How to Make a Pool Stick

A pool stick, also known as a cue stick, is used in billiards to hit the cue ball throughout the game. It is most often made of wood and fused and finished with brass ring joints and cork or leather tips, but there are many different material choices for the joints and tips.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 7-foot-long, three-inch-thick piece of wood Work space with straps Sander Sand paper Screwdriver and screws Wood glue Tape measure Brass ring for joints

1. Cut the board of wood in half. Attach one side of the slim wood board to the work space with one strap or two straps if needed--one on either side. Make sure it is secure.

2. 
    
   Pool stick butts

   Use the sander to start at the end that will be the butt, or the thickest part of the pool stick. This is the heaviest part and will require the least amount of sanding. Go around the entire butt of the wood and create a smooth, rounded appearance, approximately two inches thick. Continue sanding downward to create a mildly tapered appearance. Keep in mind that the butt of the pool stick will be the thickest part.

3. Secure the other piece of wood to the workspace with the belts. Continue the tapering effect down to the end of the stick in order to create the shaft of the pool stick, trying as best you can to create a rounded appearance with the sander. The end opposite the butt piece should be the smallest part of the pool stick. Sand this edge straight and not rounded.

4. Use the sandpaper to round out bumps and edges in the two parts of the pool stick. Take the largest end with the butt and use a screwdriver to insert a large screw into the edge that will connect to the other piece.

5. Use the screwdriver to drill a rugged hole into the edge of the smaller shaft piece, where it will attach to the butt piece. See if you can screw the top of the butt's screw into the shaft's hole. Once you feel a tight fit, remove the shaft piece and insert wood glue into the hole. Immediately screw the shaft piece back onto the top of the screw to secure it tightly. This creates the full pool stick.

6. Make your pool stick around 57 to 60 inches long and about 17 to 23 ounces in weight, which is the standard size at pool halls. This will require some weighing and measuring consistently as you sand the pieces together to create a smooth appearance. Once the pool stick is the desired size, attach a brass ring around the joint area to further secure it and hide the cut in the wood.

7. 
    
   Pool stick tip

   Use the wood glue to attach the small round piece of cork or leather, cutting it to about a half-inch in circumference and a centimeter-and-a-half thickness. Let dry.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many different ways and materials to create pool stick joints and tips, depending upon your preference or skill level. Varnish or stain your pool stick if desired.
• Always be cautious when working with power tools or sharp objects.

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