Attention Newbies

SouthernDraw

SouthernDraw

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have closely watched this thread for years now and every so often the same thing begins happening. People who are not cuemakers, nor even cue repairmen, begin commenting (usually on stuff they have little knowledge of, other than from playing pool). People often overlook the name of the forum (Ask the Cuemaker) and think that it's for anyone to be an expert. Navigating thru these comments are daunting.

So if you are a NEWBIE pay close attention to who comments. What should you look for? Usually, you can look for names. If they are not willing to put their name out, there's a reason. Often you will see the name of their Cue Company, this IS a way to tell reliability. You can also search all posts by a specific poster. If they have less than 10 posts and every one is negative about one person, they are just trying to discredit someone (there is one here now doing this).

When you see a discussion, also do a search of that topic. This will give you additional info. Stay with it a while and you see alot of different personalities. Hopefully, you won't get the bug (hint-it's an expensive bug).

I repair cues and am still learning the art of cuemaking...So why would I start a thread in the Ask the Cuemaker forum, when I have just told you to learn who are the real CueMakers are? and I'm not one of them?

Simply, because I understand where you are. And I know that it is not always as simple as asking a question and believing the first response. Heck, even from the most reputable cuemakers you will sometimes get contrary comments on the same questions. There are different ways of doing things. But you must be able to separate the Real McCoy's from the Want-to-bes. There is good information on this forum and there is bad information. You also must try to educate yourself outside here...try Chris Hightowers book and dvd's as a starting point. And find your way!


Good Luck,
Daren Johnson
 
The research part is the most important aspect, as there seems to be an upsurge of newer members with a custom cue business name/logo giving advise, proportedly having been doing this stuff for a long time, but then sooner or later are asking the basic questions themselves......?
not to be negative, but, I wouldn't advise relying on just a business name on their signature to quantify their advice. Eddie Wheat/ jeff eason, and others that had a self given 'name' before actually doing anything.....
Always use common sense when asking for help and the LONG standing members here will show their worth when doing a search. Their names will show up on most repair or building posts. Some maybe a bit crotchity at times, but it's understandable. They had to learn on their own, and nowadays, the internet and other media has made it possible to get assistance that they didn't have back then and alot of new people feel that they are owed the answers because they asked, and they shouldn't have to figure it out on their own.......seems almost like we are talking politics and entitlements......lol.
I have asked many questions here, and have done quite a bit of trying to find the answer before coming here to ask for help. There have been some very helpfull builders which I owe a lot to, and some not so helpfull wannabe's, that if I followed their advise, I would have been buying new shafts and such for my customers due to following their advise. Good thing I was born with common sense, lol.

This is just my Humble input, hope it helps someone.
Dave
 
Dave38 said:
The research part is the most important aspect, as there seems to be an upsurge of newer members with a custom cue business name/logo giving advise, proportedly having been doing this stuff for a long time, but then sooner or later are asking the basic questions themselves......?
not to be negative, but, I wouldn't advise relying on just a business name on their signature to quantify their advice. Eddie Wheat/ jeff eason, and others that had a self given 'name' before actually doing anything.....
Always use common sense when asking for help and the LONG standing members here will show their worth when doing a search. Their names will show up on most repair or building posts. Some maybe a bit crotchity at times, but it's understandable. They had to learn on their own, and nowadays, the internet and other media has made it possible to get assistance that they didn't have back then and alot of new people feel that they are owed the answers because they asked, and they shouldn't have to figure it out on their own.......seems almost like we are talking politics and entitlements......lol.
I have asked many questions here, and have done quite a bit of trying to find the answer before coming here to ask for help. There have been some very helpfull builders which I owe a lot to, and some not so helpfull wannabe's, that if I followed their advise, I would have been buying new shafts and such for my customers due to following their advise. Good thing I was born with common sense, lol.

This is just my Humble input, hope it helps someone.
Dave
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave, and you are correct. The business part does not always tell a poster's entire story. Hopefully, we do the research on topics AND the Posters that we accept input from. I believe that the art of working on cues relies heavily on..."the devil's in the details." If you just ask questions and don't do research (including knowing who you are trusting) and "trial and error", you're doomed.

