Durbin Custom Cues

Michael Durbin is a highly respected American custom cue maker based in Sullivan, Illinois. A seventh-generation farmer from central Illinois, Durbin began building cues in 1994 after first learning cue repair and acquiring a small lathe to experiment with his own designs. What started as a personal passion steadily evolved into one of the most respected names in traditional American cue making. Today, he remains an active member of the American Cuemakers Association and has been an invited exhibiting cue maker at the International Cue Collectors Show since 2015.

What truly sets Durbin apart in today’s cue-making world is his unwavering commitment to building cues entirely by hand—without the use of CNC machinery. In an era where most modern cue makers rely heavily on CNC for precision and efficiency, Durbin continues to take the more demanding path, shaping and refining each cue through traditional methods. This approach not only requires greater time and skill, but also reflects a level of craftsmanship that has become increasingly rare.

He is especially known for his exceptional shaft wood. Durbin directly imports premium Canadian hard maple and ages it through a meticulous, long-term process (often 15+ years) before it ever becomes part of a finished cue. Within the cue-making community, a number of respected makers turn to him for shaft blanks—an unspoken endorsement of the quality and consistency of his materials.

With a deep appreciation for natural materials, Durbin often works with exotic woods to create cues that are both visually distinctive and performance-driven. As both a cue maker and an active player, he believes that building a great cue requires a true understanding of the game itself—resulting in cues that deliver balance, consistency, and clear, resonant feedback.

Over the years, his work has earned widespread respect throughout the pool community, including recognition from top professionals such as Nick Varner and Mark Wilson. For both players and collectors, a Michael Durbin cue represents the essence of traditional American craftsmanship—truly handmade, uncompromising, and increasingly rare in today’s CNC-driven landscape.