Making a Snooker Cue with Hand Tools

I made this snooker cue using only hand tools. It is far from perfect, but I thought I would share it with anyone who is interested in snooker or woodworking. The brass mini-butt joints are readily available on e-bay.

[@deconteesawyer5758]

And now you have a decorative broom handle. Congratulations.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers:) But I think I'll keep using it as a snooker cue! 👍

[@deconteesawyer5758]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 Best check with your mom. She paid for it after all.

[@sllee5519]

Masterpiece😻 here's Sherman from Hong Kong ,15 years old boyyyyy🥳.To break new ground , cheers

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi Sherman. Thanks for your comment. I imagine there's a lot of good snooker players in Hong Kong. All the best!

[@Kristian-t6z]

This is ace. Awesome cue 👏

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man. Wish it were straighter though:)

[@chrisormston4679]

You should be extremely proud! That is 100% a snooker cue and that was the goal! It looks beautiful! I am impressed you went with a checkerboard pattern in the cue as well, especially being your first one! I have had my first cue partially planed for years now and just never went back to it. Partly for not making the time and partly for lack of knowledge on where to go next. I love your planing jig and have learned enough from your video that it has given me some motivation to revisit my first build as well. Thank you for posting and hello from Ontario!

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi Chris, thanks for the compliments. I learned quite a bit from the project, and I'm glad to hear that it might help you to finish yours. The best advice I can give is to stick with it, even if it looks a little wonky. I've learned from continuing to play with this cue that the only things that matter are that the wood is solid and the cue has a good tip. Factors like weight, lack of straightness, balance and flexibility will not prevent you from playing well. Good luck man, and let me know how your cue turns out when you finish it! Ontario has some good clubs (I used to live in Toronto) and I'm sure it will be incredibly satisfying if you can say, "I made it myself," when people at your local one ask you where you got your cue. Cheers:)

[@blazmalezic]

I've made a simple snooker cue from spruce (as a test run) a few years ago. I weighs only about 11oz but it feels and plays just fine. Actually, I got so used to it that I never went back into the workshop to make the real one from a better wood, with a proper weight. And I have to say, your cue looks amazing!

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks:) That's surprising that you have no trouble playing with a softwood cue. I wouldn't have thought that would work, but I guess you've proven it can. I think I can recall Stephen Hendry once saying that his cue was made out of a very cheap wood, and Terry Griffiths once won the world title with an 11-ounce cue, so I guess anything's possible! All the best.

[@Bluejay445]

🪵⚪️ 1:25

[@steveakka]

Brilliant.. thinking of having a go at making one myself...well done mate 👍

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man:) Good luck with yours!

[@boscoxchan]

You ve got me thinking of making my own cue, thanks for the detailed instructions

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Sure. Good luck with yours:)

[@boscoxchan]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 mission started 😄, I am using black walnut for the main shaft and Macassar Ebony for the butt. Just 3d printed 11 rests for planning the main shaft. Black walnut is slightly less stuff than ash, hope it will work out. Waiting for my tools to arrive and will start to take pictures and videos to document the process.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Well good luck with it. I did a couple with black walnut more recently. One is a pool cue and the other is an upside-down snooker cue (black walnut for the shaft and ash for the butt). Those videos are on my channel as well, so they might give you an idea of what black walnut will look like. Much easier to work with as well. Cheers. @@boscoxchan

[@boscoxchan]

How I can share my work in progress pictures with you?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hey man. Why don't you post your slideshow here on KZbin? Leave the link to your video as a reply to this comment. That way, all the folks who are following this can see what you've done. I'm looking forward to seeing your cue mate! @@boscoxchan

[@Egbert_Souse]

Bravo to you (and the pianist) for a true work of art . The Opus 27 cue, perhaps? Anyway, great video , thanks.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers man:)

[@hudsonsoul1121]

That's a classy job and your actually a good snooker player. Definitely gonna make one in the near future as l can't find one l like. Lovely colours of timber and nice tight joints.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks! I appreciate the compliments. I have been playing with this cue on my little table at home now for several months, and I actually play better with it now than any of my other professionally made cues. I've come to realize that the only things that matter are that the cue is solid and has a good tip. If you have the time, patience and materials, then I think it is definitely worth making your own cue. Good luck with yours!

