Why would cue makers want to skimp????

brianna187

brianna187

BRIANNA SINCE 1988
Silver Member
Reading a post earlier on a $25.00 router made me ask this question i know and have seen people try and make cues and use the most unlikely machines if your trying to build a quality product you have to use quality materials and machines period! And in the long run buying cheap stuff 5 times you could have had the better product to start with.just a few week ago someone called me on a 3/8-10 pin i told them i had a large supply i could sell them even small quantity's for 2.00 a pin these 4" also by the way enough to even get a joint protector pin also they thought that was way too high..a few week before that someone scuffed at $65.00 for a #3 Morse tapper live center not a import either, most good#3 S are in the 100.00 s. maybe we need a section called under $25.00 cue makers.
 
That would have been me, Lee, and I am always looking for ways to save money .... is that wrong?
If the router works then what is the problem with me buying and using it?
Are you saying that without seeing the equipment in question you condem it and anything that it was used on as being low quality or inferior?

Strange thing is that with two of these "cheap" routers under my bench I was just getting on the computer to see about ordering a new Kress router from YOU.
How do you think I feel about that now, Lee?
Just when I was starting to think you might be an OK guy you go and pull this on me.

I also wanted to order some more of your shaft blanks.
Hey ... those shaft blanks I bought from you last week were cheaper than other people sell them for ... plus they were tapered.
I am very happy with the ones you sent but ... you just told me Cheap is Not So Good!

What the heck ... The last batch of your shafts were good and I dont see any reason your next batch would be any less quality so I guess I will go ahead and order some more.
Would you feel better if I promise not to use my cheap router on them. <grin>
 
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I know where Lee is coming from I have a friend that uses just enough glueon his ferrule's and joint collars to glue them on but not enough to chase out any air bubbles. When the glue dries you can see the voids and his answer is that makes it easier to repair when they bring it back to him to get rid of the tinks and pings in the cue. He to uses only tools under $25.00 most of the time.

AS your work gets better your tools should get better which in turns leads to better quality of fit and finish. Sure you can get lucky with the cheap stuff, but your quality also reflect's in price of quanity of cue sales & repair. I fyou sand the ferrule down everytime you put on a tip people will stop coming to you from bullnosing the ferrrule on thier cue.

I still design and build some tooling with cheap stuff to try it, if I like it I build it again with bettter stuff for the consisstancy.

Craig
 
I have three routers on my Taper Shaper.
The Kress and it's fine blade are reserved for fine passes.
I use the other two for hogging.
What Lee doesn't know is, some machines are very limited ( besides our budget ). Having cheaper routers, makes it faster for me.
Who cares if they have a little runout if they are just hogging woods?
I use the Kress on final pass b/c I need the joint collar to be 3 thou over for final sanding.
Btw, some think Kress is also a cheap way to go. It's still a ROUTER.
Not an NSK spindle or Perske motor.
 
I do not agree! The expensive one isn't always the best.
Shopping for a better price saves our customers money. Some of the best threads are about how to save money and make our jobs easier. I've noticed if a tool has "cue building" in the title the price goes up. I have to thank the AZ builders for many ways to save money and in return help them in any way I can.

I was in harbor freight and they had $39.99 trim routers on sale for 50% off. FERM is the brand name and after looking them over I bought two. They had variable speed up to 33,000 rpm and after buying new collets for $6.00 each they are great. Now I have 2 porter cable, one roto zip, and two Ferm trim routers. Each has a specific function and does it's job great.
 
Graciocues said:
I was in harbor freight and they had $39.99 trim routers on sale for 50% off. FERM is the brand name and after looking them over I bought two. They had variable speed up to 33,000 rpm and after buying new collets for $6.00 each they are great. Now I have 2 porter cable, one roto zip, and two Ferm trim routers. Each has a specific function and does it's job great.
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Yep ... those are the ones I was talking about.
They are just a few thousands smaller diameter than the Ryobi that fits the Unique machines AND they have that speed control.
If you are cutting with a 6 tooth cutter you dont need 30,000 rpm!
Runs much quieter at lower rpm also.
Not the same quality but the Ryobi laminate trimer that fits the Unique equipment is no longer made.
 
I like the ryobi routers. After building an enclouser around the Tapershaper I can bearly hear it. Unfortunitly I believe that Im near its end so I to am looking for something. I do have everything except the NSK spindal. I have the hardwhere, brackets, housing, controller and mortor. Spindal is like $400. I am weighing my peas and carrots v's the Kress. Any thoughts??
 
bubsbug said:
I like the ryobi routers. After building an enclouser around the Tapershaper I can bearly hear it. Unfortunitly I believe that Im near its end so I to am looking for something. I do have everything except the NSK spindal. I have the hardwhere, brackets, housing, controller and mortor. Spindal is like $400. I am weighing my peas and carrots v's the Kress. Any thoughts??
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Put it this way, DZ uses his Kress for tapering and inlaying. :)
http://dzcues.com/images/IMG03748a copy.jpg
 
I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only penny pincher!

