4" section of 1.5" snakewood! WANTED!!!
- Thread starter jbravo2984
- Start date
When talking about snakewood, the only consideration should be 'I want as seasoned as I can find" and the realization that it isn't going to be cheap. Whether using it in a forearm, buttsleeve, even points, even seasoned for a bit, you may still get cracks or splits that can appear at anytime, and ANY PLACE. It's your rep on the line not anyone elses, you make a choice, you have to live with the results. No offence meant, but you gave the indication by your posts earlier, that you want a piece of the most unstable wood known to mankind at a discount price. You say it's not your first rodeo, but really? You maybe setting yourself up for failure on this. Your request for such a small piece of snakewood, most would expect you were looking for a seasoned piece, as that is the only way to look for this type of wood, and even that is a gamble. Your best bet would be to go to Gilmer Wood http://www.gilmerwood.com/search_results.php?keywords=snakewood and pick a couple pieces from there. I say a couple as I think a second/backup piece may be needed. Let them sit for a time, then do as you need, and let them sit some more. It's a tough wood, and so is drying it. If seasoned, it will be faster, otherwise, you maybe looking at a couple years, depending on your climate, and the MC of the wood. Not trying to be abrasive, just realistic, and helpfull.I'm not sure if you're referring to me, but just to be clear, I never said I needed a seasoned piece.
This ain't my first rodeo
Good Luck,
Dave
You should have said it doesn't need to be seasoned. As cuemakers, we typically only want seasoned wood. An 18" piece of quality snakewood often sells for just shy of 200 bucks. Expecting to get 4" for $40 would be a steal. Why you'd want it green is beyond me.
Because I'm poor and can't afford the extra $$$.
I can, however, afford to wait for it to acclaimate to the climate I'm in. Especially such a small piece.
Please don't tell me what I "should have said".
If people feel that way, perhaps the first question should have been, "does it have to be seasoned?".
Btw, whats "seasoned" for snakewood?
The snakewood at gilmerwood.com was harvested 2 years ago and has been air dried to the air content of their climate (which is about 10%).
It was cut a couple months ago according to the rep I spoke to.
Anways, none of that really matters. The point is, he could just be trying to make a sale and telling me lies, but so could anyone else trying to sell me a piece. so why should I pay a premium for "seasoned" wood if I don't really know if it is truly as old as the seller states?
I'm aware of gilmerwood.com
You say that I was looking for it at a discount price, yet you're aware of the place I'm basing the pricing on.
I've discussed the nonsense in this thread with four different cuemakers. All but one (the guy I ended up buying the piece from) agreed that $30 shipped for a small piece was a fair price. I understand $10 doesn't seem like much, but I have a family to feed and if shopping around for it means saving that $10, then its worth it to me.
Gilmerwood has a $80 minimum. You might think it's $100, but really, the system will let you get by with $80. That before shipping... I don't need any other wood.
Let me ask you this... If someone sells you a piece of wood and says its 5 years old and has been hanging in their shop for the duration, do you just trust them and spend 25%-50% more for that particular piece of wood?
Not me. Not normally anyways.
Why?
Because, unless I cut the freakin' tree down and seasoned it myself, I don't really know how old it is. Do I?
My views have not changed. I haven't learned anything from anybody here that I didn't already know regarding snakewood. I do my research. I just wish so many people on this site weren't so anxious to boast how much they know. Honestly, I don't care how much you know unless I ask for your advice. I could sit on here and write page upon page about what I do and don't know. I could list all of the best places I'm aware of to buy materials and what materials I feel everyone should use. I could turn a lot of heads with my knowledge about cues, cuebuilders, pool and the history of everything billiard related.
The fact is though, unless someone asks, I don't see a need to copy and paste definitions for days about a subject that really isn't even in question.
I guess the first person to do so in a thread should get a pass as they may feel obligated to educate members here or share their experiences.
But when person after person feels the need to basically repeat whats already been said earlier in the thread, it's completely unnecessary.
Normally, two kinds of people do this.
1.Lazy- Didn't read earlier posts in the thread.
2.Boastful Jerks- Just want to show what they know.
Rick, you know I don't mean you.
Dick, sometimes you fall into the second category here, but I'll give you a pass because I think you mean well.
Otherwise, if you think either of the two categories applies to you, it probably does and maybe you should think before you speak. Or simply, don't say anything at all.
BTW, it's spelled offense... not offence. No offense.
Sorry if i'm a bit touchy with all of this an perhaps you all are very good hearted poeple just trying to help. With all due respect, I asked for a piece of snakewood. Not a lecture on it's origin, specific gravity, dry time, stabilty or anything else about the wood. Nor did I ask for an explanition for its higher cost or why a "seasoned" piece should cost more. I just asked if anybody out there had a small piece to spare for sale in the price range I was looking for. Someone who maybe bought a 16" piece and used 12" of it for a forearm and didn't have a use for the remaining piece... Someone who didn't have a $100 minimum
Thank you all, but seriously, some of you need to take a step back sometimes and think about how you come off. Especially when talking to someone who isn't in your circle of friends or familiar with your personality.
