Whats everyone opinion on his complete DVD series for $800 WORTH IT? or Not!
Joe Barringer - Cue Building Dvd's
- Thread starter RDCustomCues
- Start date
I have the full set. If you are just starting out it will help you decide what equipment to buy. They will pay for themselves there alone. Are they where $800. Yes. Will you save that in time and money? Yes. If you buy them directly from Joe, he is open for questions. There a few guys here that don't like Joe, but I have learned the most using his dvds. There is information there you will not get here. I just recieved the new set from Hightower. They as well will pay for themselves. He is covering different areas and his short cuts will save me many times over. I have decided to collect as many videos from different builders as I can. They all have good information to teach.
good luck, Jim.
good luck, Jim.
I have the full set and all the videos from Chris as well. I think they are all well worth the money. Even if you think you know everything about the topic being covered, if you come away with one tiny bit of knowledge, it makes the purchase well worth it.
worth 800 bucks, come on. 
I've used up my lathe money twice taking machining classes, I think that was wise. Dropping the same on some DVD s, no way. I'll spring for the Hightower DVD but when Joe's involved I sit on my wallet. A "tiny bit of knowledge" for 800 bucks?
Andy
I've used up my lathe money twice taking machining classes, I think that was wise. Dropping the same on some DVD s, no way. I'll spring for the Hightower DVD but when Joe's involved I sit on my wallet. A "tiny bit of knowledge" for 800 bucks?Andy
DawgAndy said:worth 800 bucks, come on.
Andy
Does that mean you DID spend the money & know what is on those tapes or you just want to bad mouth this guy?????...JER
well I have an opportunity to buy a used like new set of DVD'd for $550
DVD's
I have bought these DVD's and some others and I will say that there is good and bad with everything. I think there is some valuable information in his DVD's but he also assumes that you have the machines setup and have one machine for every operation. So, you do have to translate some of the knowledge but all in all there is a lot of good information and even a different perspective. Bottom line is you get out what you put in, as with everything.
Richard
I have bought these DVD's and some others and I will say that there is good and bad with everything. I think there is some valuable information in his DVD's but he also assumes that you have the machines setup and have one machine for every operation. So, you do have to translate some of the knowledge but all in all there is a lot of good information and even a different perspective. Bottom line is you get out what you put in, as with everything.
Richard
I agree with the others about any knowledge is always a wise investment. I have always found ways to do things, but if I add up all the time I've spent to find a way to do a certain thing, and balance it against an average cost of $70-$99 for a DVD that will not only show a way how to do what I'm trying to do, but I may also see something else that is helpfull. If you put a dollar amount on your time, by the hour, how fast will you reach that DVD price? And usually beyond for me.
I have watched both of Chris's DVD's ton's of times and still see something else every time I watch them. I am planning to purchase Chris's 2 new ones and at least a few of Joe's disks when bonus time comes around in a month or two. Especially the finishing one as that's the part of cue building that kicks my a$$ most often.
I've been to Joe's site probably 100 times at least. I have learned alot just from his shop tour pages, and the online cue building pages he had started a long while ago, which all that in it's self is a big plus as not to many other cuebuilders have taken the time to do any of that on their sites. It's good to get different perspectives on how to do things, to help find and form what you feel is right for your own way of doing it.
As with anything or anybody, there's always good things and not so good things. I have dealt with Joe quite alot and haven't had a problem. I have called him, and he helped over the phone with a question I had, so I can't down him. He's been straight up with me.
Just my 2.5 cents, I say go for the DVDs, there always something to be learned.
Good luck,
DAve
I have watched both of Chris's DVD's ton's of times and still see something else every time I watch them. I am planning to purchase Chris's 2 new ones and at least a few of Joe's disks when bonus time comes around in a month or two. Especially the finishing one as that's the part of cue building that kicks my a$$ most often. I've been to Joe's site probably 100 times at least. I have learned alot just from his shop tour pages, and the online cue building pages he had started a long while ago, which all that in it's self is a big plus as not to many other cuebuilders have taken the time to do any of that on their sites. It's good to get different perspectives on how to do things, to help find and form what you feel is right for your own way of doing it.
