smiling_Hans
Well-known member
Clueless.Yeah, way overpriced and keep iffy time.At least SW's are made in one shop, Rolex farms out a lot of their parts from China.
Three 3 Best Cue Makers in the World
- Thread starter Prison break
- Start date
SW's are overpriced. i'll say that til i croak. i've hit enough of them to form this opinion. and yes, rolex farms out parts to taiwan. aren't you the guy that thought cnc couldn't do intricate inlays? clueless?? seriously???
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
Clueless. In regards to watches and Rolex.
In regards to CNC machine tell me what CNC machine applies the inlays? The term inlay refers to cutting and applying something into said cuts.
I have yet seen a machine that does this. Hence, why these custom cues or Blackboar are pretty much handmade. If you want to argue they are using a machine? Well the CNC is as part of a cue builder as a saw is to a carpenter. It’s already an accepted practice by collectors and many in the industry.
dendweller
Well-known member
Capenter holds the saw or the wood and guides it. He doesn't write software, load it on his saw, load the wood and let it fly.
Maybe a pantograph to a cue builder is like a saw to a carpenter.
rolex movements are made in-house. they do farm out other parts. swiss law states that only 60% has to be swiss. believe what you want. as for a cue, have you ever watched one of these inlaid cues being made? sure the builder glues them in place but all the cutting of the inlays and the pockets they go in are done on cnc machines. you think BB hand-cuts this shit?? if so i've got some prime desert beachfront to sell you.
Last edited:
Paul Dayton, Jupiter Florida.
Bio
Joel Hercek took up the game of pool at a very early age; his father was quite good at both three cushion and pocket billiards and introduced Joel to the game when he was ten years old. Although...
www.hercek.com
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
ROFL
Clueless as mentioned before. Also nobody said what you mentioned above except you. Are you going to have a honest and sincere discussion?
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
You are confused as usual and probably an old timer.
I do get why people think companies like Rolex outsource to China and that's because of the influx of independent watchmakers moving shop to Switzerland so they can claim to produce watches out of Switzerland. There are tons of these so called swiss watches, if you look at their country of origin, are not from Switzerland. Rolex and legacy companies like Patek, Audemar, Blancpain etc...etc...are not getting their parts from China. Their egos are too big for that and Rolex has pumped millions to stop counterfeiting.
I have a sizable watch collection, valued well over six figures and it sits in my safety deposit box. I have owned plenty of Rolexes that I send to Rolex dealers for service. One of the things they did in the past, Beverly Hills location, is to keep old parts. The wouldn't allow old parts to leave with the customer. That is how paranoid they are of counterfeiters. It's a running joke that we are merely caretakers of the brand and never own it.
Rolex is a privately owned company so we may never know if they get parts from Chinas, which I highly doubt, I have given you examples of why I believe they don't.
You have given me nothing substantial of why you think they get their parts from China. LOL Don't argue like someone that can't afford one. I am pretty sure you can afford it but it looks bad to argue this way.
This is why most people who have been around a wide range of cues say names like Searing, Tascarella, Barry Szamboti, etc. They cover both investment and playability. I have never touched one of these three that didn't play like wonderful instrument should. Same with Mike Bender, Ginacue, Black Boar, Schick (RIP), John Showman. These cues were built to be played with, but look amazing and increase in value if that's important.There’s only two categories…investment and playability. Some fall into both but how many top tier players are playing with high end cues. It’s all personal preference, it’s like saying which is better a steel joint or wood to wood…or the famous ivory sleeve over steel
This has been debated many years over but it’s an interesting topic…you just have to define what makes one cue or one cue maker better than another.
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
Cues are not an investment though. They may hold their value but if you're investing your money in cues then it would be laughable. The investment is intrinsic.
It is quite laughable to think their value goes up when someone for example is selling a Tasc for $3800 and I went ahead and called the Tasc shop, during COVID, and Sr. quoted me $2500 for basically the same cue and I was going to add those rings at $300 a pop too. So mine would be loaded for even less the price.
Due your diligence. Call the cue makers before even purchasing. I rather pay the maker than the dealer.
Coos Cues
Coos Cues
When I hit the powerball I plan to produce a video series where I purchase a cue from all the finest builders and band saw them end to end to inspect the build. Cut them up every way from sunday to see how they are internally.
I will do one a week.
I think this would be very interesting and there would be many surprises. Good and bad.
I will do one a week.
I think this would be very interesting and there would be many surprises. Good and bad.
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
You may even recoup your cost because a lot of people will pay to see that.
Or just x-ray them.
My two mentors did.
I still have a few of the x-rays.
Mike Bender's construction is solid.
When does it not become hand made?
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
That's a good question....probably when machine does more work than a human.
Machine cuts. Done in 10 minutes?
Man takes hundreds of hours applying inlays and whatever he does to build it.
Another thing about machine, a consumer or a collector isn't buying a cue based on what machine the builder is using. We are buying the cue builder or else these cues would be CNC 2000-X189DN model.
OK. The inlays are cut and milled by the cnc machines.
Turning flats or squares are done by the mills or planers and sanders.
Lathe turns things rounds.
The taper machines taper the shafts and assemblies. The taper machines can be both cnc or a tracer.
His butts do not have connectors. Instead the handle is a long 29-30" and are turned down in the front as core to the forearm that's sleeved instead on and glued.
The only processes I know that are not down with machinery are hand fitting parts,.gluing, spraying and inspection.
Sanding and polishing are done with machinery too.
Last edited:
I'm sorry, were you trying to educate me about cues? Just wanted to be clear what your intentions are. I was answering to someone else who brought up cues as an investment as one path of looking at cues being "better." But, it looks like you're trying to educate me and others that cues aren't an investment. Hint for you: some cues are an investment. Please don't try to define "investment" for me. I don't need an education.
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
Great.
Ignore my statement then. No need to take time out of your important day, workday, and write a paragraph.
smiling_Hans
Well-known member
Well if you want to go through the whole process then that's fine. I will just say a machine (CNC) to a cue builder is as common a saw is to a carpenter. This can be said for the above tools you mentioned.
It is well known a Ferrari engine is hand built or a Mercedes AMG car too but we know they didn't create the entire engine. This is the same with cue builders. They are hand built.
I think it is disrespectful to cue makers. They are artisans.
We're buying them and their name. We're not buying CNC 2000X19-MN model.