Installing tips at home.

peppersauce said:
First, sorry if this question has been posed before. I did a quick search and didn't find what I need to know.

I'm going to start installing my own tips at home and I've got the process pretty well figured out except for one thing. How do you get the top of the ferrule perpendicular with the sides while prepping the ferrule for a new tip? I mean beyond the obvious route of having a precision lathe with the proper collets and chuck, which I don't have.
I'm very particular about tolerances and things being exact. Especially when it comes to my equipment

QUOTE]
There is no other way to get it precise, as you stated that you like it to be, other than a lathe properly set up.
There are items like the porper big shaver, but, IMHO, if your really about doing it right...this won't do and you can really f...k up a ferrule really fast. If you want to do the right job and there isn't anyone else around that does it, spend the money and get a real lathe that is designed for this. Either Chris Hightower or Todd from mid American build great units for this and once you learn the right way to do things....you can now do your buddies cues and pay off the equipment and then some...and after awhile, you may just find your self hankering to build your own cue...and it goes on from there...hehehe welcome to our nightmare...hahaha:eek:
Dave
Also use the search with different words....as this isn't the first time that question has been asked and answered...
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The Willard Tipping Machine does an excellent job doing just about everything (including facing-off the ferrule) related to installing tips without a lathe:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oL1OLkClBAE

You'll find a lot of lathe "elitism" here on these boards (this *is* the Ask the Cuemaker forum, afterall), but tips can most definitely be installed very precisely without a lathe. The Willard Tipping Machine rates on the high end of the scale, precision-wise (and pricewise), of manual tip installation. Hence, you'll also encounter the argument, "but for the expense of the Willard, if you spent 'x' dollars more, you could have a LATHE, and do 'a', and 'b', and 'c'!" You'll have to weigh that argument for yourself. One thing to keep in mind with the Willard: you don't need electricity, so you can take it around with you (e.g. to the place you play pool) and do tips for your friends. The machine will pay for itself.

-Sean
 
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Willard Classic Tip Machine + 1 !!!

If all you're doing is tip replacement and finding a quality repairman is difficult. The willard's tip machine is a pretty awesome solution and it does level the ferrule very nicely. I got an older used one recently from another member on here and I've already replaced enough of my own tips and friends tips (even house cues) to cover the original cost. It works exactly like the youtube video but you have to make sure you are using a sharp blade(cheap and replaceable) and go slow to not remove any ferrule edge. It even puts a slight taper on tips to help prevent mushrooming. After playing a bit with a newly installed tip, the slight taper settles into place and the sidewalls end up nicely even. I'm real happy with mine although a lathe would be nice but I just don't have the space to dedicate to one right now. The only thing the willard doesn't do is the shaping of flat top tips. I think there is an accessory you can buy separately for it but I don't have it. I just use a tip file to do the rough shaping, a regular run of the mill tip shaper to refine the shape and a porper tip burnisher lightly for extra shine on the sides of the tip. If you have the stuff a lot of guys carry in their cases you'll be fine on the tip shaping as well.


Happy tip replacing and Good shooting to you!

Kevin
 
peppersauce said:
Thanks for the response everyone. I've seen the Willard machine but I didn't know what it was called or how it works. Thanks for the info on that. I'm not too interested in doing ferrules or building cues at this time so a lathe isn't really necessary. I'm just tired of people f'n up my equipment for a simple tip replacement. Same reason I started cutting my own hair 6 years ago.
Anyway! I digress. I'm liking this Willard tip machine now that I see the video and understand how it works. It's pricy, but I can see it paying for itself in the long run.
And Jay, yes I would like to know how you prep your ferrules. You do a pretty darn good job on your own stuff from what I've seen.
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Always like to share some knowledge :D PM sent
 
sfleinen said:
The Willard Tipping Machine does an excellent job doing just about everything (including facing-off the ferrule) related to installing tips without a lathe:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oL1OLkClBAE

You'll find a lot of lathe "elitism" here on these boards (this *is* the Ask the Cuemaker forum, afterall), but tips can most definitely be installed very precisely without a lathe. The Willard Tipping Machine rates on the high end of the scale, precision-wise (and pricewise), of manual tip installation. Hence, you'll also encounter the argument, "but for the expense of the Willard, if you spent 'x' dollars more, you could have a LATHE, and do 'a', and 'b', and 'c'!" You'll have to weigh that argument for yourself. One thing to keep in mind with the Willard: you don't need electricity, so you can take it around with you (e.g. to the place you play pool) and do tips for your friends. The machine will pay for itself.