As with anything or anybody, there's always good things and not so good things. I have dealt with Joe quite alot and haven't had a problem. I have called him, and he helped over the phone with a question I had, so I can't down him. He's been straight up with me.
Just my 2.5 cents, I say go for the DVDs, there always something to be learned.
Good luck,
DAve
Do you have Hightowers book? Much cheaper and will cover everything you need to know. Do you have Deikmans videos? He was the first guy to start showing complete cue construction that I know off, also Churchhill has 2 videos out which give some good ideas. Point is that that is a lot of money up front when Hightowers book and videos are probably much more than you need to get started. Save the extra money and use it where it really counts, for machinery and supplies. Also consider where you are and how far you want to go in this?
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Jer, I have nothing against his products, How can I "bad mouth" Joe when he does it so good himself? I understand the price of such a huge undertaking. I guess I was wondering if there was anything on his dvds that wasn't already available in Chris's or Diekmans written word or tapes.
When you ask so much more than everyone else for this material, there should be a big difference in what's inside.
Respectfully
Andy
When you ask so much more than everyone else for this material, there should be a big difference in what's inside.
Respectfully
Andy
DawgAndy said:
When you put it that way, how can I disagree. I only thought you came on kind of strong & it sounded personal, instead of informative...JER
Yup, there is a set on e-bay for about that! Original?
Well, each person will have to decide for themselves if it is worth $800 or not. At this point you have to ask if selling Joe short for a couple hundred is worth it. IMHO, Joe did a great job on his videos as well as Chris, Dennis, and Bill at Unique. It would be up to you to support them directly or undercut them. I prefer to get dircet information with all of them. By the way there are a few coppies of Joes dvds floating around that you can get real cheap. I have not sunk to that level yet or plan to. And I wouldn't bother Joe with questions or the others unless I purchased dirctly.
good luck, Jimbo.
RDCustomCues said:
Well, each person will have to decide for themselves if it is worth $800 or not. At this point you have to ask if selling Joe short for a couple hundred is worth it. IMHO, Joe did a great job on his videos as well as Chris, Dennis, and Bill at Unique. It would be up to you to support them directly or undercut them. I prefer to get dircet information with all of them. By the way there are a few coppies of Joes dvds floating around that you can get real cheap. I have not sunk to that level yet or plan to. And I wouldn't bother Joe with questions or the others unless I purchased dirctly.
good luck, Jimbo.
http://www.cuemaker.com/
http://www.cuemaker.com/cueniversity.htm
Learn wood and cuemaking.
Or get dvd's?
http://www.cuemaker.com/cueniversity.htm
Learn wood and cuemaking.
Or get dvd's?
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BLACKHEARTCUES said:When you put it that way, how can I disagree. I only thought you came on kind of strong & it sounded personal, instead of informative...JER
That's the problem with typing instead of conversing. That was a low whistle , adjust my ball cap type comment.
Andy
Used equipment is one thing. Bootleg copies of copyrighted material is another thing.bubsbug said:
How many of use have designed jigs that make life easier for dustmakers?
We've thought of marketing them but have not because in this business, stealing one's idea and jigs is pretty common.
I have never had the chance to see any of Joe's DVD'S but from the instructional stuff on his web page it seems he is very good teacher. The thing I didn't like was the little jabs he took at Chris's book. Check out his site you'll see what I mean. I Have both of Chris Hightowers tapes and I also have all the tapes in the unique line. I have a DVD copy of Joe Porpers as well but havent watched it as of yet. I also own Chris's book. Hey I'll read or watch anything if it helps me develop as a cue repair man or cue builder. I think the ACA and such organizations should give guys like Chris Hightower and Joe Porper and Brian Swank some kind of award for helping to grow the trade. How many of you would have taken up cue repair or cue building with out these products being available to streamline the learning curve?