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Hi Joe,
Thanks for keeping me out of the fray but people here don't know you and I have been building and working on cues together at my shop for years before you moved down south to join forces with Steve.
By the way you should have left me in with everybody else because I am as big an A-hole to people sometimes without even knowing why. :shrug: We all make statements on these threads with certain things in mind and other people can take them the wrong way. It's all good. Us cue makers should share here and help each other out when ever we can.
Keep up the great work down there Joe, hope to see you soon. And remember,"Snakewood is like a mooning, you have to watch out for the crack". :kma::rotflmao:
Rick
I'm aware of gilmerwood.com
You say that I was looking for it at a discount price, yet you're aware of the place I'm basing the pricing on.
I've discussed the nonsense in this thread with four different cuemakers. All but one (the guy I ended up buying the piece from) agreed that $30 shipped for a small piece was a fair price. I understand $10 doesn't seem like much, but I have a family to feed and if shopping around for it means saving that $10, then its worth it to me.
Gilmerwood has a $80 minimum. You might think it's $100, but really, the system will let you get by with $80. That before shipping... I don't need any other wood.
Let me ask you this... If someone sells you a piece of wood and says its 5 years old and has been hanging in their shop for the duration, do you just trust them and spend 25%-50% more for that particular piece of wood?
Not me. Not normally anyways.
Why?
Because, unless I cut the freakin' tree down and seasoned it myself, I don't really know how old it is. Do I?
My views have not changed. I haven't learned anything from anybody here that I didn't already know regarding snakewood. I do my research. I just wish so many people on this site weren't so anxious to boast how much they know. Honestly, I don't care how much you know unless I ask for your advice. I could sit on here and write page upon page about what I do and don't know. I could list all of the best places I'm aware of to buy materials and what materials I feel everyone should use. I could turn a lot of heads with my knowledge about cues, cuebuilders, pool and the history of everything billiard related.
The fact is though, unless someone asks, I don't see a need to copy and paste definitions for days about a subject that really isn't even in question.
I guess the first person to do so in a thread should get a pass as they may feel obligated to educate members here or share their experiences.
But when person after person feels the need to basically repeat whats already been said earlier in the thread, it's completely unnecessary.
Normally, two kinds of people do this.
1.Lazy- Didn't read earlier posts in the thread.
2.Boastful Jerks- Just want to show what they know.
Rick, you know I don't mean you.
Dick, sometimes you fall into the second category here, but I'll give you a pass because I think you mean well.
Otherwise, if you think either of the two categories applies to you, it probably does and maybe you should think before you speak. Or simply, don't say anything at all.
BTW, it's spelled offense... not offence. No offense.
Sorry if i'm a bit touchy with all of this an perhaps you all are very good hearted poeple just trying to help. With all due respect, I asked for a piece of snakewood. Not a lecture on it's origin, specific gravity, dry time, stabilty or anything else about the wood. Nor did I ask for an explanition for its higher cost or why a "seasoned" piece should cost more. I just asked if anybody out there had a small piece to spare for sale in the price range I was looking for. Someone who maybe bought a 16" piece and used 12" of it for a forearm and didn't have a use for the remaining piece... Someone who didn't have a $100 minimum
Thank you all, but seriously, some of you need to take a step back sometimes and think about how you come off. Especially when talking to someone who isn't in your circle of friends or familiar with your personality.
All I can say is 'wow, what a sermon'. Maybe take some of your own superior advise????
If $10 is a deal breaker for you, then, maybe a different hobby may be better suited for you. We ALL support families (Ever have child support payments?) and most work multiple jobs to support doing this hobby, and most don't even break even, so you don't get any sympathy awards. If you don't trust anyone, (specially if there's a spelling error) unless the price is cheap, then you may never make the connections that are important to a cuemaker. Most every post here was given in an honest attempt to help, but with your attitude, well........... I know I won't stand in line to help in the future.
Good luck in your cuebuilding, it seems that with all your knowledge, you have mastered all the answers that you will need.
Dave
I know, my replies run long. Much like Mr. Geschrey above, I just want to make sure I don't come across any way other than intended and can be wordy at times.
For me, this isn't a hobby. It's my main source of income for now.
With "all my knowledge", I'm simply trying to make the best decision possible. I have two partners and thier financial situations to take into consideration when making purchases for the company. Not to mention, if they feel I've spent too much on something, I have to hear about it.
Dave, you say that your posts were given in an attempt to help me, but the ways in which some of you offered your opinions were abrasive and crass. I'll remind you, I wasn't looking for a lesson in wood composition and structure, I was simply putting it out there that I'd like to purchase something.
I hope this doesn't drive a wedge between me and other's on this site, as that was not MY intention. Those who know me understand that I try as best as possible to choose my words wisely and simply wish that other's offering unsolicited advice could do the same.
Dave, if you truly were trying to help, I apologize for overlooking that and jumping to conclusions.
sincerely
Joe
