

CHRIS NITTI
Maker of pool cues from 1992 to present in Orlando, Florida.
Chris Nitti has loved the game of pool for as long as he can
remember. He thought about opening a pool room and playing in
tournaments. However, after having his cue repaired, the idea to
build cues occurred to him. Chris already knew how to use a lathe.
He was turning armatures at an automotive alternator-starter
rebuilding shop at age 16. With that experience and over 20 years
as an auto technician, it was easy to find a lathe and start to
experiment.
In
April of 1992, Chris made his first cue. His first five cues were
made from blanks that he bought. All of his cues since then have
been built entirely by him. Chris attended the Houston Cue Show in
February 1993. While there, Chris picked the brains of Burton
Spain, Bill Stroud, and Leonard Bludworth. He also met Ron Haley,
an Arkansas cuemaker, who invited Chris to his shop. After a week
with Ron, the way to build quality cues became much clearer. Chris
then enrolled in a metal machining class at night. The knowledge
he gained in that class made building cues much easier, and it
enabled him to make the necessary jigs and fixtures for cue
building.
Chris has hand signed "Nitti" on the forearm of his
cues since the beginning, adding the last two digits of the year
in 1996. Since 2002, he has added the year and production number.
All inlay work is done on a manual pantograph, and Chris prefers
traditional cue designs with mitered veneers and sharp inlays.
High quality work and customer satisfaction are very important to
him. Chris's love for building cues shows in each and every cue he
produces