MICHAEL CAPONE
Maker of pool cues from 1993 to 2005
in Mercerville, New Jersey,  currently in Poolesville, Maryland.

Michael Capone began playing pool as a teenager. While he was at Rutgers University studying mechanical engineering in the early 1990s, he and his cousins opened a pool room in New Jersey. While at the room, there was a need for repair work and he would often send cues out for those repairs, but was unhappy with the amount of time this took.

Michael had a woodworking hobby since he was young and had an old lathe in the basement, so he decided to start doing some basic repairs himself. He rebuilt the old lathe and began doing more difficult work, eventually making hustler cues by putting joints in house cues. In 1993 he purchased his main lathe, which is still in use today. Soon he was ordering blanks and components and making his own cues.

When he graduated from college, he became more serious, learning how to make his own blanks in 1994. Over the years, Michael has improved his skills and added state-of-the-art equipment to his shop. In March of 1996, Michael was accepted into the American Cuemakers Association, at the age of 24. Other members were impressed with the quality of his work at such a young age, and with only a few years of experience.

Capone cues have gone through many improvements in design. Michael believes that playability is the most important aspect of a pool cue. He likes to make cues to specific weight requirements using wood selection, as opposed to adding metal screws. He specially designs and builds the handle and forearm core of his cues for stability and playability. Michael also makes cues with exotic wood handles for players who like the feeling of an unwrapped cue. He makes over 20 separate cuts on each shaft, and threads the ferrules. The wrap area is cut in after the cue is completely finished, so that the Irish linen or leather is perfectly flush.

In 1997, Michael changed the joint screw to a 3/8 x 7.5 radial pin, which features the Capone Custom Cues logo engraved on the top of it. This screw offers more thread contact than the earlier 3/8 x 10 pin. Also in 1997, Michael introduced the inlay work which is featured in the cues created today. Although Michael does do some CNC inlay work, he still prefers to build cues with spliced points. The majority of cues feature 4, 6, or 8 points with multiple veneers. His cues have become known for how well the points and veneers are executed. He likes the cues to reflect the natural beauty of the many exotic woods that are used in their construction. He is considered, by his customers and peers, to be one of the best in the business for leather, lizard, and other exotic wraps. Michael makes every part of his cues except for the tips, bumpers, and screws.

Michael makes between 125 and 150 cues a year, and does repair work. Capone cues are guaranteed indefinitely against construction defects that are not the result of warpage or abuse.