood to wood contact between the butt and shaft. It is as close as you can get to a 1 piece cue.

International Cuemakers Association

The ICA has 3 membership categories for individuals who do cue work. They are: Apprentice; Cue Repairman & Cue Maker. You must submit samples of your work to demonstrate that your cues meet quality standards set by the association. I applied for and was accepted for  membership in the Cue Maker category in March, 2008.

KOA

Koa is a very nice wood for cue inlays. Koa is very scarce as it only grows on the Big Island of Hawaii. While vacationing in Hawaii during December of 2008, I acquired a considerable quantity of high quality Koa.

TIP SELECTION

There are more than 50 brands of tips. Which is best for you? There are at least 3 considerations when buying a tip.

First is a layered or non-layered tip. 1 piece non-layered tips - are inexpensive but tend to mushroom and change hardness with use. Layered tips - cost more but are more consistent, last longer, don’t mushroom and put more action on the cue ball but sometimes de-laminate.

The second consideration is hardness. Tips come in a range from very soft to extremely hard. Most players opt for a medium tip for their playing cue and a very hard tip for their break cue.

The third and most important factor is personal preference. Experiment until you find a tip you are comfortable with.

How Long Does It Take To Build A Cue?

About 50 hours spread out over 3 plus months.