To the woodturners out there: Has this been attempted before? Attached is a picture of a random billiard cue with inlays from google. Is this the next evolutionary step to collectors? Major billiard cue companies CNC the inlay bed before hand glueing the precious material. This could be calculated into the CNC production on kens. Tamas might not be that genius of an ideas as a missed spike can crack a mother of pearl inlay for example. But can be considered for that top shelf, glass case piece.
This has been done before, though it was done in somewhat more simple ways than your average billiards cue. I've done a little bit of inlay work, such as a circular inlay right where the seal goes on the handle. The ken pictured below was made about 5 years ago, it was given to @RodDama, but then someone (likely) stole it during a jam session in Calgary. It had one of my earliest free-hand cut tamas (purpleheart) on it as well The ken is made from cocobolo and purpleheart. I was bummed that the circular inlay was a darker colour of purple than the stripe, but they soon darkened to match fairly well. Grip Kendama is another example of inlays, but using a rubbery sort of compound instead of precious metals or whatever. I've made stuff that is more intricate, but it wasn't necessarily made using an 'inlay' technique, it would probably be best described as segmented turning. More pics of that ken
How malleable is mother of pearl to wrap around as an inlay on a ken? I think Something like this would appeal to the collectors as @Congarranza describes and maybe even to the pros who wouldn't normally drop a dama (an assumption) It would be amazing to see the beautiful and intricate work from that billiard cue in a dama
The stacks were made by Jeff Van Reeven, I don't think anyone else has tried to make them as well? Those aren't really inlaid though... more of a 'chop out and replace' sort of process. (I need to add one of his pieces to my collection still!)
When making kens in this manner, be it inlaid or not, do they play well, and fare better against wear and tear, or are they more of a showpiece? If it's the latter, kinda hesitant to try and find one.
I've never seen one of Jeff's stack kens break, so I think you're probably safe. I doubt every owner of one babies it, there has to be someone out there giving a stack some proper shred
Cool little video! Something like this is certainly possible with kendama, but it would raise price a LOT. Pool cues can cost hundreds of dollars, kendamas usually top out around $200 usd unless its something very special. I think one day we may get there, but the market will have to grow for any company to do this at any appreciable scale.
Yup I agree!! It's definitely a labor of love! Your terra-ply pieces are absolutely beautiful! I love the progression you took with what is currently on the market and lifted it to a new level. It's seems logical to me that similar pieces, but not to the same caliber to yours, will be distributed widely in the years to come. As for now, i think it's more of a "dremel-in-a-surgical hand" type of operation. To CNC this, the demand has to be there for engineers to calculate into the machine's algorithm the new cutting tool and process. I'm patient and hopeful. Not so much to collect or splurge on one, but just to awe at the beauty of fine craftsmanship.
saw the title of this thread and immediately thought of Grip Kendama. I wish he did customs still, I would love a red/black gripped GT