replaced my playing cue with a kamui soft tip today, replacing my old tip that chipped. old Tip lasted about 6 months. and I retipped my break cue, which is about 3 years old, first time with a new break tip. total cost was 85 dollars. better for me that buying a new cue.
replaced two cue tips today-85 bucks.
- Thread starter judochoke
- Start date
I learned how to replace my own tips many years ago. I sand the ferrule top with a Tweeten's tool, glue the tip and then wrap the ferrule twice with 3M nylon fiber tape. I use 1" wide sanding strips and keep replacing the tape when worn. When it's close to the right diameter, I use one wrap of tape. It can take an hour if you're meticulous, but it comes out as good as anyone with a lathe. Locktite professional strength superglue does a great job. The reward is obvious when you begin play.
PracticeChampion
Well-known member
I have no doubt, the cost of some of those tips are pretty dang expensive. $15 or so to installer and a $25-30 tip adds up quick when doing more than one shaft
try ultraskin tips, better and cheaper than kamui.
This is why I bought a lathe! I tried the “by hand” method but I’m not very good with it. Two ruined layered tips! Over the last 10 years I’m just out the cost of a tip to try a new one. When I add in the cost to clean my cue, I’m pretty close to breaking even. The big plus - I just finished my second CF shaft; approximate cost about $120. My other CF shafts set me back about $400 each. My sons and grandsons will now get CF shafts for gifts.
thanks, dad. Me and your other sons are real proud of you, still.
i need a radial and a 3/8-11, thanks again.
I have tried the do it yourself method on tip replacement- it is OK for me on some of my cheaper wood break shafts with triangle tips- not perfect- for playing cues I definitely prefer Muellers- yes you have to mail the shafts, yes you have to wait a few weeks, I send multiple shafts always, they are the least expensive in tip replacement bc their service includes a complete shaft cleaning/reconditioning and they come out like new!
The guy who does the work is Troy Downey- as good as anyone in the U.S. --- how can you beat that! I trust even my most expensive $thousands cues with him, but I do not trust USPS- I use Fed EX only. I want my playing cues to be perfect in terms of wood shafts/tips.
I recently bought a Predator BK Rush for tournament 8 and 10 ball breaks - where you need both power and accuracy - I see that their warranty makes a big deal out of how that BK rush tip is replaced- so if I will cross that bridge if I ever get to that point with the Predator CF break shaft.
I sympathize with guys who have to drag all their equipment to tournaments, etc. to do repairs- it is a long day(s) for them and they have all the costs of travel, etc. and a limited audience, so the fees have to show high profits on tips, etc.
One thing that I learned for sure- only have truly the best guys out there do ANY work on your cues, Over 40 years I have come to trust very established cue makers as also being the very best cue repair people - some of these cue repair ONLY guys are second rate and their work reflects it- not horrible- but definitely second rate- I will not mention those names, but I could! I think they try to do their best.
My experience with Muellers and Proficient has been excellent. Ted Harris, when he was in Fl. did great work on some of my shafts, Mike Webb was excellent when I was up in Northeast. My point is, if you do not trust yourself on shafts, tips, etc- find the very best that you can to do the work- the names that I just mentioned are some of the best out there from my own experience.
The guy who does the work is Troy Downey- as good as anyone in the U.S. --- how can you beat that! I trust even my most expensive $thousands cues with him, but I do not trust USPS- I use Fed EX only. I want my playing cues to be perfect in terms of wood shafts/tips.
I recently bought a Predator BK Rush for tournament 8 and 10 ball breaks - where you need both power and accuracy - I see that their warranty makes a big deal out of how that BK rush tip is replaced- so if I will cross that bridge if I ever get to that point with the Predator CF break shaft.
I sympathize with guys who have to drag all their equipment to tournaments, etc. to do repairs- it is a long day(s) for them and they have all the costs of travel, etc. and a limited audience, so the fees have to show high profits on tips, etc.
One thing that I learned for sure- only have truly the best guys out there do ANY work on your cues, Over 40 years I have come to trust very established cue makers as also being the very best cue repair people - some of these cue repair ONLY guys are second rate and their work reflects it- not horrible- but definitely second rate- I will not mention those names, but I could! I think they try to do their best.
My experience with Muellers and Proficient has been excellent. Ted Harris, when he was in Fl. did great work on some of my shafts, Mike Webb was excellent when I was up in Northeast. My point is, if you do not trust yourself on shafts, tips, etc- find the very best that you can to do the work- the names that I just mentioned are some of the best out there from my own experience.
yeah no the "premium" tip facade is getting ridiculous
im not paying more than 20 for a tip install ever again
im not paying more than 20 for a tip install ever again
I have 3 or 4 options for getting a tip installed living in the Denver metro area.
I pay $15 installed for a solid tip,works for me.
I pay $15 installed for a solid tip,works for me.
Lots of good YouTube on replacing tips. It's easy. I have an old Williard Tipping Machine. ( it's just a heavy duty hand operated lathe )
Paid for itself years ago.
Give it a try, you might enjoy doing your own tips.
As said before, UltraSkin tipa are very good.
Paid for itself years ago.
Give it a try, you might enjoy doing your own tips.
As said before, UltraSkin tipa are very good.
Thanks! What a hoot! I DID NOT see this response coming. You made my day.
its the one of the things I love about pool. its doesn't cost me any money during the year. its free to play and practice on my two bar tables. I have my own predator blak-1 cue, predator break cue, and nice balls. have a ball cleaning machine, and kraom chalk. so I spend nothing. I looked into buying a lathe machine, but it would not pay for itself. so for me, 85 bucks for two tips I'm fine with, as its the only money I will spend till I recover my diamond in February.
Heck, exotic chalk is getting up near that price.......
A truly great friend of mine owned two homes and two of just about everything one can imagine. His wife passed and his life changed as a result.
He gave me one of his Willard tip tools with a complete set of accessories. Thanks to his generosity I can now do my own tips. Might be worth buying for some folks given the cost of tips and the install.
He gave me one of his Willard tip tools with a complete set of accessories. Thanks to his generosity I can now do my own tips. Might be worth buying for some folks given the cost of tips and the install.
Most brands are better than Kamui, they just have less money for advertising.
Dawg duds, Talisman, and Tiger all play better than Kamui in my opinion.
I have tried more than one Kamui to form this opinion.
It's likely a lot of us perfected the "by hand" method many years ago when the only danger of screwing up a tip was losing a cheap Le Pro or similar tip that we bought by the boxfull anyway. We were just REALLY careful not to bugger up a ferrule!
Not everyone is going to have the patience or perhaps the steady hand to do them with.
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It's cheap except for the stress, tension, wear and tear on the body, mind and nervous system. Screw pool. Screw tips...