Alternative to the Willard Tipping Machine
- Thread starter bobbydee
- Start date
There's a ton of Asian stuff out there. I've had a few tips done in local room and seen the tools.
For personal use? If so, you can install by hand and get great results. Use a $7 Japanese single bevel blade to shear the sides flush. And sandpaper held in a split pvc tube to get the front shape.
the willard tool was priced at ~ 450$. too steep price for a manual tool.
This is the first time I have ever seen the Willard Tip Tool, I watched the tip installation video, I can see why it costs every penny of that $495, its a beautiful tool that does a great job. I would definitely not call it over priced, there is a lot of machine work to make that tool. It may be more than what you want to spend but I would not call it over priced.
i've done milling and machining work, i can definitely see why it costed what it costed. it looked very well done too. that wasn't my point. i don't think the demand is there compared to cheaper lathes
Contact Chris Hightower. He is very easy to work with and I am sure he will have some good suggestions and answers to your questions.
Get a couple different sizes of Japanese kiridashi knives. Not expensive and SHARP AS FK. Great for installs or trimming a mushroom tip. Small one: https://woodartsupply.com/products/...CUfu_mU64ZsNE4oEvVQRiaaCkHIiQzwwMrmy2kavTulKk
Years ago I had a choice between the willard and a minilathe.I picked the minilathe. Same price and I could do more with it
pay the dude at the pool room to do it for 10 bucks
you dont need to change tips that often unless your going into business
you dont need to change tips that often unless your going into business
Ditto. Maybe 20 years ago i was looking at the Willard Tip Machine for around $400. Instead I got a Speedway Mini Metal Lathe. While other Mini Lathes were selling foe $399, not only was the Speedway 7 x 14 only $299, it was on special for an unbelievable $199. Put together a roller bearing steady rest, and away I went.
I should have bought two.
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Buy tip tools and practice on a junker. Learn by doing. You’ll get there.
I’ve always done my own tips, with just a sanding disc to rough trim the sides and a handheld flat file to finish them. My “lathe” is rotating the shaft in my fingers with the tip against the spinning sanding disk and then rolling the shaft on a table with one hand while holding the flat file against the side of the tip with the other. Quick, easy, looks great (at least to my uncritical eye) and the price is right. A bag of UltraSkin tips for a few bucks each and tips are handled.
pj
chgo
pj
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Where do you get these $7 Japanese Single edge blades. I can't seem to find anything that cheap.
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
I got mine off Amazon just search Kiridashi knife. I have the cheap one and the $20 one. I use the $20 one more often. I have a diamond stone to keep it razor sharp.
I saw one many years ago. It was a very well made tool that a pool room owner used to put tips on. He had put countless tips on and it was still as perfect as new. One of those things I would kinda like to own just because. A man died and his widow offered a four foot rose lathe for $15,000 Gorgeous machine custom made out of all brass and stainless. A steal and I was sorely tempted but I would have had to put it in my living room, too nice to go in my shop.
A man custom built two tiny jewelry lathes. He kept one for himself, sold the other for $250,000. If the Williard machine is still what it once was it is a bargain probably why they are hard to get. On the other hand, there are cheaper options.
Got to be careful to get the bevel on the right side. I think the left hand knife is what a right hander wants and vice versa. The bevel is on the opposite side of what it seems it should be on.
Hu