-Sean
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Play a lot of pool in places that don't have electricity do you Sean?:)
 
pdcue said:
Play a lot of pool in places that don't have electricity do you Sean?:)
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Yup, Dale -- and for that, I lug along my 5KW generator "just in case," so that I can power my lathe. You know, those pool rooms where they use skylights to illuminate the tables, that are only open in the daytime. Of course, I have to also lug along a small tank of spare fuel for the generator, and a pair of Earl Strickland ear muffs to protect my hearing. :p

All funnin' aside, and on topic with the Willard Classic, it fits neatly into a small plastic toolbox, with all the collets and tip holders, as well as all the other incidentals (glue, tips, tape, etc.). It's happened on more than one occasion where I was asked (as recently as last week) "if I could install a tip" for someone, and I said sure -- hold on, let me get that toolbox from my car. Ten minutes later, on the nearest cocktail table or wall shelf for drinks (no need to plug in), I've a new satisfied customer. ;)

-Sean
 
peppersauce said:
I've done machine work in the past and I'm proficient with metal lathes, milling machines, CNC machines, and all manner of precision measuring instruments. That being said though, I'm not exactly double checking the work these guys give back with a micrometer. When I have to make the guy replace the same tip three times because I can see daylight between the tip and ferrule on one side, enough is enough. Not only that, the guy has no idea why this is happening (I do) and tried to feed me some BS every time he put a new tip on to make it seem like it wasn't his fault. First thing that comes to my mind is, "Exactly how ignorant do you think I am?" I'm not the kind of guy who will make a stink though. I'll just do it myself, to my standards, and maybe pick up some of his dissatisfied customers along the way.

And I agree, BTW, that hand work can be extremely precise with the right knowledge and execution. That's the reason I started this thread--to get ideas on installing tips precisely without a lathe. So far, I think the Willard machine wins.
Click to expand...

I use a Tweeten cue top sander, have for about 15 years, and have always had good results (no tips flying off, no gaps, no funny sounds). I've used it on my Lambros many times, my PFD, etc. Maybe my favorite Elkmaster tips are more forgiving but CA is very thin and will not fill gaps so I believe the ferrule top is flat. I've tested the squareness by sanding/applying-indicator/rotating/sanding-again/repeat-until-satisfied and have seen no out-of-squareness. I have a 10x24 in my garage (and a shaper and a mill) but never considered it needed for tips. Obviously many will disagree with me but whatever, my tips hit the balls just fine ... eh Terry ? :)

Good luck with your efforts.

Dave
 
peppersauce said:
I've done machine work in the past and I'm proficient with metal lathes, milling machines, CNC machines, and all manner of precision measuring instruments. That being said though, I'm not exactly double checking the work these guys give back with a micrometer. When I have to make the guy replace the same tip three times because I can see daylight between the tip and ferrule on one side, enough is enough. Not only that, the guy has no idea why this is happening (I do) and tried to feed me some BS every time he put a new tip on to make it seem like it wasn't his fault. First thing that comes to my mind is, "Exactly how ignorant do you think I am?" I'm not the kind of guy who will make a stink though. I'll just do it myself, to my standards, and maybe pick up some of his dissatisfied customers along the way.

And I agree, BTW, that hand work can be extremely precise with the right knowledge and execution. That's the reason I started this thread--to get ideas on installing tips precisely without a lathe. So far, I think the Willard machine wins.
Click to expand...

Sorry pepper, with this kind of background, it is hard for me to imagine you can't devise
a device to flatten a ferrule-top flat better than a $400 pencil sharpener.

Dale
 
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