BINGO! Blue Hog you hit the nail right on the head. Thars where my fear is, had to read your post twice. Same reason I don't join a league.
I promise myself I won't build to order or promise a time and I always break that rule.
Stop the presses, I couldn't think of why I had this nagging doubt and there it is.
Thanks to everyone for input.
I am buying a Dayton if Paul does this one little tweak.
I don't know your taste but if its like mine yer gonna be drooling when I post pics next weekend.
Thanksssssssssssssssss,
Tom
Tom, You have been around enough to know what It's like. I do repair mostly, that eats up a lot of time. I make promises to Myself not to commit to building, to just make what I like, Improve upon My building methods as I go, and sell as I go, but I still agree to or am talked into taking on shaft and cue builds occasionally. I turn far many more down, but even what little I do take on seems to keep Me in limbo,so between keeping up with repair, and family emergencies (which I've had a lot of the last 10 years), It often puts me behind schedule. It's not a feeling that I like, and eats into time that I would like to spend building and improving upon My equipment which ultimately would help with production times.
One of the benefits to what I do is I get unlimited free table time at the nicest and largest pool room in My city. the downfall to that is I never get to use it, and I'm lucky If I make It out to play league once a week. Lost My dad a few years back, and just lost My mom about 2 weeks ago, so lately I have not even made it out for league. Gonna try to play this week though. Point being there will always be other things in your life that will also get in the way of progress. If your like me and tinker with a little bit of everything, then you probably fix everything that breaks around the house too, In My case I have 2 houses to deal with, and 3 vehicles to keep on the road. Money aside, all these things eat up a lot of time, and somethings just take priority over others especially when It comes to family or finances.
If You don't want to end up spinning Your wheels, then start out right with at least one build lathe, and one repair lathe, or better yet, the second lathe being able to handle repair and some of the building tasks. That way if You have something dialed in on Your build lathe, then have repair come in, you don't have to rush the current work through, or take it out, only to have to come back and dial It in again at a later time. In some situations you may need a part turned for the work dialed in on the other lathe, so that's another way having at least one other lathe can help. The more equipment the better. I'm sure at some point You have experienced this, so can probably relate to how often these type things can happen, and how annoying that can be. They can all add up to a major waste of time.
If You want to have the best of both worlds, and have no trouble financing Both hobbies, without being dependent upon revenue from cue work, then My suggestion is stick to your guns, and don't take on commitments. Just divide your time as you please, and enjoy yourself in doing so.
No doubt It's a Labor of love, and If not for that, I could be making a lot more money doing something much easier with less overhead. It has even became down right sentimental with me, or I would have given in a long time ago. I have too many memories of friends and family connected to the game, and for some of those people I have nothing but memories left. I would never give up on the game, and even if I went into another occupation, I would still keep my equipment around to build cues and repair my own cues as a hobby on the side. (In My own time Of coarse) besides that I use My equipment for other things not related to cues.
The choice is one that only you can make, but sounds to me that if you do want to start back up, then You already know the answer. Don't commit to anything until you are sure it's what you want. There's nothing to stop you from acquiring the equipment, and just keeping It on the down low that you are building again.
Either way wish you luck, and enjoy your retirement.
Greg
) is that a lot of people think there is money in making pool cues....
