The only way I can think to end this is to invite IPITYTHEFOOL [IPTF] to come to my shop and work for me as a lowly apprentice. You know, the first time I have a student [appprentice] in my shop I give him the broom to see how he sweeps up........if u can't use a brroooommm you can't get on the lathe......
I am not sure IPTF could handle this but I AM GIVING HIM THE INVITE ANYWAYS....... HEY, iptf, COME to my shop and spend 2 weeks there.....your lodging will be free......i will feed you.......i will work your ass off......you have to like katzzzzzzz as I have a tribe........
GETZZZZZZ YUR HANDS DIRTY.....EVER MADE A CUE IN YOUR LIFE????DOUBT IT........WELLL HERE IS YOUR CHANCE......i am sure that this willl not be a pleasant experience for you, more like BOOT CAMP, but none the less, I am looking forward to you accepting this invite......again all you have to do is transport yourself here [beem me up mr scotty]
and you will see what you see......until you have spent two weeks with the master, him guiding you step by step yo have not lived. I DO NOT THINK YOU ARE UP TO THIS CHALLENGE......but if you are I would love to meet you........

Wow. Mr. Magic Wandzzz is like an entirely different person now! As if the grouchy stubborn young man is gone and replaced by a wisdom-full old man!

I wonder what gives and he decides to bury the hatchet!
Mr. D. First of all, thank your for the offer, but I will pass. Nothing brings me these days to U.S and the flight costs are too steep for my budget. But I do appreciate your offer!
Having said that, please notice I live in the epicenter, in the ground zero of 3C world (Actually, I consider the tribeca, Netherlands, Belgium and France as the main center of carom, but Turkey is a close 2nd) And, honestly speaking, going to U.S in order to learn cue-making, or anything associated with carom is entirely, but absolutely means boredom to me!
Going to U.S for carom purposes sounds no different than going to island of Madagascar to play 3C LOL (o.k that is an exaggeration but kind of true)
I lived 15 years in Sthrn Calif (hence I speak English, most great players here do not speak any English, and most carom playing countries are not English speaking countries. That is why these people can not come to these American blogs and write) All these years that I lived in U.S were ABSOLUTELY boredom for me, because I could NOT play 3C in US! Next best thing was pool, so I would take my Blomdahl cue, go to a bar and run my quarter until last call on a Saturday nite. I used to beat every member of a pool team when they come in (name of the bar is TUMBLEWEEDS in Huntington Beach, CA...maybe somebody will know this place??) So this place was my only fun. People used to come and tell me that, ESPN should have broadcasted when I played :smile: But I know I am not pool player. My skills to pool come from the fact that I can position the cue ball. The game becomes extremely boring after 10-15 games and I can not keep my concentration. It would be easy hanging with pool pros for 20 games but after that, I lose concentration mainly bec. game is boring. But pro pool players can play in same manner for much longer than me.
I aso found a lousy place in Little Saigon. There were good players and extreme gambling addicts.
Mr. 3 Cushion should go there LOL. I saw them playing over car keys (a new honda accord changed hands) Player Efren Reyes came once and played for money, played straight game (no rail/cushion needed to score, unlike 3C -we call it carambol) with a Vietnamese player for 1000 points. But I was the only non-Asian person and didnt like the ambiance.
And then went to Tucson, AZ. Now this place was the best ever I found in terms of 3C in U.S. I don't remember the name of the place, but there were 4-5 carom tables!!! The hall owner had a very nice Schön cue (which I believe is an expensive cue from what I read here??) and he sold me his faux snake skin Giuseppe case. Unfortunately, my wife didn't allow me to go this place to play often! Sucked! One reason I am not with her now LOL.
And now I live back in Turkey after 15 years. Mr. Dieckman if you are still able to follow this reading, let me tell you that, Turkey is a 3rd world country in comparison to U.S and Europe. What you call "boot camp", cleaning the floors, restrooms and doing all that work is absolutely normal for an apprentice or worker when he is learning a new trade. And trust me, the cue makers here do not have the necessary tools and equipment unlike you. But they somehow make things happen out of nothing! And labor is extremely cheap here! This was the main reason I could not accept that you charge high for the cues that you make, in comparison to cuemakers who try to make a living. (Don't get me wrong, you are welcome to charge whatever you like, and you should get your labor's worth) These people work half-hungry. They do shittiest work, almost like a servant, aside from making cues. And they bring out the most beautiful handmade cues ever. You prefer to not use CNC machinery. These people can not afford even simple tools, everything is hand made. They can silver inlay if you were to pay.
And I myself did my share of taking the broom and cleaning ten years ago when I was 20, to learn a new trade. Never made a cue, but has seen numerous of them being made in front of me. And my hands been in all kinds of dirt, cleaning the saw dust would be no different than a spit in a pool for me. I would still proudly take the broom and clean around (and I like your approach, I guess this is how America used to be like. Unfortunately I didn't find that when I lived in Calif) if I were able to come to your shop. And thanks if you were able to read up to this point!
Nonetheless of all, I am admiring that you work in order to promote this game on U.S soil!
All the best,
Mel