If I had to guess, I'd say that I've installed somewhere around 100 tips by hand. There are a couple videos on youtube that I've looked at. I thought
this thread could be a useful place to share how we like to do it. I'm sure there are some cool tricks and tools that others use that could help myself
and others.
I start off by cutting off the tip with a razor blade and then scraping off some of the remainder until I get close to the ferrule. At that point,
I use a large wood file and take it down to the ferrule being careful to file in a straight line, which definitely requires some care. I prop up the tip
end of the shaft with some newspaper before doing this since it's thinner than the joint end. After filing, I place a razor blade sharp edge down
perpendicular to the surface of the ferule and rotate it, which seems to scrape everything nice and flat. I then check it with the side of my utility knife,
which has a nice flat edge to make sure everything is flat and flush.
Next I tape off the ferrule with some thin blue painters tape, getting as close to the edge as possible while making sure to not go past it.
I use gorilla super glue, which is supposedly less brittle but who knows. I've only had one tip come off. I rub the bottom non-playing side of the tip
on some sand paper and then my wood file to make sure it is flat. I then lick my finger and wipe it clean of any dust and leather. After scoring the ferrule,
I'll scrape over it with my fingernail to rip off any jagged peices that have been lifted up from the scratches. I'm also careful if there is an uncapped ferrule
with a wooden tenon as small pieces of wood can sometimes break off easily when scored. I apply a good dab of glue and rub the tip over it to assure
complete coverage before pressing down. After aligning it, I'll press the shaft tip down firmly into the floor for 30 seconds or so. Right after this is
a good time to wipe off that glue that's oozed out the sides with a paper towel and remove the painter's tape, leaving you with a nice clean glue-free ferrule.
I usually leave the shaft for 15-30 min while I go do something else.
I then use a long tweeten tip trimmer that you can get on seyberts for 2 dollars and trim about half of the tip off so I can get it into my porper mushroom grazer
and cut the excess off. This part is kind of tricky for me. I'm pretty good at it now but its easy to mar the ferrule a little bit when trying to take down the sides
of the tip all the way. I'm always slow and careful because I like my ferrules looking new. I just ordered a large pencil sharpener-like tool off of ebay in hopes
that this process could be done easier. What do you guys out there do to cut off the excess? Lastly I take my finger with a little saliva and rub it around the
outer edge of the tip. I then fold up a dollar bill and wrap it around the tip and burnish; or just use the tip burnishing tool. Sometimes I'll use a Sharpie to
color the outer edge and then burnish again. I never really touch my tips too much after that at all. The only reason they don't last 1-2 years is because
I'm always trying different tips.
The only maintenance I regularly do is rub a piece of 120-150 grip over the top of the tip. I don't do it firmly, just enough to raise up the leather.
I'll do this every couple times I play, but it doesn't seem to take off any tip. I see many using the tip shapers after a miscue, looking like they're trying to start a fire,
removing perfectly good tip.
If anyone has any suggestions, please post them as well as any tools that you find make hand-install easier. Please don't say just get a lathe. I realize how
much easier it is but many of us don't have the funds or the space to invest in one. The whole process can take a while and I'm eager to hear
any suggestions for making it better or quicker.
this thread could be a useful place to share how we like to do it. I'm sure there are some cool tricks and tools that others use that could help myself
and others.
I start off by cutting off the tip with a razor blade and then scraping off some of the remainder until I get close to the ferrule. At that point,
I use a large wood file and take it down to the ferrule being careful to file in a straight line, which definitely requires some care. I prop up the tip
end of the shaft with some newspaper before doing this since it's thinner than the joint end. After filing, I place a razor blade sharp edge down
perpendicular to the surface of the ferule and rotate it, which seems to scrape everything nice and flat. I then check it with the side of my utility knife,
which has a nice flat edge to make sure everything is flat and flush.
Next I tape off the ferrule with some thin blue painters tape, getting as close to the edge as possible while making sure to not go past it.
I use gorilla super glue, which is supposedly less brittle but who knows. I've only had one tip come off. I rub the bottom non-playing side of the tip
on some sand paper and then my wood file to make sure it is flat. I then lick my finger and wipe it clean of any dust and leather. After scoring the ferrule,
I'll scrape over it with my fingernail to rip off any jagged peices that have been lifted up from the scratches. I'm also careful if there is an uncapped ferrule
with a wooden tenon as small pieces of wood can sometimes break off easily when scored. I apply a good dab of glue and rub the tip over it to assure
complete coverage before pressing down. After aligning it, I'll press the shaft tip down firmly into the floor for 30 seconds or so. Right after this is
a good time to wipe off that glue that's oozed out the sides with a paper towel and remove the painter's tape, leaving you with a nice clean glue-free ferrule.
I usually leave the shaft for 15-30 min while I go do something else.
I then use a long tweeten tip trimmer that you can get on seyberts for 2 dollars and trim about half of the tip off so I can get it into my porper mushroom grazer
and cut the excess off. This part is kind of tricky for me. I'm pretty good at it now but its easy to mar the ferrule a little bit when trying to take down the sides
of the tip all the way. I'm always slow and careful because I like my ferrules looking new. I just ordered a large pencil sharpener-like tool off of ebay in hopes
that this process could be done easier. What do you guys out there do to cut off the excess? Lastly I take my finger with a little saliva and rub it around the
outer edge of the tip. I then fold up a dollar bill and wrap it around the tip and burnish; or just use the tip burnishing tool. Sometimes I'll use a Sharpie to
color the outer edge and then burnish again. I never really touch my tips too much after that at all. The only reason they don't last 1-2 years is because
I'm always trying different tips.
The only maintenance I regularly do is rub a piece of 120-150 grip over the top of the tip. I don't do it firmly, just enough to raise up the leather.
I'll do this every couple times I play, but it doesn't seem to take off any tip. I see many using the tip shapers after a miscue, looking like they're trying to start a fire,
removing perfectly good tip.
If anyone has any suggestions, please post them as well as any tools that you find make hand-install easier. Please don't say just get a lathe. I realize how
much easier it is but many of us don't have the funds or the space to invest in one. The whole process can take a while and I'm eager to hear
any suggestions for making it better or quicker.