This forum is a Great Place for information...But, its sometimes a crappy place for information also.

"Crotchity"--in the military the first thing you learn is focus on the message, not the messenger (important when a Drill Sergeant's in your face yelling). Get tough skin because if someone's being "crotchity", usually (if your truthful with yourself) they have a valid point.

Daren likes direct language!
 
I have been building cues for 10 yrs, and I will answer questions about cue building, but am I an expert, nope. I have a good deal of knowledge but I am still learning so I don't comment on topics I'm not as familiar with. You are always learning or trying to improve, atleast that's my take on it.
 
SouthernDraw said:
I have closely watched this thread for years now and every so often the same thing begins happening. People who are not cuemakers, nor even cue repairmen, begin commenting (usually on stuff they have little knowledge of, other than from playing pool). People often overlook the name of the forum (Ask the Cuemaker) and think that it's for anyone to be an expert. Navigating thru these comments are daunting.

So if you are a NEWBIE pay close attention to who comments. What should you look for? Usually, you can look for names. If they are not willing to put their name out, there's a reason. Often you will see the name of their Cue Company, this IS a way to tell reliability. You can also search all posts by a specific poster. If they have less than 10 posts and every one is negative about one person, they are just trying to discredit someone (there is one here now doing this).

When you see a discussion, also do a search of that topic. This will give you additional info. Stay with it a while and you see alot of different personalities. Hopefully, you won't get the bug (hint-it's an expensive bug).

I repair cues and am still learning the art of cuemaking...So why would I start a thread in the Ask the Cuemaker forum, when I have just told you to learn who are the real CueMakers are? and I'm not one of them?

Simply, because I understand where you are. And I know that it is not always as simple as asking a question and believing the first response. Heck, even from the most reputable cuemakers you will sometimes get contrary comments on the same questions. There are different ways of doing things. But you must be able to separate the Real McCoy's from the Want-to-bes. There is good information on this forum and there is bad information. You also must try to educate yourself outside here...try Chris Hightowers book and dvd's as a starting point. And find your way!


Good Luck,
Daren Johnson
Click to expand...

Great post! I'm a cue repairman, and have found the discussions on AZ to be most helpful. I've really enjoyed this forum, and all the great ideas & solutions to problems. I think you've given really good advice to new members. :thumbup:
 
experts

When we stop learning we die right???? Just a question.

I have been at it for over 40 years and I see new things VERY frequently.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
TripXQ said:
When we stop learning we die right???? Just a question.

I have been at it for over 40 years and I see new things VERY frequently.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
Click to expand...
)
If we were to die when we stopped learning, then I'm going to be alive for a long long time lol. When I get finished with every nuance of cue building, then ill have to figure out nuclear physics, so I'm good for atleast 200 years, for starters......wait I take that back, ill need to perfect inlays first..
 
I stumbled upon AZ and the Ask the Cue Maker forum quite some time before I bought a lathe. I read everything I could and poured over the archives.
I made text files like they were going out of style. I often thought that if I had applied myself in High School as diligently as I did here, I might have furthered my education.

Well, this post secondary here was good enuff for me. I also purchased a considerable amount of wood. I figured that might be incentive enuff to buy a lathe later on.

I figure that I am a pretty fair basic repair man altho there are many areas of repair and building that I have yet to touch on.

With my customers, I will never BS anyone and tell them that I can do something that I know I haven't practiced yet. It will just cost me in the long run and make me look the fool.

I agree with Dave 100% and it had been mentioned previously.

New member shows up with a sig line:
Blah Blah Blah
Custom Cues
A week or so later: Hey guys, how do I seal a shaft?

Come on, you have to earn your wings before you wear a sig line.
Not to try and sound harsh or anything but it shouldn't be rocket science to know when you can pipe up and start answering members questions, at least with some credibility.

