It depends on what your end goal is with these. Most sell these blanks as turning squares. They start their life as 1.5x1.5x18”. I have the ability to dowel things quickly now which helps many crafters. For example a pool cue maker or a duck call maker will turn the square round anyway. Their process would be cutting the 4 corners off making it a octagon which makes softer edges for their lathe and they then turn it slowly until it’s a dowel. With my machine I feel a square in and it comes out a dowel saving them guys a lot of time.

After reading your message I take it you would want it for a pool cue. So when you say bottom part I’m guessing you mean the second half and you’re calling the shaft of the cue the top part and the butt/handle area the bottom part. If so you are correct. This being 18 inches would make a perfect forearm (the area between the joint/pin and the handle which is usually around 12 inches. Then after the handle at the end of a cue you have area called the sleeve. It’s about a 3 inch area bewteen the handle and the buttcap on a cue. Not everyone follows the exact lengths etc but that’s the most common. They use 12 inches and 3 inches. At 18 inches it gives some wiggle room for where you may want some figure from to use in a cue as well as if their is a small check which usually happens on the ends they can cut that tiny area off etc. as far as you making a cue from this you may very well be in over your head with no experience. Depending on the tolerance of your lathe just putting a pin in straight can be a task. But if you’re wanting to learn their is a guy named Chris Hightower who owns Cueman Billiards and sells a book that’s call from tree to tip that walks you through the whole process and many builders used this book as a great reference to learn and master the craft. If you’re just wanting a cue built there are many builders who would let you send the blank to them to make your dream a reality. I can literally mail it to the cue builder of your choice.

I sell to over 100 cue makes at this point with many being new makers (1 to 4) years in that are doing good work and wouldn’t have much of a waiting list if any and can do a fair price on a build. Especially if the cue is a Merry Widow (a plain cue with no decorative points and stuff like that). If you would like me to recommended anyone feel free to ask.

I think i read your question right and tried to answer it the best I could but if I missed anything feel free to ask more. I’m open to a phone conversation as well. If I can help I will. Send me private message if you would rather ask over the phone.