Roger H. Taft Custom Wooden Ball Case

robertno1pool · 05:41 PM

I ordered a custom wooden ball case from Roger H. Taft Custom Woodworking (Hightrucker92 on the AZ Forum). Roger makes both wooden cue cases and wooden ball case - many of which can be found on the AZ Forum. You can find his website with many example photos at:

http://rhtcustomwood.com/index.html

I wanted something different - so I detailed a rack of balls to be inlaid in the top. The case has Sapele wood as trim with the walnut. The top has Maple with the rack inlays. Interior is green and case holds 18-balls. Cue is gold trim with locking latch and brown handle.

Good Items:

1) The quality of the case work itself is very good relative to woodworking joinery and splines.

2) Case has a high gloss finish which is nice.

3) The combination of woods and ball layout inlays came out as described.

4) The locking latch and hinges work fine. I would think the lock is a must if you do not want to risk the potential of it dropping balls in a parking lot, etc.

5) The workmanship for this 1 of a kind case and results were a good value for the cost of the case.

Items which could be better:

1) Case seems like it would not be completely weather tight - for example - if it rains. A vinyl outer case with slots for handle might help.

2) The case is a little difficult to close. The balls each sit in a round depression in the bottom of the case. The top is of softer material which holds each ball down in each depression when the case is closed. (Note - I expect over time this will fix itself with use.)

3) Each inlay in the top of the case has a much larger hole than the inlay which sits inside same. This extra area is filled in with what seems to be a clear glue or hardener. This space - though is fairly consistent for each inlay - which helps. These tolerances could be tightened up a bit.

Overall, I would recommend Roger if you are in the market for a good custom wooden pool ball case.

tiger37373 · 09-27-2010, 02:45 PM

Thanks for posting a review of Roger's work. I had a similar experience with the three projects that I commissioned him to build for me. The construction is excellent. The inlay fit wasn't the greatest, which you mentioned also. The gloss finish could definetly be better, as well. It's not noticable from a distance, but on my projects, there was a lot of inconsistencys, such as dry spots. Overall, they all came out per my design. Although the inlay and finsh could be improved. However, for the the price. I didn't think that I had much complaining to do....