Dr. Kenny D's 2010 Searing, video plus short story/history of cue

[dom_poppa]

I think the disconnect here is that you don't know that Searing's veneers are one piece and thus don't have a join line anywhere. Comparing this method against any joined veneer it will always come out on top. That's not to say that there aren't amazing examples of joined veneers but one piece veneers never have a line where, if you look closely enough, joined veneers always will.

At least that's how I read the situation.

That's not the disconnect.

The disconnect I have here is when people are saying this particular cue's veneer is fantastic when the owner himself said that the veneer on his cue is when Searing first started making veneers, thus 'the two different color' and then the owner continues to say Searing since has 'improved'. Therefore, those were less than perfect veneers but everyone wants to say its perfect.

Also the video has a misleading title...that Searing cue is not 10k. Silver signature goes on 10k cues but since he worked with Searing with every step, Searing put the silver signature on. Owner's words.

I still think the cue looks great with the flawed veneer that the owner stated and he wanted the flawed veneer because there are only two cues with that.

Do you see why I am confused?..... and why would any member say those veneers were flawless when the owner admitted to the flaws. Mr. Searing even asked if he was sure that he wanted them on.

People can argue about which veneers are the best but this particular Searing cue, shown in the video, is not a great example.

It's a great cue. The owner is very pleased with it. That's what counts.

 

[merylane]

That's not the disconnect.

The disconnect I have here is when people are saying this particular cue's veneer is fantastic when the owner himself said that the veneer on his cue is when Searing first started making veneers, thus 'the two different color' and then the owner continues to say Searing since has 'improved'. Therefore, those were less than perfect veneers but everyone wants to say its perfect.

Also the video has a misleading title...that Searing cue is not 10k. Silver signature goes on 10k cues but since he worked with Searing with every step, Searing put the silver signature on. Owner's words.

I still think the cue looks great with the flawed veneer that the owner stated and he wanted the flawed veneer because there are only two cues with that.

Do you see why I am confused?..... and why would any member say those veneers were flawless when the owner admitted to the flaws. Mr. Searing even asked if he was sure that he wanted them on.

People can argue about which veneers are the best but this particular Searing cue, shown in the video, is not a great example.

It's a great cue. The owner is very pleased with it. That's what counts.[/QUOTE

they are trying to give you a gift here.... If you really care about more than arguing .... And you really believe what you type then just take Jake up on his offer and grab that easy cash..... And if you don't believe in gambling don't worry I'm sure Jake doesn't consider it gambling.



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[skins]

I think the disconnect here is that you don't know that Searing's veneers are one piece and thus don't have a join line anywhere. Comparing this method against any joined veneer it will always come out on top. That's not to say that there aren't amazing examples of joined veneers but one piece veneers never have a line where, if you look closely enough, joined veneers always will.

At least that's how I read the situation.

The "disconnect" is that he knows absolutely nothing about cue construction, nothng about what would make one thing different or better than another, nothing about what he's seeing when it's put right in front of his face, nor be able or probably even willing to understand if explained.

He's just an attention whore...

 

[dom_poppa]

That's not the disconnect.

The disconnect I have here is when people are saying this particular cue's veneer is fantastic when the owner himself said that the veneer on his cue is when Searing first started making veneers, thus 'the two different color' and then the owner continues to say Searing since has 'improved'. Therefore, those were less than perfect veneers but everyone wants to say its perfect.

Also the video has a misleading title...that Searing cue is not 10k. Silver signature goes on 10k cues but since he worked with Searing with every step, Searing put the silver signature on. Owner's words.

I still think the cue looks great with the flawed veneer that the owner stated and he wanted the flawed veneer because there are only two cues with that.

Do you see why I am confused?..... and why would any member say those veneers were flawless when the owner admitted to the flaws. Mr. Searing even asked if he was sure that he wanted them on.

People can argue about which veneers are the best but this particular Searing cue, shown in the video, is not a great example.

It's a great cue. The owner is very pleased with it. That's what counts.[/QUOTE

they are trying to give you a gift here.... If you really care about more than arguing .... And you really believe what you type then just take Jake up on his offer and grab that easy cash..... And if you don't believe in gambling don't worry I'm sure Jake doesn't consider it gambling.



.

There is nothing to argue here.

We all know these posters are trying to stir the pot when there is nothing to stir.

Think about it...I said there is no difference and that Szams and many other great cue makers have fantastic veneers.

They say Searing is superior than all.

...and I'm the irrational on here?