Strokerz said:
Yeh, I bet they would like to give them something but I doubt seriously it would be any kind of a award. To belong to the ACA you must make your income predominantly from building and repairing cues. No hobbyist or amateurs. These people are professionals who make their living building cues. I've been called more than once by ACA members asking that I not give so much information away. What these books, instructional tapes and light weight machinery has done is shown how easy cue building actually is. 25 years ago there probably weren't 75 cue makers in the country. Now what is there, 2000? The mystique is gone and so is the price. Chris Hightower has mentioned in his book and on this forum, before, that he was afraid that the advent of CNC was bringing the price of custom cues down to where it's tough to get a good price. Well, I don't think CNC has anything to do with it but these tutorials and machinery certainly has.
Dick
bubsbug said:
In your way of thinking, Buggy, if you could shove a cue lathe into a computer and crank out an exact copy, then yes you shouldn't do it. The truth of the matter is if somebody even sells a used copy of the videos chance are they have made a copy to keep. The same can not be said for the hardware. By the way, I ended up with a used Cue Smith Deluxe. After talking with and meeting with Chris, I found that someone had ripped off his ideas and tried to make mine cheaper. In the long run I purchased several parts from Chris to make it close to what it should be. I would have preffered to buy dirrectly from Chris after that. I know I can call Chris in good concients and discuss issues with him. I can say the same about Joe or Brian Swank. I could not expect these gives to even give me the time of day without supporting them.
Of course this is IMO. Jimbo.
Your points are valid. I would only disagree with you about CNC, as CNC has definitely contributed to price dropping. It has also given an illusion of building quality cues too early in a cuemakers career, by being able to make them fancy to soon. In the early to mid 90's there were only a handfull of us that actually had been paid thousands of dollars for a single cue. Most of us were using pantographs. Almost all who had built cues fancy enough to achieve that price range, were building quality cues as well as fancy. Now many fancy cues are not high quality. I hate to have to say this, but it is a fact. There are people who glue almost their entire cue together with super glue, yet build fancy cues. They can buy a pre-programmed ready to fly CNC Inlay Machine and be doing tight, fancy inlay work off the bat.rhncue said:
I have definitely created a lot of competition among cuemakers by helping so many get into it. I plead guilty to that charge. Not only with my Book and DVD's, but with my equipment also. I once sold a lathe to a guy in Birmingham and he came over and locked up the tournaments in Atlanta, by knowing a tour director. I used to work 95% of all big amateur and Pro events in Atlanta. So I know what creating competition feels like.
Don't think you are the only cuemaker to complain about me selling this info. I have been told by two very top cuemakers they didn't like it. One even told me he felt I was not qualified to write the book. Other top cuemakers applauded me for doing it. Even though the information was already in my book, I still got emails criticizing or questioning my motive for putting out the two new Advanced DVD's.
So I am going to make public here my main reasons for doing so:
#1) I felt my 12 year old Advanced Cue Building video was too out dated to continue to be a sellable product. It only showed non veneer v-points and inlays on my out dated original model inlay machine. So I felt the info was not best and the machine was not my latest model, and my methods had improved.
#2) Something else had come to bug me lately about our market. V-Points with veneers, Full Splice and Butterflies points are all old-school cue building. Yet recently with the CNC craze they have started being presented as the cutting edge thing. Why should something so basic that almost every cuemaker of 20 years ago mastered, become considered cutting edge? So I wanted to prove to world it takes very little equipment to do and I sell the equipment.
Just as your challenge earlier about making metal parts on my lighter cue lathes, caused me to produce a thread milling attachment for my lathe. I can now make some metal parts on my lathe.
#3) With the death of my wife suddenly from cancer last year, I looked at my Book and Videos and said to myself, Would I be leaving behind a sellable product behind for my son and daughter if something happened to me? I felt it needed redone. Death has a way of making you think about things you normally don't and get some things done you have procrastinated on so long.
I have long planned to re-do the Advanced DVD and that is what I started doing, but decided to go ahead and make it better than planned and do multiple volumes. Putting 90% of the book on DVD is my end goal. So hopefully I am not done yet.
#4) I also saw much of the info being given away on here so why not? If someone wants the info and is willing to pay for it, why not put it out there for a fair price so they can get it all at once, since it will all eventually be put out there for free on this forum anyway?
Those are my main four reasons.