[@yekeno]

I saw this video before,not this title, after that I try to find it again, can not searched it, thanks god, it come back again, good works

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers:)

[@delimamadu5619]

its beautiful cue bro.....congratulation from malaysia supporter🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers man:)

[@Probus1493]

10000000000000000000 THE BEST!!!

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers man:)

[@troyberber2324]

Well done sir.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man:)

[@johndenver752]

well dome dude. awesome soundtrack too keep at it. its a great hobby, and you are lucky to be able to go at it

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers man:)

[@feltrider1981]

I loved this video, I wouldnt know where to start but you did an amazing job to be fair. I love the colour choices and I admire your perseverance to get the job done. Cue looks amazing 👌

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers man:)

[@tingchunglam3494]

it is so satisfying making own que and play snooker! thank you for yr video!

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

:)

[@DavePlaysGaming]

Excellent job with the cue, It looks excellent! You're a very good snooker player as well. Really rather jealous tbh.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man:) My top break is only 46, so nothing to write home about. But I love the game. All the best!

[@user-Mohammed5568]

Hello, you know that I repeat your videos more than once, and you don't know, but I'm missing a lot of things, so thank you, you really do.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers. I'm in the process of making a much longer and more detailed series on how to make a two-piece snooker cue with limited equipment and no planing bed. I think it will be a lot more helpful than anything I've done so far. All the best:)

[@user-Mohammed5568]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 أوووه نعم أتمنى ذالك حظا موفق

[@hebrtt]

Great job...you're to be congratulated...that's a pool cue! I don't understand anything about carpentry, so I admire your work so much!! I am from Brazil

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man. I don't know much about carpentry myself, to be honest, but this was a fun project.

[@AndyPanda9]

Awesome craftsmanship!

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers:)

[@RHR147]

Excellent nice work playing with your own cue must feel something special

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man. I appreciate your comment. Yes, it was rewarding to see that it was actually playable. I had feared it wouldn't be. All the best.

[@chickaferguson]

G'day Daniel, you've done an amazing job mate. It's not easy to find any guides to making cues online as it seems to be a well guarded secret in the snooker world. Can I ask what the dimensions of your jig are? The stations along the length and the circle diameters on the end of you dowel? What's the diameter of the butt?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers. Editing my reply as it wasn't very clear. The diameters of the butt and tip circles can be whatever you want, depending on how thick you want your cue. Make the planing bed about five feet long and place five stations along it, all equidistant from one another. The five circles at the tip end also need to be equidistant from one another. So draw the butt (outer) circle first, then the tip (inner) circle, then another circle equidistant between them, and then two more circles equidistant between those. If you want a pool cue, make the outer circle about 30 mm and inner circle about 12 mm. If you want a snooker cue make the outer circle about 28 mm and inner circle about 9 or 10 mm.

[@Zx11pilot]

Nice work! Not a simple task by any measure..... neither is playing snooker :)

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man:)

[@ravenouspathogen]

Good stuff, don't stop creating good tools.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks:)

[@piecetoyou8285]

In my early days I hand made furniture, The time and skill to do this does not allow any mistakes in certain parts of butting up woods without leaving visible joints, One mistake ,chip or splinter or tooth mark on the edge from the saw, and the piece has to be started again, You have the patience that`s needed for craftsmanship, Did you ever think taking the one piece cue to a professional cue makers to make into a too piece ,for easy carrying, as I know this would be so hard to do accurately at home without the correct lathe , Or was the intersession to keep it a one piece, Also wood grabs moisture at different rates had you found any issue with movements from the sections glued,

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi. Thanks for your comments. This was only intended to be a one-piece, as I am a beginner and didn't want to make things too difficult. I did make a 3/4-jointed two-piece cue after this one, using a nut and bolt for the joint, but I wouldn't risk damaging this one, and I prefer playing with a one-piece cue anyway. I clamped the wood very tightly when I glued all the pieces together, so there wasn't any movement. I've been using it for about 18 months now, and I've had no issues with the joints. Perhaps that could be an issue if the cue were kept or used frequently in a warmer, more humid environment. I'm not sure. I don't actually know too much about woodworking. I've just always been fascinated with snooker cues and have wanted to try making my own since I was a kid. Back in the days before the internet, snooker-cue making was a very secretive industry, and even today there is very little information on how to do it entirely by hand. All the best:)

[@taff6987]

