Joss Cues - Custom or Production

[Chopdoc]

A production cue just goes from one machine to the next with no inspection from one step in the process to the next, correct?

r/Mike

Not a cue maker here but I have to say nope.


There are multiple quality control steps.


Much of this was pioneered by Helmstetter in modern times by the way and can easily be studied for those interested. (Though that is only one example)

I think people confuse "factory" or "production" with "automated".


And with that I'll step back and remind....I am no cue maker so if any of you guys that do make cues want to straighten me out feel free to whip the crap out of me. :grin-square:

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[sonny_burnett]

Are you going to get a Joss?

If so, which one?

Did Dan give you a lead time?

Good thread, and keep us posted.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[cueman]

What is "normal weight, length or balance"? What is "normal" to one is "abnormal" to another (i.e., weight, tip diameter, balance., etc.).

"Normally", shafts are made at 13mm. Under the above definition, tapering the shaft down to 12.5mm would make a production cue a "custom" cue.

That is correct, but what is normal to a production cuemaker is normal to them even if it is not to others. And when you ask them to do something special it becomes a custom cue.

 

[cueman]

So if I have Dan take one of his cues that he has already made, tailor it to my specs, does that make it a custom cue? Or is it still a production cue?

I assume if he pretty much makes all his cues by hand (with the aid of machines, of course) that it is a custom cue. A production cue just goes from one machine to the next with no inspection from one step in the process to the next, correct?

r/Mike

Incorrect. You are trying to make it sound like production cues are built to low quality standards and for most manufacturers that is not the case at all. A production company will not stay in business very long if they do not inspect quality.

 

[cueman]

What is "normal weight, length or balance"? What is "normal" to one is "abnormal" to another (i.e., weight, tip diameter, balance., etc.).

"Normally", shafts are made at 13mm. Under the above definition, tapering the shaft down to 12.5mm would make a production cue a "custom" cue.

That could make it a custom shaft. But most production makers consider slight weight change and shaft size as normal options.

 

[cuesblues]

Incorrect. You are trying to make it sound like production cues are built to low quality standards and for most manufacturers that is not the case at all. A production company will not stay in business very long if they do not inspect quality.

Meucci is the exception to that rule.

 

[greyghost]

depending on what your doing.....some things take hands and a chisel or very fine hand saws......not everything can or is done by a machine....sometimes because the maker just cant afford it and sometimes because it just dont exist. or its just not cost or time effective. most very good cue makers imop dont make enough on cues compared to some other things.

Its all priced too low on customs across the board imop....coming from someone whos been a wood worker all my life, from general carpentry, furniture, cues, duckcalls and other forms of turning as well......its "easy" lmfao...but boy is "easy" one broad term in relation to that... its time consuming and a PIA really and like with most things the most brutal part is people wanting the best crap....for the cheapest price....and that chit dont fly with making things like this.

You will either go broke or burn out and quit. Thats why i dont really sell many cues...i wont deal with peoples bullshit so i say no often, and its rife in pool lol.....i could see it now some nit makes an order, i tell them the possibility of me going offshore and it could always take longer....unless you feel like throwing me 3-5k a week to sit on my lathe at home lol....and them coming on here blasting my ass all over like i'm being shady lol....like is the norm around here. Sometimes its what shoulda been done, often times its not. So dont ask for no fancy call during hunting season and think your gonna get it quick lol.....cuz i'm too busy working...and hunting lol

i laugh my ass off when i see that mcdermott video.....and they have this lady doing inlays....and the "host" talks about oh we do it so we can assure quality.....

bullshit....they do it because they wont pay to develop a machine that could drop the dam inlays in....too complicated and not enough profit.....its means over cost. and makes total sense....i just laugh at the marketing behind the reason lol.

you have sharp points at the end because the cues tapered....but if you wanted the same at the bottom, sharp sharp only way i know is sans machinery .....even the kerf of a bandsaw blade isn't going to get you there....again not that i know of, because theres secrets possibly i dont know about.

square bottom points are like they are because of the kerf of the blade...its easier.


this thread brings stuff directly to my mind though with other things i make like those duck calls.....everyone sees "custom duck calls".....plain ass peices of plastic in general, marbalized or straight clear colored arcrylics or just some decent wood, with a logo and a few curves.......to me thats not custom, but its still "hand made" they turn on a lathe and then use some jigs to hand scrape the innards if they dont use a router....and i think about what we refer to as custom. I butt heads with duck call makers over this, i think the majority of "customs" are better called hand made or something or other because they aint custom. they make the same dam one hundreds of times in general. But this makes sense in a way as to why the call makers that are intricate carvers command the highest prices....that is very artful and difficult and takes a master craftsmen.

crazy how we think one way.....another group differs lol

 

[HawaiianEye]

You`re nitpicking.
Not running a batch of the same cue, making each cue a one of, usually made by one or just a very few persons, usually with more woods and options to choose from for the customer etc. You know what is meant by custom

These links are not to cues, but they have their definitions that are interesting.

http://www.vista-industrial.com/blog/custom-manufacturing-vs-mass-production/

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_mass_production_and_custom_production

https://prezi.com/vuff7mmgimco/custom-vs-mass-production/

FWIW. I have "customized" custom and production cues. Every cue I have ever bought, I have changed something on it that more suited my preferences.

 

[Kim Bye]

These links are not to cues, but they have their definitions that are interesting.

http://www.vista-industrial.com/blog/custom-manufacturing-vs-mass-production/

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_mass_production_and_custom_production

https://prezi.com/vuff7mmgimco/custom-vs-mass-production/

FWIW. I have "customized" custom and production cues. Every cue I have ever bought, I have changed something on it that more suited my preferences.

The top link you provided, states pretty much what I was saying, apart from the Inventory bit. Custom cue makers, in many ways have more Inventory, in terms of Wood selection, ferrules, joint pins, tips etc, than Production Companies, who use one type of tip, ferrule etc.