About Van Hirtum Custom Cues

Leonard Van Hirtum

Leonard (Len) is a cue maker in the Nashua, NH area of New England. Len has been building cues since his early college years and he has been seriously building cues since 2004.  He was taught by Bill Dominiak, President of Dominiak Custom Cues and Cue Stock, Inc. Len typically produces about25 to 45 cues per year from the local shop consisting of both traditional and laminated cue shafts.  
In addition, Len is a New Hampshire, Jury approved  custom furniture maker; he is in the process of developing www.vanhirtumcustomfurniture.com
In addition to Len's cue-making business, Len also runs a brick and mortar pool and recreational products retail shop and an Internet Pool and Recreational Products store.
Len builds his cues using both traditional lathe and taper bar methods while he also uses a CNC tapering machine for tapering both butts and shafts and inlay application.  This enables Len to produce high quality pool cue butts and shafts with high efficiency. Additionally, Len uses his CNC-driven milling machine to design and build points and inlays in cue forearms, handles and butt sleeves.
Len made his first cue while he was in college in New Jersey where he worked, part time for Eugene Palner, owner of Palmer Custom Cues, Elizabeth, New Jersey.  Also, Len has been playing pool competitively since his early teens. Len grew up in New Jersey and he has had the opportunity to learn and play pool with some notable players in New Jersey including Steve Mizerak and Jack Colavita. Len has taken his love of the game and his woodworking experience, combining them to produce custom cues and the construction of shafts.