This was a fantastic watch. What a great effort you put into making your very own personal snooker cue. I bet you couldn't wait to test it. There is something very special and satisfying knowing that you have made it all from scratch with only hand tools. Have you ever considered taking it to a professional cue maker just to refinish it and get it dead straight? Its such a nicely designed cue that ide be tempted to get it done 100% straight then keep it forever. Or does that take away the charm of the cue as somebody else's hands would have been on it and then its not completely orgnaic to YOU anymore?? Either way i think what you did is very admirable and i really want to make my own cue. I have 6 or 7 cues here from modern 3/4 to classic (40-50+ yr old) one piece maple cues made by Riley Burwat and i also have a beautiful macassa machine spliced Walter Lindrum maple one peace cue too. The Lindrum cue is extremely pretty but it 11mm ferrule. I am sending it to be tapered down to a 9mm ferrule and to have a complete refurbishment so it comes back like a new cue. There really is something special about these older one piece cues, they have so much charm & i feel they used far better quality materials back then. I hope its everything i expect it to be when its done. Anyway take care and thanks again for the video😊

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi. Thanks for your kind words. I've made a few cues since this one, but they've all been two-piece, 3/4 jointed cues, which I've found are a lot easier to make. All of them are straighter. This one is special to me though, because it was the first and the only one that's one piece. I did try to straighten it myself a few months ago, but was unsuccessful. Perhaps one day I'll be able to find a professional who can do it for me. Sounds like you've got a nice collection. Do you live in the UK or Australia? I imagine there are quite a few experts in either country who can do a nice job on that Lindrum cue for you. Was it made in Australia? All the best:)

[@dexterruffles2988]

Well done for making the cue , it looks brilliant , it’s sad that you couldn’t play with anyone but you played much better than I do 😂

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers man:)

[@mavishoarty952]

Brilliant craftsmanship, Dan. It seems worth all that hard work and patience. You'll need lots of that if you get inundated with requests. Unfortunately, not being a snooker player , I won't be putting an order in., but good luck with the video

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

The world billiards/carom champion has a cue that has a horrible bend. Doesnt matter as long as you know your cue. Nice job!

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man:)

[@leeoliveira4777]

Sensacional .sou brasileiro e estou aprendendo a fazer tacos de sinuca a mão também ...muito bom se trabalho .tenho aprendido muito com os poucos vídeos que assisti vc trabalhando

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Obrigado! Boa sorte!

[@leeoliveira4777]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 amigo.como é feito o processo daqueles tacos handmade coloridos aquilo é realmente madeira ou uma espécie de resina colorida ?.falo daquelas partes verde vermelha amarela que colocam nas bases dos tacos como acabamento

[@Tat2TankT]

Hope you will make more n video it this was great thanks for sharing

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi. Thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed it. I am working on a second (this time jointed) cue and if I can do the joint successfully, then I will make a video showing how I did it. All the best, Dan

[@chrishouse5753]

Way late making comments but looking up videos as I too am inspired to try to make my own cue(s?) but with a mini lathe. One thought, my OCD, turn the brass screws so they all point the same direction or in an artistic balanced way. Tiny details catch the eye (says they guy who has every slotted screw on every light switch and receptacle in his home vertical)

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

It's a fair comment and certainly if you're looking to sell your cues probably a better way of doing it; but my personal preference is actually the exact opposite. I prefer asymmetry as it draws more attention to the fact that it's handmade. For example, many snooker cue makers aspire to get the peaks and valleys of the points perfectly symmetrical, like a machine-spliced cue, but I was pleased that mine were all slightly off. The cue has loads of little unique imperfections which are visual and tactile reminders of the fact that I made it myself. That would be very impressive though, if you could get the screws to line up! Cheers, and good luck with yours:)

[@k4nda1]

Cool vid! I have a 19.4oz snooker cue which I feel is too heavy. I would like to reduce the weight to around 18oz. Do you know if this is possible? It is a 3/4 jointed cue. Thanks.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi, thanks. I can think of two ways to do it, but they would require that either the main joint or the mini-butt joint be attached to the cue without any glue, because the metal would need to be removed from the wood. If glue was used when the cue was made to adhere the metal to the wood, then I'm not sure how you would remove the joints without risking damaging the cue. A professional cue maker might know. I know a way to make joints without gluing the metal to the wood, so they're reparable and replaceable, but I'm not sure how pros do it. I'm just a hobbyist:)

[@k4nda1]

Thanks for the reply sir! I appreciate it all the way from Yorkshire England.

[@Delphiwizard]

Nice video man, enjoyed it, greetings from Belgium

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi Franky. Thanks very much. Is snooker popular in Belgium? I've seen Luca Brecel on KZbin. Excellent player.

[@Delphiwizard]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 Amongst the general public and compared to other sports it isn't very popular i guess but when you go to many tournaments like me there is a big crowd you meet over and over again. In fact i played in tournaments where Luca Brecel and other very good players like Ben Mertens and Julien Leclercq also played like 10 times this summer. I'll send you a pm on TSF with a few video links.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

@@Delphiwizard You must be a very good player to compete against those guys. Cheers. I look forward to seeing your videos!

