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[itsnoteasy]

It was called Thaigate lol, it was one hell of a roller coaster of a thread, I think it got closed then opened under another name, then just fizzled out, without any real conclusions, a lot of insinuating but no real proof. Apparently there are those who definitely know who's doing what but not definitely enough to name anyone

[Shockerz]

It was called Thaigate lol, it was one hell of a roller coaster of a thread, I think it got closed then opened under another name, then just fizzled out, without any real conclusions, a lot of insinuating but no real proof. Apparently there are those who definitely know who's doing what but not definitely enough to name anyone

I remember the thread but not that particular bit. Thought some had had a few blanks but now make them from their own planks of ash, tapering and planing.

Not sure what to say to that as i'm sure it's all been said.

[Big Splash!]

I remember the thread but not that particular bit. Thought some had had a few blanks but now make them from their own planks of ash, tapering and planing.

Not sure what to say to that as i'm sure it's all been said.

It's not hard to work? One minute, no cues, shop closed. A few weeks later, we've got hundreds of cues. Wow, someone has been planing hard! Some cue makers aren't known to buy ash form UK woodyards; gosh, they really must be getting boards off angels!

[jimmymoller]

It was called Thaigate lol, it was one hell of a roller coaster of a thread, I think it got closed then opened under another name, then just fizzled out, without any real conclusions, a lot of insinuating but no real proof. Apparently there are those who definitely know who's doing what but not definitely enough to name anyone

It was the biggest waste of space ever written on any forum and cost me an hour or two of my life just to get to the explanation of the claim namely Crispen's drawing. Why it was closed down though mystifies me although I was told how even if the cue were to be "unspliced" it proved absolutely nothing.

The only people who actually gave a monkeys about it were those that thought that by paying ridiculous prices they were getting a 100% hand made cue by that particular person which will always be impossible to achieve They were upset to even think that some guy in Thailand had a hand in the basic make up of the shafts. perhaps they were racists? Idiots in my book either way.

[Dave Walton]

It was called Thaigate lol, it was one hell of a roller coaster of a thread, I think it got closed then opened under another name, then just fizzled out, without any real conclusions, a lot of insinuating but no real proof. Apparently there are those who definitely know who's doing what but not definitely enough to name anyone

It was the biggest waste of space ever written on any forum and cost me an hour or two of my life just to get to the explanation of the claim namely Crispen's drawing. Why it was closed down though mystifies me although I was told how even if the cue were to be "unspliced" it proved absolutely nothing.

The only people who actually gave a monkeys about it were those that thought that by paying ridiculous prices they were getting a 100% hand made cue by that particular person which will always be impossible to achieve They were upset to even think that some guy in Thailand had a hand in the basic make up of the shafts. perhaps they were racists? Idiots in my book either way.

When you've got a guy posting pics of him storing ash boards claiming to be letting them settle for months and then pics of square blanks then oversized dowels and him claiming he makes all his cues from start to finish from boards to final cues then gets caught on I believe 8 cues that he admitted to that were bought pre spliced(granted they still needed to be weighted/balanced, ferruled and finished) but I remember two of those cues were sold for £400 each its fair to say those customers were conned, allegedly he still uses Thai pre turned shafts but is semi open about it, says he imports materials from around the world but doesnt say what state those materials are in when imported, he also no longer claims to make every cue from start to finish either therefore he isnt doing anything legally wrong, morally thats a different thing but at the end of the day his cues are meant to be good and no cue maker will give away all their secrets

[itsnoteasy]

It was the biggest waste of space ever written on any forum and cost me an hour or two of my life just to get to the explanation of the claim namely Crispen's drawing. Why it was closed down though mystifies me although I was told how even if the cue were to be "unspliced" it proved absolutely nothing.

The only people who actually gave a monkeys about it were those that thought that by paying ridiculous prices they were getting a 100% hand made cue by that particular person which will always be impossible to achieve They were upset to even think that some guy in Thailand had a hand in the basic make up of the shafts. perhaps they were racists? Idiots in my book either way.

It looks like nothing looking back Jimmy but at the time, when maybe90% of folk didn't have a clue what was going on behind closed doors and did believe the top boys were charging top dollar because of the time and effort they put into making their cues, it caused quite a stir.
You are right ,it did end up a big waste of time as no one was named really, and nothing proved except for those eight cues, but as it was unfolding and we thought some big conspiracy was going to be exposed, it was exciting.
I have always thought the easiest way around it would be for makers to put on their websites something like ,all cues are made from ash/ maple boards from UK timber yards, it's a simple one line statement that would be legally binding if proved not to be true and it would put everyone's mind at rest, if it bothers you. Or you could just ask them before you order one .

[jimmymoller]

Hmmmm funnily enough I was in a timber yard going through boards of steamed pear with one of their sales guys giving me a hand about 3 months ago when he said..

"That's a coincidence eh, only had an enquiry this morning from a guy wanting a price for enough English ash to make a thousand cues."

