First, a rambling description of some of the technical details of a DZ
custom cue. These details have varied only slightly over the years
and are now considered my standard.
Standard length is 58" with a joint diameter of .840" and a butt
diameter of 1.280". The distance from the joint face to the wrap
is usually 12.25" and the wrap is usually the same length. The
standard buttcap material is an ivory colored thermoplastic.
The joint screw I prefer is a modified 3/8-10 pin that uses a minor
diameter of .308" - sometimes referred to as a 3/8-10 FB (flat bottom)
pin. This pin has several advantages over the standard 3/8-10 pin.
First, the minor diameter will accurately locate & align the shaft.
Second, since the threads are shallower, they machine much cleaner,
allowing for a close, accurate fit between the pin and the shaftwood.
This translates into a very intimate connection between shaft & butt,
giving you a better feel for what happens when your tip contacts the
cueball.
To further enhance this fit, I use live tooling to machine my internal
shaft threads - in fact, most threads - rather than using a tap, which
has a tendency to tear wood. Live tooling cuts perfectly clean
threads that are full depth for maximum strength.
My shafts are 13 mm and use Elforyn or Juma ferrules. These
materials are capped for greater strength. I have several other
options available (see the
Repairs page).
My std shaft taper grows 1/4 mm in the first 10" then grows smoothly
from there. I have stiffer tapers available, from a taper
that grows 1/2 mm in the first 10" to a jump/break shaft that is the
same diameter for about 4", then grows consistently in a conical taper
from that point to the joint. The conical taper is the same taper
that is on my butt section.
Joint collars are usually threaded on, as are ferrules. I use the
same live tooling technology on these external threads, too. Some
people use compression dies which merely raise a little bump that cannot
compare to the strength & integrity of a live tooled thread.
Any number of points can be installed in the forearm and/or the
buttsleeve. Deep V-groove inlays with or without veneers are very
popular. Some order butterfly points, floating points, inlays,
boxes, etc. or any combination of the above.
My standard joint trim is a simple 1/4" thick black linen collar on the
shaft and behind the joint collar. This allows you to order a
spare shaft with minimum downtime, should you decide you want one at a
later date. This also makes adding an aftermarket shaft painless &
less obvious. Of course, I can make virtually any type of custom
trim ring if that is your preference. Of course, adding a spare
shaft - or customizing an aftermarket shaft to match - will take more
time.
Irish Linen is the standard wrap but leathers are available, also.
My personal preference is NO wrap - just a figured piece of wood.
This can cost a bit more but I like being able to grip the cue very
lightly and still have enough friction that I don't worry about
launching a 58" missile across the table.
I require 20% of the total price as a deposit to begin building your
cue. If, for some reason, you change your mind about finishing
your cue, I reserve the right to retain a portion of your deposit to
cover my investment to that point. The amount retained can range
between 50% and 100%, depending on the amount of personalization
incorporated in your cue. It will take about 10 months to complete
your cue & I'm proud to say most cues are done a few weeks early.
Below is a table that will give you a place to start when figuring the
cost of a DZ cue.
Keep in mind that this is only a starting point. I factor in many
variables such as rarity of woods, exceptional figure, total number of
inlays, etc. Some things raise the price & some lower it.
One example: everybody wants AAA Grade Whatever wood in their cue.
The knowledgeable shopper is aware that I can buy a blank of that wood
for $20 so he expects me to charge accordingly. What he doesn't
consider is that when I buy 24 pieces of the AAA Grade Whatever @ $20
each, I actually only receive maybe 5 pcs that qualify as true AAA
Grade. The rest of the wood is nice...just not quite AAA. As
such, I will charge much more for one of the true AAA pieces.