[@adrianbrueton6135]

What’s the dimensions between each stage you plane. The wood that cue seats in while you you plane (but to tip) please very interested thanks

[@vyacheslavboyko6114]

Where did you get the brass joints insets for the minibutt

[@olamidesulaimon-w1u]

that is wonderful what is the of the wood you use

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks:) It's Maple, wenge and purple heart.

[@kennethtalbott2233]

well you're a better player than me. good first attempt. treat yourself to a longer plane and use it dead straight. doing this will help with keeping the cue straight. don't use it at an angle, that will give you a wavy cue and makes it more difficult to get it straight. watch other vids on cue making. you will then make better splices and do them a lot easier. also use a long flat piece of wood with the sand paper, that too will help keep things straight. otherwise, well done, it seems to work.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man, that sounds like sensible advice:) I appreciate it!

[@kennethtalbott2233]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 no problem. and make sure to keep it super sharp.

[@akhileshshivade562]

This is wonderful! What is the weight of the cue?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Cheers. I'm not sure. It's very light though. Maybe 13 ounces? All the best:)

[@timmason7583]

good vid,cues are not easy things to make,especially with only hand tools.im a self taught cue maker,which is now my job.one screw up and the cue is destined for the bin.of which i have many failed attempts i am still searching for that one tool that will drill the perfect hole in the centre every time..even a lathe is hit and miss,

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks. You're right. This one took me over a year to make and was my fourth attempt. My first three were with ash. I have a second one that is midway complete, but I'm not going to continue with it until, like you, I can figure out how to drill a perfectly straight hole down a shaft of wood. I want to do it with an egg-beater hand drill, so it is particularly challenging. All the best with your cue-making business:)

[@timmason7583]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 well,any tips i am happy to share,unfortunately top quality cue makers dont show the integral parts of cue making.they tend to glide over the general aspects.the closest i have got to a perfect central hole is using an 8 inch very heavy chuck,holding the end of the butt or shaft and using a drill press,however again,it doesnt always work,i think really the only way to do a perfect hole every time is to use a through lathe chuck,where the cue goes fully through the headstock and i certainly cant afford one of those.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

@@timmason7583 Hello Tim. I'm no closer to figuring out how to do the joint. Did you manage to come up with an effective (and inexpensive) solution? Cheers:)

[@paulknapp911]

very beautiful. What is the butt diameter, ferrule diameter,cue length and weight and balance point?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks. The butt and ferrule diameters are 28 and 10 mm respectively. The cue is 58.5 inches long. I'm not sure about the weight, but it's very light, maybe 12 or 13 ounces. It balances about an inch and a half above the points.

[@abodalanani5530]

How much it cost if I want something like this one

[@angelopetrozzi44]

I like Very well done 👍

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks man:)

[@pequodexpress]

What must be done to prep leather to make cue tips?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Sorry for my tardy reply. I actually just buy my cue tips. I buy Elk Masters, as they've always served me well. Cheers:)

[@kevinclancy964]

Dan do you have some cues for sale im in SSM ontario great work.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi Kevin, thanks for the message and compliment. I don't sell cues, I'm just trying to figure out how to make them with relatively simple equipment and share my ideas with other hobbyists/players. Trust me, if you saw this cue up close and personal you'd never want to buy it! Lol. All the best man:)

[@user-Mohammed5568]

I suggest you come back to the channel to see more creativity

[@leeoliveira4777]

Pra que você usa acetona na madeira?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

I'm a beginner woodworker, and I read that acetone helps to remove surface oils from woods like wenge, which can interfere with gluing. To be honest though, I'm not sure if it's really necessary. All the best.

[@AD-kv9kj]

What you're using as a ferrule is far too thick, fyi. A thick, more rigid ferrule will throw the cueball off a lot more when playing with side. That's why the newer titanium ferrules slightly reduce throw, since they can be made very thin but remain strong enough to protect.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

I'm updating my response here, because recently I've had more opportunity to play on the proper 72-square foot snooker tables. The lighter ferrules are applicable in snooker I think, but more so for center-ball striking on long pots. Side is not an issue because you always have to compensate for deflection when playing with side, it's just a matter of degree of aim compensation. You're not aim compensating at all when striking the ball in the center because you're assuming you won't have to. If you aren't absolutely precise, a slightly heavier ferrule like the one I've used will be more likely to affect the long-distance travel of the cue ball if you just slightly miss striking its center. So I think you're correct. Overall, it's probably better to use a lighter ferrule for snooker I think. I'm no longer using these Thick coupling nuts for my ferrules. Cheers:)

[@rajdeepsingh7928]

Hi can you make cue for me and tell me how much I can transfer I’m based in uk

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi. Thanks, but unfortunately I can't make any to sell, as it takes me too long to make one. The videos are really just to share ideas with fellow hobbyists. All the best.

