Pro Shop
Topic: Fitting a tip

Hi,

I've been playing 9ball a while now and have been changing the cue tip myself on a lathe I had access to (illegally) at work. This gave an excellent finish. I no longer have access to said lathe and am looking for a decent club/shop that can do this for me. I'm unsure if I'm confident enough to fit, shape and burnish a tip myself. Lots of people say it's easy without the lathe but anything less than a perfect job would annoy the the devils playground out of me. Does anyone know somewhere I can get this done? Preferably in the north/Leeds area so I can deliver myself and not post the cue. Most places near me just push on a trash tip with some super glue and shape the end with blunt stanley knife. I have Riley's nearby but they've done some terrible jobs in the past and I dont want to risk that again. If the majority says I should give it a go myself I will but I'm reluctant to set to my ferrule with a knife seeing as this cue is my pride and joy.

Thanks in advance

Look no further...



When I first saw this I thought it was cool looking, but prepared for it to be a bit wobbly, and I tried it on a padded poker table and sure enough it was a little unsteady, but at another event I sat it on a solid shelf and was seriously impressed at how solid and sturdy it felt, and I have sold quite a few now, including one to a very respected cue smith.

Everything you're talking about for around a £tenner!

Check it out here, you can even watch a video of it in use...

http://www.pro9.co.uk/html/theproshop/main.php?P=product&pid=TOOL0016

You really can't beat The Pro Shop!


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Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor

I saw that and was worried it would be a tad wobbly. I'll give it a go though. Another problem is, I'm putting a 14mm tip on a 13mm ferrule, so it needs bringing down and burnishing as well as shaping. It looks like the best bet in the long run is to get all the tools in myself though...just a little apprehensive about cues and knifes in the same vicinity!! especially on my first time without a lathe!

Many thanks for the advice

There's a million tools out there, and everyone has a different favourite, but I've heard a lot of good things about this next product... My favourite was "if you have this you don't need any other tool" and that was from a very well respected tip and cue smith... Sorry, this is VERY expensive but...

Joe Porper has a very good reputation, and the CREATIVE INVENTIONS products should last a whole lifetime...

It's THE BIG SHAVER.

http://www.pro9.co.uk/html/theproshop/main.php?P=product&pid=TOOL0019



You can control how deep the blade is set so that it simply can't reach the ferrule, so no chance of damage, and I understand this tool will do everything you need including burnishing, although frankly I personally prefer a liquid burnish when paying for an expensive tip, just dab it on with a Q-Tip (one of those cottonwool stick things you clean your ears with).

http://www.pro9.co.uk/html/theproshop/main.php?P=cat&C=78




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Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor

My (biased) opinion is buy anything with Joe's name attached to it. He has the same reputation in pool as he does in the magic world - the best builder of the best props and accessories.

Best of all for us in the UK is that the Pro9Shop has a whole load of Joe's equipment. Get buying!

Best wishes

thecardman

there is a couple of places u could try around the leeds area...craftsman cues in kippax and the "cue doc" bob akers in gildersome both primarily snooker specialists but do a great job on re tipping cues

I wish a few of the guys that do tips and repair work would advertise on Pro9... It would save a bit of time when this question pops up every few months!

i wouldnt go to craftsman cues for american tipping, they did a rubbish job with mine last 2 times lol.. both times the tip has been really loose.

On 2008-11-22 10:44 , 9BallBoy Wrote:

Craftsman Cues are a good company and can do a good job......i have used them to make what was a great custom jump cue and would always use them for my snooker cues.

If there was a problem you should just tell them. They are good guys.


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Thanks for the info guys. I got over to Craftsman Cues at the weekend and would recomend the place. They do concentrate on snooker but can deal with anything, are helpful and did a great job fitting a Moori I provided.

Yeah i know craftsman cues are good, but they specialize in snooker more than anything... just both times i been there to get my american cue re-tipped they havent done a good job to be honest...

Firstly the pocket lathe is basically the same type of assembly I use on my home built cue lathe. Combine one of the with a sewing machine motor and chuck or A.N.OTHER cheap woodworking lathe off've ebay and you have the perfect home cue lathe for next to nothing.

With regards to the big shaver it is a great tool but be careful to protect the ferrule with masking/celotape etc when using the trimming blade. The pointed guide which you tighten to set the trimming blade to cut the tip flush to ferrule can leave a line indented in the ferrule if you are a touch heavy handed. Also when using the trimming attachment with hard/layered tips make sure the the depth of the tip is less than the width of the blade. If you don't do this it can lead to the tip layers being ripped apart and/or the the tool moving from parallel to the ferrule and cutting at an angle. This has been most apparent with the latest generation of Mooris and the Snipers.

The liquid burnisher is great and essential in my opinion for layered tips to prevent delaminating and also with other tips prone to mushrooming. Word of warning though - excessive pressure when burnishing the tip edges by hand or on a lathe can cause the laminates of layered tips to separate and it is not visible! You will notice the tip feels inconsistent if this happens and the sound produced on contact can be "tingy".

I'm in no way putting down any of the above products - in fact the Big Shaver is the main tool I carry in my tipping kit I pack for tournaments in case I have the need to do a tip without access to my lathe.

What I have written is purely intended to help people make the most of the expensive commodity that tips are and to protect their cues.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=51018&highlight=re-tipping

Here is a good guide to re-tipping a cue without a lathe.

I personally do my own tips..i can get the same results as the above link but without a big shaver thing instead using a Razor blade and Joe Porper Mushroom Grazer

I'd like to offer those Carpet/Stanley knives for sale too so that we could offer a complete re-tipping kit, but I'm a bit worried about selling knives!

You can find the Porper Mushroom Grazer in The Pro Shop though, it's here...

http://www.pro9.co.uk/html/theproshop/main.php?P=cat&C=24



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