Inside the Workshop: A Visit to Palmetto Cue Repair with Mike Berenzy
A Great Visit with Mike Berenzy of Palmetto Cue Repair
(Bill’s Billiards Blog)
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting one of our customers, Mike Berenzy of Palmetto Cue Repair in Charleston, South Carolina — and it turned out to be a great day of cue talk, product testing, and even some BBQ.
This was my first time visiting Mike’s shop, and it was impressive to see his operation firsthand. Mike has been in the cue repair business since 1996, and it’s clear he’s a true expert at what he does. With nearly three decades of experience, he’s picked up an incredible amount of tips, tricks, and know-how — and he’s built an impressive customer base who trust him with their cues. A testament to Mike's humble character is his insistence that was very fortunate to have had great teachers who showed a lot of patience with him along the way. I got the sense that Mike was also emulating that patience with me as I peppered him with question after question which he patiently answered.
At Palmetto Cue Repair, Mike specializes in cue tip replacement, ferrule replacement, general cue stick repair, and stack leather wrap installation. His shop is fully stocked with a wide variety of products, parts, and components, and you could immediately tell it’s a busy, working shop — a place where repairs and cue work are constantly happening. His setup includes three lathes, including a Deluxe Cue Smith built by Chris Hightower of Cue Man Billiards, and a Central Machinery lathe dedicated to wood turning.
During the visit, we spent time talking about his cue repair work and some of the products he’s been using from Bill’s Billiards. Mike recently installed one of our Endurance™ High Run Cue Tips, and we even shot a few racks on his table to see how it performed. It passed with flying colors.
Mike also put our Tip-Lock rubber-toughened cue tip adhesive (from the Cyno-Lock™ Series) through a serious test. After installing a tip, he tried to remove it with pliers — and it held strong, just as we intended. I also showed him a small but important design feature of our glue bottles: squeeze the sides, and the glue flows back inside, helping prevent clogs over time — a little detail that makes a big difference in a busy shop.
We rounded out the visit by testing a few more of our products. Mike used the Endurance™ burnisher pad to burnish a shaft by hand and on the lathe, and he finished off the shaft using Bill’s Billiards 1.1oz Beeswax for a smooth, protected surface.
After spending some time in the shop, we wrapped up the day with a trip to Willie Jewell’s BBQ, where the conversation continued over some great food. I learned a lot from Mike, found a new favorite barbecue spot, and more importantly, made a good friend.
At Bill’s Billiards, visits like these remind us why we do what we do — supporting the cue makers and repair techs who keep this craft alive.
Thanks again, Mike, for your hospitality and the great day!