Category: Cue Repair and Refinishing

This Rat cue is an example of refinish work performed here at Proficient Billiards.

Ryan Theewen, formerly known for his work under the brand RAT Cues, is a custom cue maker based in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is well-regarded in the billiards community for his craftsmanship and expertise in cue repair.

Here are some key aspects of his work and reputation:

• Custom Craftsmanship: Theewen transitioned from his “RAT Cues” moniker to Theewen Custom Cues. He is known for building high-quality, custom cues, often utilizing stabilized burls and exotic hardwoods.
• Performance: Players often praise his cues for their solid hit and performance characteristics, with some reviews describing his shafts as having very little “squirt” (cue ball deflection) and offering a powerful, consistent hit.
• Repair Services: Beyond building new cues, he operates Rat Cue Repairs, offering professional services to maintain and restore existing cues. He has even shared instructional content on techniques like using a dent buffer to repair shafts.
• Community Reputation: He is highly regarded in enthusiast spaces like the AzBilliards Forums, where members have noted that his work is top-notch and that he is an approachable professional to do business with.

Here are some examples of Schon cues that have been refinished here at Proficient Billiards.

Schön Cues are highly regarded, masterfully handcrafted American pool cues known for their precision craftsmanship, exceptional balance, and signature stiff hit. Founded in 1981 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the name fittingly translates from German to “beautiful”

These two Southwest cues are examples of refinishing work that was done here at Proficient Billiards.

SouthWest Custom Cues are widely considered some of the most sought-after pool cues in existence. Founded in 1982 by the late Jerry Franklin, the brand built a legendary reputation for unmatched quality, balance, and craftsmanship before Franklin’s passing in 1996.

Here is what makes them stand out:

• Exceptional Craftsmanship: Every cue is handcrafted using high-end, exotic woods and intricate inlay work. Because they are produced in relatively limited quantities—often cited as only a few hundred per year—they remain highly exclusive.
• Highly Collectible: Their status as “the most sought-after” brand means they hold significant value. It is not uncommon for rare or pristine models to command prices in the $3,000 to $10,000+ range, depending on the specific wood, points, and condition.

This is an example of refinishing and restoration work performed here at Proficient Billiards.

The Palmer Model M is a highly collectible, top-tier vintage pool cue from the Palmer Billiard Corporation’s famous Second Catalog, originally produced in Elizabeth, New Jersey during the late 1960s to early 1970s. Often referred to as “The Palmer Supreme,” the Model M represents the absolute pinnacle of luxury and craftsmanship for the brand. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Characteristics & Construction

• Master Craftsman Build: Because of the sheer technical difficulty of executing its double-wavy inlays, company founder Gene Balner personally handcrafted the Model M cues himself. [1]
• Premium Materials: It is heavily embellished with a combination of deep African ebony wood, triple-laminated white veneers, and intensive mother-of-pearl inlays. [1]
• Signature Joint & Butt Cap: Features a hand-fitted, nickel-silver joint accented with black and white pearl collars, paired with a matching pearl butt cap and a tiny black rubber bumper. [1]
• Custom Personalization: Original buyers could have their names fully personalized and set directly into a combination of ebony and nickel-silver rings. [1]
• Standard Package: It was historically sold strictly as a premium package that included two matching shafts. [1, 2]

Market Value & Collectibility

Due to its rarity and historical significance, a genuine, well-preserved Second Catalog Model M is a prized possession in the billiards community. Depending entirely on the condition of the wrap, straightness, and originality of the shafts, these cues easily command well over $1,500 to $3,000+ among custom cue collectors today. [1, 2]

If you are trying to verify or appraise a specific cue, you can often monitor active listings or check past sales for comparison on the ⁠eBay Palmer Billiard Cues Page. [1]

---

This is an example of refinish work performed at Proficient Billiards.

