Zims Rack said:
Need suggestions...
I've just built a portable table to put my Mid Size Cue Smith lathe on to set up at tournaments/shows to do cue repair. I only plan on doing tips, ferrules and shaft cleaning. What are some suggestions of things to have accessible? I have a list of things, just want to see some other suggestions!
- tips
- shaft cleaner
- shaft sealer
- sand paper
- leather
- paper towels
- extra lights
- cutting tools
- razor blades
- tip glue
- epoxy for ferrule
...anything that you can tell me from your experience that I'm forgetting or should think about doing or bringing?
What about prices at tournaments? Here's what I have so far:
- LePro/Triangle tip $15
- Moori $40
- Shaft cleaned $15
- Shaft cleaned and dents removed $20+
* SPECIAL at this tournament; Shaft cleaned/new tip (LePro/Triangle) $20, Moori tip installed is $30, with shaft cleaning $45.
I'm setting up at my first tournament in February! Should be around 100-120 players there, not counting any ACTION players!
Thanks,
Zim
I would say, that Being you have plenty of advance notice, you are in good shape. We actually were not prepared for the first wpa event in our area, because we were'nt sure We had it until the final weeks, and therefore did not setup. We did altough still offer pickup for those that really needed work done. since we were close by, It only took about 15-30 minutes to get a shaft back to them. Wish we would have setup anyway, if nothing more just for more of the conversation with the shooters then we had.
I would have to agree that If you would want to pe prepared for anything, get whatever you can get on your truck, providing you can lock It up in case you do not take It in with you. as to have what you need, for whatever may come up.
On the tips If you want to have all your bases covered, try building your stock, mainly on the most common tips you think you will need, but don't count out the others. We still get alot of old schoolers that like the softer blue tips for example, altough the tips are a little harder to work, We still want to provide for those people, and We do still get request ocasionally, so try to keep a few around just in case. We Usually buy most common tips through suppliers by the box & mooris we ofcoarse also get from suppliers, but sometimes on the less common used $1 type tips I will just search ebay for someone that sells a variety of tips in singles or small lots for decent price, and work something out on a variety pack of various type tips , and combined shipping. That way we have atleast a few of each of anything that may come up.
Requests we've had are anything from lepro, tria., triuph.,everest, hercules, elk master,Tiger, moori, and many of the others. used to get alot of request for champions in the earlier years, but rarely hear anything anymore about them. Anyway Guess point being, you can never be overprepared just in case something arrises, sometimes just having a few of each of the lesser requested tips can payoff. Really probably depends on the shooters that are at the tournament or fans watching that may decide to have work done on their cue while there. Sounds Like a pretty good turnout at the one you are working, so probably would not hurt to be prepared.
our non tournament prices are pretty much around the usual with a few exceptions-
Tips- we run $12 pluss tip cost, but for regulars we will sometimes do for $10 with a $1 priced tip installed. We also take care of house cues at a more discounted rate due to the bulk work. Altough We use mooris on our personal cues, we have only recently started having alot of requests for them in our area now, so up to this point only bought in smaller quatities and price depended on what costs we had in the tips at the time. Looks like We are going to need to start buying those in a little more bulk now, so We should be able to determine a set cost on them soon.
On shaft cleaning, I will not touch for less than $15-$17 by It'self, and it goes up from there. ofcoarse with other work done It becomes extremely discounted though. I leave It up to My father what He wants to charge when he does one, but for me when I clean a shaft I usually determine the condition and quote a price. I have had some that were a breeze and others that were a nightmare, so condition does make a difference to me in the amount of work that goes into it. When I clean a shaft I don't skip any steps, in fact in many cases have to add a few. The pores are opened, deep cleaned, dents worked out, sealed, sanded, and polished various times, all to the best of My ability, in fact sometimes I have more time in them, then My time allowance on what was quoted. 4 bucks is a great price if this much work is put in, and a quality job done. Heck, wish there was someone near me that would do It at that price, I'd give My shaft cleaning work to them. ofcoarse if all I had to do to freshen them up was clean the surface up and polish would probably be alot less, if the sealer was still good enough for It, and they did not want anything underneath cleaned, but even with that, don't think I could do It at that price.
We will usually do a combo common tip job (lepro,WB, and so priced tips) with shaft cleaning for $20-$25 as a special, but depends on amount of shaft work needed.
I would think that to really be prepared, bring whatever you could in your cue shop not dedicated to cuebuilding, and more to do with shaft/tip work. what ever you usually use for that, you would definently want by your side. Also anything to do with other stuff that you may have time and are willing to take on while there. Wraps for one - If you are comfortable doing those, you never know, but you may end up with the time for them, and may be asked about It. I could probably think of others, but what ever you usually offer and can make portable I would bring just in case.
I have come accross hack jobs also, so would think that is a good idea, would not hurt to be prepared. The suggestions mentioned by rsb are good ones also, a few of those might have slipped me by If I was preparing Myself.
Good Luck with the tournament, May the Pool Gods look down on you, and Bless you with quality work & plenty of happy customers to provide that work to You.
Greg
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