TIPS ON TIPS

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TIPS ON TIPS

The following are some guidelines on re-tipping your own cue. These are basic rules and ideas that will help you do a good job while helping to avoid losing tips while you are shooting. Whenever possible I suggest that you have a professional do your re-tipping for you. Most Pro billiard shops will re-tip cues for $10.00 to $20.00 (more depending on the type of tip that you want).

Types of tips:

There are many styles and qualities of tips. These are some of the best and I have tried to describe them as best I can as to hardness and quality: Remember most standard-sized cues have 13mm tips. Remember- always try to use a tip that is the same size as your ferrule (at the top ofthe shaft) or at least as close as you can get withount being smaller- it will save you a lot of time and work!!!

Elk Master-A softer chromed, tanned leather tip. Good for house cues.

Le Professionel- "Le Pro" tips are the finest oak-tanned leather tips available. Medium-hard. Most popular.

Triangle-Made from prime chrome-tanned leather hides specially treated. Have a very-slight bluish cast and are a hard tip. Mushroom-resistant. One of my personal favorites! Gets great english.

Triumph-Has a red-fiber backing. Very firm tip- medium hard. Made from oak-tanned leather.

Tiger-Comes in soft,medium and hard according to color. Soft Tiger tips are made from white leather and are one of the few softer tips known for not "mushrooming". Both the medium and hard Tiger tips are dark brown in color and are made with 2 different types of treated pigskin leather. Laminated in 11 layers.

Michael J Laminated-A very hard layered pigskin tip. Laminated with 11 layers.

Water Buffalo Tips-Extra hard oak-tanned leather.

Chandivert-Has 3 different types-Crown-medium,Champ-Red Fibre-backed Medium and Rocky-Hard

Moori-Has 3 different grades: hard, medium & soft. One of the finest tips available today-Highly recommended.

Materials needed:

These are the basic materials needed to re-tip your cue by hand. (There are many optional tools available that will give you a more professional job.)

Tip

Utility knife

Sandpaper 50,200,400, 600 grit

Glue-I suggest Duro Super-glue Gel or any 2-part epoxy.

Tip clamp (Rubber-band can be used instead)

Cutting board (any old piece of board)

There are many different techniques to install tips properly and this is just one suggestion for you using minimal materials. There are a lot of good tip tools available that will make this process easier and faster if you want to spend the money.

1. Removing the old tip:

Use the utility knife to remove whatever is left of the old tip. Push down on the knife where the tip meets the ferrule while rolling the cue back and forth.

2. Cleaning the ferrule:

You must sand perfectly flat!

Now the ferrule is almost ready for the new tip.

3. Roughen the ferrule

I suggest that you use 50 grit sandpaper to roughen the top of the ferrule. It may sound like it is too coarse but believe me it will make all the difference in the world in keeping the tip from coming off while shooting. It gives a very rough surface for the glue to adhere to!

4. Sand the bottom of the tip.

Most new tips come with a lacquer coating that must be removed from the bottom of the tip thoroughly before gluing. Again I suggest 50 grit sandpaper (The rougher the better). There are usually different size tips available 12,13 and 14mm (13mm is standard). Try to get the tip that matches as close as possible to the diameter of your ferrule- it can save a heck of a lot of work!!

Sand until all of the lacquer is gone from the bottom of the tip where it will adhere to the ferrule.

5. Apply the glue.

My favorite- works instantly!! A few drops drops on the tip and spread around before you press it together is usually sufficient but be careful- you have to get it centered perfect the first time! Make sure it is Duro Super-glue GEL! The Gel works much better than just the regular super-glue. You can also use the Super Glue Insta-Set accelerator if you spray some on just the ferrule before you put the tip on- I usually only recommend the insta-set accelerator only if you are using a tip-centering device because it sets instantly!!

2-Part Epoxy (either quick-set or regular). Just as good but takes longer (usually best overnite). It's advantage is that it gives you time to center the tip more accurately. Remember to turn the tip and press while applying the glue. Put the glue on the tip and then apply it to the ferrule while turning to get the glue into all the tiny crevaces that you made with the sandpaper.

6. Clamp the tip.

I used a tip clamp here but you can also use a plain wide rubber-band by putting one end over the tip and then wrapping the rest around the shaft and then pull the end back thru a couple of times.

7. Trim the tip

If you have a lot of excess tip hanging over the edge of the ferrule you can use a utility knife to trim off the excess a little at a time so that you can sand it down smooth (see next photo). There are also many accessory tools that you can purchase to make it easier.

8. Smooth the tip around the edges

Use #300 sandpaper at first. Then 400, 500 and 600 for a nice super smooth finish to the tip edges.

9. Shape the tip

Use a number 100 or coarser sandpaper to shape the curvature of the tip until you get it rounded the way you like it (nickle radius for 13mm tips-dime radius for 12mm tips)

After you have shaped your tip you can use a piece of leather to burnish the edge. Just wrap the leather around the side of the tip - apply medium pressure and quickly twist several times. Be careful not to squeeze too hard or you'll pull the tip off. You can also use any of several tip-shaping tools that are on the market to make your job a little quicker and easier. You will find a selection of tip tools under "POOL CUE ACCESSORIES". I have also listed some of them below so scroll on down.

10. BREAK THE BALLS!!!! Your ready to kick some butt!!!

Got any questions? E-mail me.