Mr Machine
Well-known member
I remember the old guys back in the 70's using a single cut file as a tapper.
They'd roll the tip down the file too.
:shrugs:
They'd roll the tip down the file too.
:shrugs:
Tip-Tapper Tool Discussion
- Thread starter JessEm
- Start date
They kept the file up at the counter. Back when the guy at the counter knew the difference between billiards and pool.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I've done that, too. A file can be a little unwieldy, unless you have better technique than I do, but I thought the results were good. Two passes seemed to do the trick. It does seem like an error could damage the tip if you aren't careful.
You play one pocket right? lol...
George the Greek
Well-known member
I have a tapper and a tip pick and used them on my break cue( LePro) and playing cue (Moori) after sitting in the case for over 20+ years. The tips didn't fall off and was surprised they held chalk. I'll be putting new tips on soon.
The Tip Tapper was created by a close friend of Lou Butera's, whose name I forget at the moment (Rich Poloquin I think). Lou promoted it for him and at one time almost all serious pool players had one. It was just a necessary part of your equipment back then. I still have several of them that are new, left over from my last poolroom. They are compact, easy to carry and will do the job on a house cue tip to make it playable if necessary. The original Jay Flowers/Justice style cue cases also had a small pocket to carry one in. The original Tappers were made out of steel, industructible and would last a lifetime. They sold for $5 back then, and maybe going for $10 now. Lou and Rich sold tens of thousands literally! They made a lot of money off that simple little tool.this is from paris cues
Cue Tip Tapper. A metal tool for taping the cue tip. It breaks up hard shiny deposits of. chalk that stops the chalk. adhearingto the tip. Tap the tip around it's dome, the. tapers rough surface will pit and. roughen the tip without changing. the shape or wearing it down.
..........................
I also happen to like the Brad scuffer, the concave circular tool with a rough inner surface. Still available I'm sure. There is one piece of hardware I always carried in my car pre Tip Tapper days. It was a "four way" file you could buy in any hardware store. I could do anything with that tool to repair or maintain my tip. I still have one in my tool chest. Old habits die hard. That, and a variety of sandpaper, tweeten's glue, a razor blade and I was good to go anywhere. I burnished the sides of a new tip by wetting it (a little spit works fine) and using the thick side of a pack of matches to polish it (funny huh). I carried my own tips and could change an old one out in my motel room overnight. They never came off either!
In a pinch I actually used my car key to rough up the tip on a house cue, but don't tell anyone.
Last edited:
That's the only thing Silver Cup is good for.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
This is the only use I have for one:Tip-tappers...
Anyone use one? What exactly is it supposed to do? Does it work?
Do they work on layered tips?
Just curious. A solid brass tapper came with my cue case but I've never actually used the thing. The points seem somewhat blunt. Not sharp enough to rough-up the tip... I feel that perhaps I've been missing something, however, because the case in which it was included isn't exactly Mickey Mouse
Layered tips glazing over
I play with a 314 shaft and a layered tip with masters chalk. I've tried numerous different layered tips and all seem to glaze over after a few days of use. Are there any layered tips that don't need constant picking or scuffing? I'd like to have one that doesn't require all that maintenance...
forums.azbilliards.com
My easy peasy tip maintenance, which works for single layered or multi layered tips:
I use a little square of sandpaper. When a tip gets compacted, has a miscue, or becomes shiny I just dress it lightly with sandpaper. Not trying to sand the tip material off by any means. Just kind of apply light pressure and twist the paper enough to raise the grains on the leather. You're not taking any material off, just scuffing/raising the grains to get rid of the shiny/compacted leather.
This method works exceptionally well, a 2" square of sandpaper is dirt cheap, very compact, and there really isn't any appreciable tip wear going on.
EDIT: Not sure if my shooting technique has improved (doubtful) of if it's the V10 chalk, but I've not really had to do any tip maintenance other than hit it with sandpaper once a week to rough up the leather fibers. This tip would probably last for 5 years at this rate. I remember tips glazing like hell on me in the past when using more traditional chalk. It just doesn't happen anymore.
Last edited:
They were always a good tool,esp back when they were made sharper on American soil,better steel. Usually,those had the rounded handle that looked like the top edge of a heart shape. I've still got one of those that rusted.
I've also got a gold plated one with a Jack Justus pocket pouch Nick Varner gave me after helping him practice during the 1994 U.S. Open. After using it for a while the plating started falling off.
The Porcupine Tapper was also part of my rig at one time. It works really well,but you have to invent your own method of not causing the same issues a Tip Pik can cause if used badly.
With so many players using industrial plastics like phenolics,G10,etc,I'm surprised the good ole' It's George or BRAD isn't scarce.
Back years ago in Memphis a guy had a machine shop owner make something like the original Tapper in foot long sections,sawed them up and called them the Tip Tamer. They had no handle,were made out of hardened tool steel and much sharper than a Tapper.
I decided to try it myself in machine shop school,and succeeded on the 1st try. It works as a single cut file going in one direction,and double cut going the other way. It's hardened to 65 Rockwell,and got it sharp enough if you have time it will scratch a trailer hitch ball,no bullshit. It even curled itself into a radius about like a cue ball,as a happy accident on heat treatment. Tommy D.
I've also got a gold plated one with a Jack Justus pocket pouch Nick Varner gave me after helping him practice during the 1994 U.S. Open. After using it for a while the plating started falling off.
The Porcupine Tapper was also part of my rig at one time. It works really well,but you have to invent your own method of not causing the same issues a Tip Pik can cause if used badly.
With so many players using industrial plastics like phenolics,G10,etc,I'm surprised the good ole' It's George or BRAD isn't scarce.
Back years ago in Memphis a guy had a machine shop owner make something like the original Tapper in foot long sections,sawed them up and called them the Tip Tamer. They had no handle,were made out of hardened tool steel and much sharper than a Tapper.
I decided to try it myself in machine shop school,and succeeded on the 1st try. It works as a single cut file going in one direction,and double cut going the other way. It's hardened to 65 Rockwell,and got it sharp enough if you have time it will scratch a trailer hitch ball,no bullshit. It even curled itself into a radius about like a cue ball,as a happy accident on heat treatment. Tommy D.
I use a similar tool from Cue Components. Same idea, same price. Works great.
That one was usually a 4way rasp. Very aggressive file but if you ROLL the tip on the Bastard Cut edge it worked excellent.
What I did years ago when I finally gave up on the dull Tip Tapper imitations, was to take a 16" Mill Bastard file and cut out about a 3" section. Works great when needed. Plenty if weight and width. You can roll or tap.
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
Agree with the sentiment, but with 220. I generally skip the wood block and just double a strip about 30mm wide, which allows a person to roll it a bit to match the desired tip profile.
Back when they even knew there was a thing called billiards never mind the difference between them LOL
The owner of the place my son manages now would always get upset at his old bar staff that they did not learn more about pool. IMHO if you work at a place with pool tables, you need to know the basics enough to explain rules to people and maybe chat about cues/tips/etc... at least a little bit. It's like working at a car dealership and not knowing the difference between a wheel and a tire.
Zerksies
Well-known member
The best tool ever. It does everything. It puts so many other tools to death
I got the same advice from Earl Heisler many years ago.
I still have a Brad's. Used to keep one in my back pocket when going in bars without a cue. Could always get a pos wall cue to play ok with a little work with one.
Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
I'm a fan of my 4 way wood rasp it won't ever wear out , it's big enough it doesn't get lost or forgotten and I wrap it with a handkerchief and it stores neatly in my cue case .
A few taps to the tip of my cue and it's done .
A few taps to the tip of my cue and it's done .