The Meucci European Series cue is one of the brand’s most enduring and popular lines, originally introduced in the mid-1980s as a high-value, colorful option and subsequently brought back due to popular demand. These cues are recognized for combining solid maple craftsmanship with vibrant stains and a low-deflection setup at an accessible entry-level price point. [1, 2]

Key Features and Specifications

• Forearm and Sleeve: Crafted from straight-grain hard rock maple, available in a distinct palette of solid color stains (including Blue, Red, Black, Green, Purple, Pink, and Multi-Color). [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Standard Shaft: Comes equipped with Meucci’s “The Pro” shaft (29-inch length, 12.5mm diameter) made from a single solid piece of hard rock maple with a 14-inch pro taper. [1, 2]
• Joint and Pin: Flat-faced wood-to-wood joint equipped with a standard 5/16 x 18 pin. [1, 2]
• Wrap: Features a classic black-and-white Irish linen wrap finished with a protective urethane coating. [1, 2]
• Weight System: Uses the Everlock adjustable weight system, allowing players to adjust the total weight anywhere between 18 oz and 20 oz. [1]

This Paul Drexler cue was here for a full refinish and rewrap.

Paul F. Drexler is a Triple Hall of Fame cuemaker who crafts highly collectible, elite-tier pool cues out of Marlborough, Connecticut through his shop, PFD Studios. Known for his “different by design” mantra, Drexler has been building custom cues since 1989 alongside his wife, Ellen, specializing in rare wood grains, intricate stone and gemstone inlays, and precious metals. Because of his long waiting list, his cues are highly sought after on the secondary market, but players can also access his craftsmanship through his high-profile manufacturing collaboration with Viking Cues. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

This Hunter cue was in for a refinish and rewrap. I cannot get the Star Trek communicator out of my head when I am looking at the inlays.

Bobby Hunter custom pool cues are highly sought-after, investment-grade collectible cues prized for their world-class hitting consistency and flawless, meticulous craftsmanship. Before transitioning into a top-tier custom cue maker, Bobby Hunter built a legendary reputation as a top-level professional player. This deep playing experience directly informs his designs, yielding cues known for incredible balance, solid feedback, and structural integrity that rival high-end makers like Black Boar, Tad, and Tascarella. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Because these cues are handcrafted in small numbers, finding them depends entirely on the custom secondary market and specialized collectors.

Technical Build Specs & Common Features

• Signature Joint Pin: Most commonly built using a robust 3/8×10 joint pin configuration.
• Joint Styles: He frequently crafts flat-faced wood-to- wood joints or capped ivory joints.
• Meticulous Ringwork: Recognizable by his distinct custom ringwork, which often features 12 tiny silver squares or checks winding around the cue at all traditional positions.
• Grain Matching: Famous for painstaking attention to detail, such as book-matching highly figured burl grains so they flow seamlessly from point to point.
• The Logo: Genuine models are signed with his signature inlaid silver “H” logo inside a black phenolic butt cap.
• Blanks & Forearms: Known to use premium full-splice blanks from master makers like John Davis for his traditional four-point player models. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

This Early Predator cue came in for a complete refinish. This thing is so early they have the 314 on the cue itself instead of the shaft. Also early Predators had the 5/16-14 pin instead of the uni-loc system that is found on all of them now. In addition to the refinish new Big Game tips were installed.

Tad Cue – James Tolkan was brought back to pristine condition. The finish was worn from a lifetime of play. The wrap was cleaned and maintained during the cue refinishing process.

The late actor James Tolkan was a highly passionate and skilled billiards and pool player who actively participated in the competitive pool community alongside his Hollywood career. While mainstream audiences knew him best as the tough authority figure—such as Principal Strickland in Back to the Future and Commander “Stinger” Jardian in Top Gun—the billiards world knew him as a dedicated regular at major cue sports events. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

His Connection to Billiards

• Tournament Player: Tolkan frequently played in amateur and charity tournaments, such as the local Huther-Doyle tournament at the Irondequoit Mall in Rochester, New York, where local players noted he had a sharp, competitive game.
• Celebrity Classics: He was a regular attendee and player at the First Annual Pro-Celebrity Billiards Classic in New York City in 2000. He also competed in the Sorvino Asthma Foundation’s Pro-Celebrity Pool Tournaments at the Venetian Casino Hotel in Las Vegas alongside top professional players like Mike Massey and Ewa Laurance.
• Community Figure: He spent significant time corresponding with community members and attending major trade events like the Crane pool events and the renowned Super Billiards Expo. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Following his passing at age 94, many players and fans in the regional pool community shared fond memories of playing against him, recalling his kindness, love for the sport, and his surprisingly formidable skills at the table. [1, 2, 3]