Why a JOSS Blog?

First, let me introduce myself.

My name is Stephen Janes, and I started making cues alongside my father, Dan Janes, in 1979. It was an incredible privilege to work beside him every day and learn this craft from one of the greatest cue makers of all time. Dan was inducted into both the American Cue Makers Association Hall of Fame and the International Cuemakers Hall of Fame, and every cue we built reflected his commitment to quality and precision.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to receive recognition as the American Cue Maker of the Year, an honor that means a great deal to me because it came from fellow craftsmen who understand what goes into building a truly great cue.

People often say that time flies, and they’re right. The last 47 years have passed in what feels like the blink of an eye.

During that time, I’ve watched cue making evolve dramatically. Materials have improved. Adhesives are stronger and more consistent. Machinery is more precise. Information that once took years to discover is now shared among many of the finest cue makers in the world. Every advancement has given us the opportunity to build a better cue.

My father always believed that a cue maker should never stop learning, and I share that philosophy. While many people look back and say that the old days were the best, both my father and I believed that the best cue is the one we can build today. We simply know more now than we did when JOSS began in 1968.

So why start a blog?

Because after nearly five decades of making cues, I’ve learned a few things that may help players better understand the equipment they use. There are also many misconceptions about cue construction, materials, shafts, tips, and what really affects how a cue plays. I’d like to share what I’ve learned not because my way is the only way, but because it’s the way that has worked for JOSS for almost sixty years.

Some posts will explain how we build our cues. Others will cover cue maintenance, selecting the right shaft or tip, common myths, and stories from the early days of JOSS. I’ll also share a few behind-the-scenes experiences that most people have never heard.

Whether you’ve owned a JOSS cue for thirty years or are just beginning to look for your first quality cue, I hope you’ll find something here that’s interesting, informative, and maybe even a little entertaining.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stephen Janes
JOSS Cues