 

[skins]

There is nothing to argue here.

We all know these posters are trying to stir the pot when there is nothing to stir.

Think about it...I said there is no difference and that Szams and many other great cue makers have fantastic veneers.

They say Searing is superior than all.

...and I'm the irrational on here?

Not irrational.. Ignorant. Willfully at that..

 

[Chopdoc]

Love the cue.

I have a weakness for dashed rings, especially ivory. And I love the points/veneers.


Obviously top notch.


:thumbup:




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[William]

That's not the disconnect.

The disconnect I have here is when people are saying this particular cue's veneer is fantastic when the owner himself said that the veneer on his cue is when Searing first started making veneers, thus 'the two different color' and then the owner continues to say Searing since has 'improved'. Therefore, those were less than perfect veneers but everyone wants to say its perfect.

Also the video has a misleading title...that Searing cue is not 10k. Silver signature goes on 10k cues but since he worked with Searing with every step, Searing put the silver signature on. Owner's words.

I still think the cue looks great with the flawed veneer that the owner stated and he wanted the flawed veneer because there are only two cues with that.

Do you see why I am confused?..... and why would any member say those veneers were flawless when the owner admitted to the flaws. Mr. Searing even asked if he was sure that he wanted them on.

People can argue about which veneers are the best but this particular Searing cue, shown in the video, is not a great example.

It's a great cue. The owner is very pleased with it. That's what counts.

The flaw probably was not the best way to word that. The color and consistency of that particular veneer was not as Dennis intended. I do not think improved is the right word either, as Dennis does it a little different now and gets a better final product. He can get the exact shade and tint he wants, consistently.

With all that being said, the veneer construction is what they are preaching about. The method he uses is easily identified in the final product verses what other cue makers, myself included, are doing.

That is what the disagreement is over.

 

[LGSM3]

There is nothing to argue here.

We all know these posters are trying to stir the pot when there is nothing to stir.

Think about it...I said there is no difference and that Szams and many other great cue makers have fantastic veneers.

They say Searing is superior than all.

...and I'm the irrational on here?

I dont think anyone is saying Searing is superior to all, he would definitely never want or say or agree with that.

People are just saying that the final result and its execution is superior with regards to veneer work.

 

[JoeyInCali]

I think the disconnect here is that you don't know that Searing's veneers are one piece and thus don't have a join line anywhere. Comparing this method against any joined veneer it will always come out on top. That's not to say that there aren't amazing examples of joined veneers but one piece veneers never have a line where, if you look closely enough, joined veneers always will.

At least that's how I read the situation.

Don't hold your breath.

 

[zeeder]

Don't hold your breath.

Well, my assumption is that no matter how tight the tolerances, there will always be a degree of magnification that will show where the veneers were joined. That said, once we're past the point of needing magnification, which we are for some I would imagine, the point is moot!

 

[Chopdoc]

The flaw probably was not the best way to word that. The color and consistency of that particular veneer was not as Dennis intended. I do not think improved is the right word either, as Dennis does it a little different now and gets a better final product. He can get the exact shade and tint he wants, consistently.

Frankly after all I have heard about what a perfectionist Searing is I was surprised he was willing to let the veneer color thing go. Though he isn't far from me, I have never met him.

Personally, I feel such things are simply part of the character of a cue, perhaps a point of interest. When working with natural materials there are always variations that are out of the control of the craftsman. That's normal, that's OK. Obviously a perfectionist will minimize such things when it comes to things like the consistency of dye colors etc. I am not surprised to hear that Mr Searing went on to perfect his methods in this regard.

I have only played with one of his cues and that was recent. The cue was brilliant and perfect, or as close to perfection as one might imagine. The shaft was outstanding.

This thread got me thinking and I went and had a look at my old Joss. It also reminded me of an old post I made where you can see the veneers up close on my Joss as well as several other cues, including a couple of Taiwan cues.

On the matter of veneers, here is that fun post I made several years ago:
LINK TO POST

No reason to be butting heads over this stuff. It's all fun and we are all interested.
:smile::thumbup:



EDIT:
This reminded me of a shed my grandfather built when I was a kid. Beautiful. He said you could pull every nail and screw out of it and it would stand. I realize now it was held together with perfection, patience, precision, craftsmanship, and love as much as anything else. Probably not unlike a very finely crafted cue. Glue lines? I wish my grandfather were here to see this. I think he inherently understood it.