"English ?" says I. "It's American they usually use nowadays, Who was that then?"

"Oh I shouldn't really say but you wouldn't know him anyway. He was from Wales, a guy named Crispen."

The guy was quite gobsmacked when I told him I knew him. Nearly as much as when I phoned him the day before and said I was coming over to look for pearwood for cues. Had to take mine with me to show him as he'd never heard of it as a cue wood.

[itsnoteasy]

How many blanks do you get from one board 7 ? That's a fair amount of boards to be ordering. If you know CJ surely he could fill you in on what he thinks has been going on.

[Shockerz]

It looks like nothing looking back Jimmy but at the time, when maybe90% of folk didn't have a clue what was going on behind closed doors and did believe the top boys were charging top dollar because of the time and effort they put into making their cues, it caused quite a stir.
You are right ,it did end up a big waste of time as no one was named really, and nothing proved except for those eight cues, but as it was unfolding and we thought some big conspiracy was going to be exposed, it was exciting.
I have always thought the easiest way around it would be for makers to put on their websites something like ,all cues are made from ash/ maple boards from UK timber yards, it's a simple one line statement that would be legally binding if proved not to be true and it would put everyone's mind at rest, if it bothers you. Or you could just ask them before you order one .

What the thread did do was ensure that most of the cue makers pretty much stopped posting.

If you look at the traffic from them at the time and now they have disappeared......

[jimmymoller]

It's not so easy to say itsnotsoeasy LOL timber yards sell boards by the weight. It will come in different lengths widths and thickness's. I was tempted to ask him but to be honest I've not spoken to him for a couple of years and thought nah let it be.

The fact most of the cuemakers disappeared after that for me anyways just implied there was a lot discussed by them offstage and it was a joint decision.

[itsnoteasy]

Cheers Jimmy, I thought boards would come in near enough standard sizes, don't know why but I had scaffolding board type size in my head.
Not sure why cue makers left, could be two reasons, either couldn't be bothered with all the hassle, or had something to hide, I reckon for most it was the first.

[Big Splash!]

What the thread did do was ensure that most of the cue makers pretty much stopped posting.

If you look at the traffic from them at the time and now they have disappeared......

Dunno mate, J6 and Adam are still posting. They don't own rocks to hide under either; they have planes to defend themselves. :biggrin-new: Trev1 also continued to post but hasn't recently, I guess due to being busy. Some of them used TSF to generate business. Once doubt grew about what they were doing I guess they thought that TSF wouldn't be such a money spinner and dumped it for other means of promotion.

[jrc750]

Dunno mate, J6 and Adam are still posting. They don't own rocks to hide under either; they have planes to defend themselves. :biggrin-new: Trev1 also continued to post but hasn't recently, I guess due to being busy. Some of them used TSF to generate business. Once doubt grew about what they were doing I guess they thought that TSF wouldn't be such a money spinner and dumped it for other means of promotion.

J6 and Adam are not cue makers, well you know what i mean. Raymo was very prominent on this site when he appeared from nowhere, funny how he ditched us and never returned !

[Shockerz]

Dunno mate, J6 and Adam are still posting. They don't own rocks to hide under either; they have planes to defend themselves. :biggrin-new: Trev1 also continued to post but hasn't recently, I guess due to being busy. Some of them used TSF to generate business. Once doubt grew about what they were doing I guess they thought that TSF wouldn't be such a money spinner and dumped it for other means of promotion.

The facebook board has taken off for a lot of the cue makers and I think and has given them a chance to just promote and discuss what they want to on their own pages and why not.

All these guys now have new or improved websites so I guess contributing on here just presents financial risk even if they are doing things correctly as there are always skeptics.

I don't think I've led a sheltered life but it's the only trade I've come across where if you ask someone something and show a genuine interest about cue making I feel like I am asking if they would donate a kidney (apart from a few kind people who pm me for separate discussions).

I get the,"You've got to find your own way" line and I agree with that but I've met a few that have had major coaching and time but then protect every scrap on minor knowledge like they've discovered a diamonds under their patio.

For most it's just an enjoyable hobby in a sport they love to talk about.

[markz]

The facebook board has taken off for a lot of the cue makers and I think and has given them a chance to just promote and discuss what they want to on their own pages and why not.

All these guys now have new or improved websites so I guess contributing on here just presents financial risk even if they are doing things correctly as there are always skeptics.

I don't think I've led a sheltered life but it's the only trade I've come across where if you ask someone something and show a genuine interest about cue making I feel like I am asking if they would donate a kidney (apart from a few kind people who pm me for separate discussions).

I get the,"You've got to find your own way" line and I agree with that but I've met a few that have had major coaching and time but then protect every scrap on minor knowledge like they've discovered a diamonds under their patio.

For most it's just an enjoyable hobby in a sport they love to talk about.

Big +1 to this, easier to get blood out of a stone lol