Great thread! I've always worked on a shoestring budget, but I manage to make what I think is a pretty good cue.

I will concede that the level of detail produced by someone like Dennis Searing cannot be achieved without high tolerance (big buck) equipment, but that doesn't mean you can't make a quality cue without it.

The quality of the product is a reflection of the maker not the tools.

More expensive tools may make quality work easier to achieve, but it's still the care and attention to detail by the builder that's the important part....IMHO.
 
Bill the Cat said:
Great thread! I've always worked on a shoestring budget, but I manage to make what I think is a pretty good cue.

I will concede that the level of detail produced by someone like Dennis Searing cannot be achieved without high tolerance (big buck) equipment, but that doesn't mean you can't make a quality cue without it.

The quality of the product is a reflection of the maker not the tools.

More expensive tools may make quality work easier to achieve, but it's still the care and attention to detail by the builder that's the important part....IMHO.
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It can if you are good with the x-acto knife.:D
 
JoeyInCali said:
It can if you are good with the x-acto knife.:D
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Yeah expensive is not always best. I have seen all kinds of ways of trimming tips down to the ferrule and the utility knife still beats 99% of the other methods easily. I knew a cuemaker who had close to $100,000 worth of CNC machinery and still wanted one of my Manual Inlay Machines to do one inlay function. I have used Porter Cable routers to make inlays, taper and most everything else under the cuemaking sun. But I still think I want to try one of those Kress routers. I keep hearing it is much better so I am finally starting to believe it enough to try one. But for little things like slot cutting and such that the router does not run very long, having ten of those $30 cheapies mounted on tool posts sure would make change over fast.
But I can also relate to Lee. I have tire kickers waste tons of time to try and save themselves $5 or $10 and spend $25 worth of my time asking questions and buying nothing. But I also have some that spend thousands of dollars and waste almost none of my time so it just goes with the business.
 
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brianna187 said:
.... if your trying to build a quality product you have to use quality materials ....
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This I agree with.

brianna187 said:
... and machines period!
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This not so much.

In my opinion, a good craftsman can turn out superior work with the tools on hand, they need not be top quality tools. On the other hand, a poor craftsman will turn out inferior work with even the finest of tools.

Dave
 
Lee this is not only with parts and equipment. I worked a tournament this past weekend. I bring 4000$ worth of equipment and supplies and charge 10 bucks to clean a shaft or 5 with a tip. With that being said I clean not sand the dirt out, re seal burnish, trim and shape tip. I don't think that is out of line. It is not worth it to turn the lathe on for less than 10$ not to mention chemicals and materials. Most of the time you get what you pay for.

IMO Joey has the right idea cheapo for hogging and more precise for finish cuts. The better equipment usually means less work in the long run. If that means less trips to get the tools repaired or less sanding whatever. I don't know about anyone else but I hate doing things twice. And I flocking hate it when I am not the one that screwed up tool or otherwise. This is why I spend a little more money and buy good tools more so now than when I was younger. Just my 0.02 $..
 
I Understand You Have To Start Somewhere I Was Referring To A Few Cases That People Where Just Ridiculous About Things. You Cant Get Something For Nothing Is Basically What I Mean. I'm Sure Every One Out There Has Been In That Spot One Time Or Another. When Someone Choses Do Cue Building, Or Repair ,there Is A Investment Involved To Get Started, If Thats To Much Then Perhaps Your In The Wrong Profession. Would YOU Open A Restaurant And Not Have The Money To Buy The Food OR COMPLAIN ITS TO MUCH MONEY OR SEVRE SUB STANDARD FOOD?
 
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same item 1/2 the money

you have to look at it from the buyers view point. there is a dealer that sells cue building supplies, and sometimes post on this forum that sells a 6 wing cutter for around $50.00. the same 6 wing cutter can be purchased for less than 1/2 that price from a tool supply company. more expensive is not always better, sometimes it is just more expensive. chuck starkey
 
desi2960 said:
you have to look at it from the buyers view point. there is a dealer that sells cue building supplies, and sometimes post on this forum that sells a 6 wing cutter for around $50.00. the same 6 wing cutter can be purchased for less than 1/2 that price from a tool supply company. more expensive is not always better, sometimes it is just more expensive. chuck starkey
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Joint pins and inserts are a great example. One supplier wants $4.00 and another sells the same pin for $1.75.
 
Graciocues said:
Joint pins and inserts are a great example. One supplier wants $4.00 and another sells the same pin for $1.75.
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WOODS!
One maker/hocker wants $30 for his shaft dowels you can get for half the price somewhere without his baseball stories.
 
I am not speaking from any cuemaker experience. But I only buy cheap tools period! Machines as well as smaller tools like routers and such.

However, I try not to buy anything newer then 1965.

I just bought this 1950's Delta 10" TS & 6" Jointer today for 40 bucks. She just needs a little clean up :)

Once I am done it should run another 50+ years.

Just throwing my 2 cents out there. I understand what the original poster ment.

-Jason

141991888_o.jpg
 
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