[@jaymarkencarnacion6337]

What wood do you use?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Hi. The shaft of the cue is eastern maple and the butt is wenge and purple heart. Cheers, Dan

[@DanielMeek-pn1ss]

Do you make cues for sale?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

No, I'm just a hobbyist. They take too much time and effort to make for it to be worthwhile selling them.

[@DanielMeek-pn1ss]

Thanks for replying and fairplay for a hobbyist you got skills. All the best buddy

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Thanks. To you as well!

[@Ace-gn3gn]

can i have it ?

[@KeanCohan]

If I was a student I'd probably had time.

[@S1DDIQUI]

so curious to know the length on the cue

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

It's 58.5 inches.

[@S1DDIQUI]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 would you be willing to sell it?

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

@@S1DDIQUI Hi. Thanks for the offer, but it's not for sale. It's the only one I've made, and I actually play with it now. Cheers:)

[@S1DDIQUI]

@@danielmarcbrooks568 its a beauty 👍🏽. Cheers brother

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

@@S1DDIQUI 🙂👍

[@trappenweisseguy27]

Sanding surfaces flat leaves a surface finish that is not as good glue wise as the cleanly severed fibres that a plane delivers. That thick steel ferrule would lead to an extreme amount of throw imo. The very thin walled brass ferrules already throw the ball more than a fibre ferrule.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

You could be right, but I haven't noticed any problems on either point so far, and I've been playing with the cue every day for well over a year now. I don't notice any difference at all with respect to deflection, although even if it did cause more deflection, that would simply mean that greater skill would be required to use it. As it's just for personal use, I find that a positive rather than a negative. I guess that might be a legitimate concern though for a commercial cue maker. Cheers:)

[@trappenweisseguy27]

I’m glad you’re getting on with your cue after putting so much work into it. If you’ve never tried laminated tips I’d recommend you try them. I’ve been using Talisman tips for 20 years. Easier spin, more consistent, and requires minimal maintenance. I’ve been a pro woodworker since 1988 so the advice about sanding flat is well established. Of course it’s not going to fall apart, it’s more about future projects.

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

@@trappenweisseguy27 Cheers man, I appreciate the advice. I did actually glue right after planing when I made my two-piece cue (without sanding), but for this one I couldn't get the bits flat with my hand plane (due to lack of skill and experience I guess), so I just used the sanding block. I've heard about laminated tips before, but never tried them. Perhaps I'll give them a go next time. Thanks again!

[@trappenweisseguy27]

I have a feeling that maple is a little more forgiving in terms of deflection than ash is, so maybe it compensates for the undoubtably stiff ferrule. The only reason why the English have used ash for cues forever is that it is much more widely available to them than maple is. Pretty much the opposite of here in Canada. I find that the interest in snooker has pretty much died out here. It was on tv regularly in the 80’s and 90’s but I have not seen any coverage since 2000. This is a shame as the rights to lesser tournaments like the German open etc would not be prohibitive afaik. I have to get my snooker coverage mostly here on KZbin. This is a shame as there’s hundreds of frames of Ronnie playing that I’ve never seen before 🤨.

[@trappenweisseguy27]

Nice cue collection you have there. My own is a Hunt & O’Byrne black plate I bought used 30 years ago.

[@douglaswilson3978]

Due sell cues ..😮

[@henriqueventura8121]

Nada ver Lembro que quando jogava vc mada a da vez e depois joga em outra mas sempre voltando pra da vez A amarela ta sempre ali e ele não vai nela

[@kwakgreen]

Nice looking cue, but for me that plate on the butt would irritate me.

[@Aamermiloud]

❤😂 bonjour bghit canne

[@danoloparx255]

Kill that annoying music!

[@jamnfrench]

You have no class

[@kristalmacleod3004]

I have that exact cue Barricuda Kirkum My BesT Cue EVER'

[@danielmarcbrooks568]

Yeah, Barracudas are nice cues. I played with that one a lot when I was a teenager. I bought it because of the name. Kirk Stevens was my favourite player (even though he didn't use that cue or have anything to do with its name).