Birth of a Pool Cue: Part #4 "Reflections"

Today’s blog concludes my first 4 part series where I give my insights into Viking's custom cue manufacturing facility, and a "snapshot" of what goes into making a Viking Cue. Hopefully these posts have been informative as well as a little entertaining. 

After leaving the design application area where the inlays are set, we headed over to the new state-of-the-art Viking finishing department. The ready-to-paint cues are sent over to the spray room, which has a conveyor system that when the cues are attached to the custom holders, the future Viking's are taken on a long inter-winding trip through various finishing and spray rooms and ends at a massive UV booth to apply the glass-like coating. 

VP Rick said that this entire system was incredibly pricey and custom fabricated just for Viking. He added that "that Viking controls every aspect of their manufacturing process from start to finish." and that much of the machinery I saw was all customized or completely fabricated to fit Viking's production needs. 

Another interesting point was made that not just the woods, that ALL of the parts, (the metal connecting joints, the pins, the butt caps, the ferrules, etc.) are made on site, which means there is no waiting on a shipment of parts or worrying about inconsistent product. I would think that this speeds up their production efficiency by having everything they need in one location.  

Getting back to the paint room. I was concerned about the odors as toxic, Rick assured me that, this process is entirely automated and the room completely seals up when in use, which doesn't allow any fumes to be released. After a cue has been placed inside the painting mechanism, a giant sprayer coats the cue, which is then removed to dry, and then the process is repeated until the desired layers are applied. Nothing unique about this. Most facilities with paint shops paint their products like this. What is special about Viking Cue’s painter is that all of the excess paint that gets sprayed all over the wall and the floor drip down into a reservoir and is saved for future use. By recycling the paint, Viking Cue is not only saving money, but also limits the amount of waste that would be generated though another process.

After leaving the paint room, we wrapped up the tour ironically in the finishing room. We actually had the privilege to see one of the craftsmen apply a Irish linen wrap to a nearly finished cue. It was so cool watching the cue spin as the wrap coiled around as if it knew exactly where it was to be applied. Dozens of cues surrounded us; some finished while others await their final touches. 

Our journey was nearly complete, and I began to reflect on the abundance of information that had been zipping through my brain for the previous forty-five minutes. Rick then open one last door to the Viking Cue Locker, or Cue Vault. Hundreds maybe thousands of cues filled the shelves and drawers of this mini-warehouse. I picked up one of these brand new cues and just stared at this work of art, I was amazed by what I had just seen as a plain block of wood was now an exquisite masterpiece.

I never knew how much work went into making a cue. At first glance it seems simple. All someone needs is a spinning lathe, some wood shaping tools, and a sharp eye, right? Well as I found out during the tour you need so much more. The creation of a cue is a combination of art, science, highly skilled wood-working, and gifted craftsmen to bring it all together. This is why I feel that this factory is unique in the manufacturing world. The cues being created are not some mass produced good. Yes, cues are the only product are being made, but each cue is unique, and the craftsmen take pride in what they make. Viking Cue may have had its ups and downs over the past fifty years, but now is poised to rise to the top by giving each customer a high quality cue every time.

Thank you once again for reading my posts. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to explore the Viking Cue factory, and was able to share my observations with you all.

Ryan T. McCann