I know its hard to be in the company of cue makers and not want to join in the fun of answering questions. But, thus is where a less experienced person can hand out a bit of misinformation. And you have to realize that
when a relative newby comes over with a question, he just might take
certain misinfo and run with it.

That said, I do feel qualified to answer the question that pops up every now and then: How do you make Milk Duds.
I've answered that one in length many times and it saves the cue makers from a lot of typing. Hey, I'm good for a couple of things, just ask my wife, she kinda like me at times.

And on the other side of the coin, theres more than one way to skin a cat.
I know on the odd occasion, a new member will pop an answer off and even the experienced cue men will give the guy a compliment on thinking outside the box. It does happen.

Its a tough biz to break into, repairing and cue making. If it were that easy it wouldn't be as enjoyable and everyone would be a cue maker.

I lost a front tooth once. The dentist asked me if I had been talking when I should have been listening.
Almost the same here, you can learn more by listening and reading.

Everyone will get their 15 minutes of fame. Just have to wait in line.

And to echo Dave's sentiments also. There are many here, too many names to mention that I also owe a lot to as well. I wouldn't be
anywhere close to where I am now without all the help.
 
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Blue Hog ridr said:
With my customers, I will never BS anyone and tell them that I can do something that I know I haven't practiced yet. It will just cost me in the long run and make me look the fool.

I agree with Dave 100% and it had been mentioned previously.

New member shows up with a sig line:
Blah Blah Blah
Custom Cues
A week or so later: Hey guys, how do I seal a shaft?

Come on, you have to earn your wings before you wear a sig line.
Not to try and sound harsh or anything but it shouldn't be rocket science to know when you can pipe up and start answering members questions, at least with some credibility.

I know its hard to be in the company of cue makers and not want to join in the fun of answering questions. But, thus is where a less experienced person can hand out a bit of misinformation. And you have to realize that
when a relative newby comes over with a question, he just might take
certain misinfo and run with it.

And on the other side of the coin, theres more than one way to skin a cat.
Click to expand...

Thanks BlueHogRider,

I know you said much more good stuff, but all of this here deserves repeating over and over. And part of it is what spurred me to begin this topic.
 
SouthernDraw said:
I have closely watched this thread for years now and every so often the same thing begins happening. People who are not cuemakers, nor even cue repairmen, begin commenting (usually on stuff they have little knowledge of, other than from playing pool). People often overlook the name of the forum (Ask the Cuemaker) and think that it's for anyone to be an expert. Navigating thru these comments are daunting.

So if you are a NEWBIE pay close attention to who comments. What should you look for? Usually, you can look for names. If they are not willing to put their name out, there's a reason. Often you will see the name of their Cue Company, this IS a way to tell reliability. You can also search all posts by a specific poster. If they have less than 10 posts and every one is negative about one person, they are just trying to discredit someone (there is one here now doing this).

When you see a discussion, also do a search of that topic. This will give you additional info. Stay with it a while and you see alot of different personalities. Hopefully, you won't get the bug (hint-it's an expensive bug).

I repair cues and am still learning the art of cuemaking...So why would I start a thread in the Ask the Cuemaker forum, when I have just told you to learn who are the real CueMakers are? and I'm not one of them?

Simply, because I understand where you are. And I know that it is not always as simple as asking a question and believing the first response. Heck, even from the most reputable cuemakers you will sometimes get contrary comments on the same questions. There are different ways of doing things. But you must be able to separate the Real McCoy's from the Want-to-bes. There is good information on this forum and there is bad information. You also must try to educate yourself outside here...try Chris Hightowers book and dvd's as a starting point. And find your way!


Good Luck,
Daren Johnson
Click to expand...

How can you have watched this thread for years when it is only 2 days old? :grin:

Just goofin'. ;)

This can also be a problem in the mechanics forum. If I happen to know the answer to a question (like cushion nose height for a GC or pin size for a Gina), I might offer my input. But I always preface it by saying I'm not a CM or mechanic. Anything I don't know I just silently follow the thread so I can learn something. :thumbup:
 
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