Jerry Rauenzahn has extremely high standards. This past summer I spent a week in his shop learning skills he was willing to pass down to one of his proteges so his methods wouldn't get lost on how to build, the Brunswick/Rambow full spliced 360 which his generation had figured out how to build the crazy double and triple full spliced cues with butterflies. AMAZING!!! SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
We spent our time building an -R- 360 Brunswick tribute cue. He had me gluing, cutting, and turning all the parts necessary for the butterflies, points, and a second set of butterflies and full spliced points in the lower butt section. When we were finished with the joint end first set of butterflies and points, we were both very happy. They were even and lined up perfectly. I was amazed quite frankly.
However, when the second set of points and butterflies were done, he said her wouldn't let it out of his shop for any paying customer. A couple of the butterflies were just over 3/8's of an inch off from being even.
What???, I said. It wasn't that bad.... I thought.... and he told me you NEVER EVER EVER let a less than near perfect cue leave your shop. He took the butt and ran it through his band saw so it couldn't be used as a full spliced cue. I almost cried. Seriously!!!
I learned a VERY VALUABLE lesson that day. Now I understand why the high end cue makers have such great reputations and they take with them to their graves. YOU NEVER EVER EVER let a cue out of your shop that doesn't meet your expectations!!!
Lesson well learned as painful as it was for me to watch.
Thank you Mr. Jerry Rauenzahn.
John Marshall