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[Woof Biscuit]

The owner had probably waited a regodamndiculously long time for the cue and didn't have the patience to wait for the veneer to be redone. Who knows how long that would have taken?

 

[TomHay]

I could be wrong, still half asleep. The way I am reading some of this is almost like Dennis Searing came on, posted, said he was the worlds greatest Cue Maker and it is his way or the highway on points, Ivory etc.

If you ever met Dennis he is a great down to earth person. He will take the time to explain WHY he chooses to do things a certain way and you will not hear him say better than any Cue Maker, just why he does it.

Very often you will see him wearing OTHER cue makers T Shirts, in the shop or out playing Pool.

Now I am going to risk a friendship over a post. If you think 10K is a lot for a cue (I do) Dennis has been offered obscene money (6 figures) by quite a few millionare collectors for full custom but he refuses because he does not feel he is ready nor knows if he will ever reach that point.

I think the thing people fail to take in account is Dennis builds with the hit in mind first, design next. If the design flaws the hit the design is not used.

Are their others out there like this? YEP, like I said you will see him wearing their shirts.

 

[CMD]

He's does a pretty good job... ;-)

 

[William]

Frankly after all I have heard about what a perfectionist Searing is I was surprised he was willing to let the veneer color thing go. Though he isn't far from me, I have never met him.

Personally, I feel such things are simply part of the character of a cue, perhaps a point of interest. When working with natural materials there are always variations that are out of the control of the craftsman. That's normal, that's OK. Obviously a perfectionist will minimize such things when it comes to things like the consistency of dye colors etc. I am not surprised to hear that Mr Searing went on to perfect his methods in this regard.

Yeah I was not there so I am only guessing. I am sure Dennis said something along the lines like he wanted a little more color or little less and the owner probably loved it and wanted it the way it looked. I think your term variation is spot on and more appropriate than that of a flaw. I am positive if Dennis thought it was flawed it would not have left his hands.

 

[Chopdoc]

The owner had probably waited a regodamndiculously long time for the cue and didn't have the patience to wait for the veneer to be redone. Who knows how long that would have taken?

Well you have to give consideration for the time it takes to grow new trees.... :grin::wink:


Yeah. I have my opinions about such things. But this being the gallery I prefer to contain myself a bit.



It does remind me of something my grandfather used to say:

You can have two of three things.
1. Fast
2, Cheap
3, Done right

But again, you can only pick two.



By my observation there is one main thing the great cue makers have in common, they are smart. Regardless of the degree to which any of us might be involved with them and their work we are all spectators. Watch, pay attention, listen, learn. That's my attitude.





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[Qaddiction]

He's does a pretty good job... ;-)

Stunning! Thanks for posting.

 

[Woof Biscuit]

It does remind me of something my grandfather used to say:

You can have two of three things.
1. Fast
2, Cheap
3, Done right

But again, you can only pick two.

Ain't that the truth. :thumbup:

With Dennis you only get one of the 3 options...done right.

By the way, I'm local to Dennis and know him on a personal level. He really is a nice guy and will be the first to tell you that he's slow and not perfect. He's very humble. In my opinion, his cues are second to none. I have been on the "list" for a long time, am local, consider him a friend, and have $$$ in hand; however, I know I'll never own one of his cues unless I buy it on the secondary market. I'm fine with that.

 

[Chopdoc]

Ain't that the truth. :thumbup:

With Dennis you only get one of the 3 options...done right.

By the way, I'm local to Dennis and know him on a personal level. He really is a nice guy and will be the first to tell you that he's slow and not perfect. He's very humble. In my opinion, his cues are second to none. I have been on the "list" for a long time, am local, consider him a friend, and have $$$ in hand; however, I know I'll never own one of his cues unless I buy it on the secondary market. I'm fine with that.

To be fair, I didn't think his cues were inordinately expensive, although "cheap" does not apply. But I certainly think you get a helluva lot of bang for your buck. So maybe the 2 out of three still applies. :smile:


Secondary market? Yeah. But at least there is still a chance, even if slim. I would want a Mottey and a JossWest. Waited WAY too long. No hope of getting one of either made.






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[classiccues]

All I know is in 1993 I said Skips veneers were the absolute best way to make a traditional looking veneer, non-traditionally. I was basically laughed at and called a homer and only because I was dealing his cues. Also 12 years ago Skip sent out either maple or holly to be dyed so he could make the teal in a titlist colored cue. I am really glad people are catching up.

There is only so many ways to skin (no pun intended) this cat... I wonder how close the two ways are???

JV