So many tips to choose from.
- Thread starter Brother Ron
- Start date
You are totally clueless..
Factor in costs in that figure and the $30 profit looks very, very different.
Are you even aware of how much machinery and the products we use cost? Not only that, do you think we stock 5 tips in a corner somewhere?
Every time I order from Taom, Kamui, Caiden or any other big brand, that invoice is for thousands of dollars, so most cue makers have a considerable inventory so it's convenient for you as the customer.
Since I just bought a new lathe, I have some figures fresh in my mind:
Harrison M300 £5000
Movers $1000
DRO£500
Bison chuck $2000
Then add basic lathe tooling, add $1000 there
Last time I was at my supplier for sandpaper, Clear, CA, Epoxy etc. I spent a little over $160
With your $30 profit, feel free to tally up how many tip changes I need to do to break even, remember to factor in an hourly rate for myself as well. And I haven't even mentioned electricity, rent, electrician or stuff like oils, drive belts and other running costs..
Just tried to buy a 3 pack of time crystal tips. Shipping was $9.00. I spun that silly wheel of fortune they have as a promo and got $5 dollars off as well.
If you buy 3 tips, there's a $5 dollar discount standard.
When I tried to apply the $5 discount code they sent me, it said that items in my cart didnt qualify for discount!!
What a racket!!
No tips for me.
sudocrushms
Well-known member
Does anyone have hardness metrics on the Time Crystal tips?
Doesn't need to be scientific, just a comparison to other common tips.
Doesn't need to be scientific, just a comparison to other common tips.
Calm down Mister, I clearly said that I was not knocking the profit on cue tip replacement only. Anyone that I know doing cue tip replacement and a few other minor repairs is not standing behind $10,000 worth of brand new equipment and they are not spending thousands just on cue tip stock.
I don’t know who the hell you are- but stop looking for a fight where none exists. If the business is so cost burdening for you then find something else to do. You sound totally frustrated in your work- don’t take it out on me. I wish everyone who works to be successful - so whatever the hell profit that you do make on each tip replacement —- good for you. All I said was that I see a well managed cue tip replacement business as having high profit potential - I still believe that it can be just that without huge equipment and inventory cost as you seem to incur.
A few years ago I started using the lathe at the pool hall [not my own] to change tips. Mostly because I like to experiment and wanted a more economical way to change my own tips. Over time I started doing them for a few friends. Now I'm the go-to guy in our room to replace tips. That is all I do - no ferrule, butt, or wrap work. I've refused to do jobs on several occasions due to cracked ferrules or damaged shafts. I've had 2 different instances recently where a REVO shaft under warranty needed to be sent back for repair or replacement.
There are some ongoing accessory costs associated. I have a special single-edged Japanese knife that I use for trimming, sharpening stones for the knife, a custom razor blade holder, titanium razor blades, sandpaper, super glue, tape, and lathe accessories like an upgraded tool set with replaceable carbide bits. None of it is expensive but there is regularly something that needs to be purchased and it adds up over time. And of course, if I ever decide to buy my own lathe that would be a significant purchase.
I buy and keep a small number of tips in stock, specifically Kamikaze (Soft and Medium) and Precision Layered Tips (Supersoft, Soft, and Medium) made by Dennis Searing. I personally use and recommend the Precision tips and have had zero complaints from other people who have tried them. I no longer layout a bunch of cash upfront for expensive tips just to have them laying around in case someone wants one. If someone wants something different or specific they need to order it and bring it to me. I will on rare occasion order the tips for them, in which case I charge whatever it cost me plus $5.
If I supply the tip, I charge $40. If they bring their own tip, I charge $20 to put it on. If I put the tip on, I will shape it for them for the life of the tip for free as part of the service. If they want me to shape an existing tip that I did not install I charge $5. I like to let the glue cure a bit before shaping, so a typical tip takes 20-30 minutes on the lathe. This is not a business and I'm not paying any bills with the profit but I don't lose money at it either. In a typical month I might net around $100 on 4-6 tips but I really don't know. I think for 2026 I'm going to start keeping records, just out of curiosity.
There are some ongoing accessory costs associated. I have a special single-edged Japanese knife that I use for trimming, sharpening stones for the knife, a custom razor blade holder, titanium razor blades, sandpaper, super glue, tape, and lathe accessories like an upgraded tool set with replaceable carbide bits. None of it is expensive but there is regularly something that needs to be purchased and it adds up over time. And of course, if I ever decide to buy my own lathe that would be a significant purchase.
I buy and keep a small number of tips in stock, specifically Kamikaze (Soft and Medium) and Precision Layered Tips (Supersoft, Soft, and Medium) made by Dennis Searing. I personally use and recommend the Precision tips and have had zero complaints from other people who have tried them. I no longer layout a bunch of cash upfront for expensive tips just to have them laying around in case someone wants one. If someone wants something different or specific they need to order it and bring it to me. I will on rare occasion order the tips for them, in which case I charge whatever it cost me plus $5.
If I supply the tip, I charge $40. If they bring their own tip, I charge $20 to put it on. If I put the tip on, I will shape it for them for the life of the tip for free as part of the service. If they want me to shape an existing tip that I did not install I charge $5. I like to let the glue cure a bit before shaping, so a typical tip takes 20-30 minutes on the lathe. This is not a business and I'm not paying any bills with the profit but I don't lose money at it either. In a typical month I might net around $100 on 4-6 tips but I really don't know. I think for 2026 I'm going to start keeping records, just out of curiosity.
I have never had a customer who like those tips, they feel weird,
I'm not trying to pick a fight mate, I'm just saying that the cost involved are justified, both in terms of time spent and running costs involved.
Lots of people hope to do tip jobs on a shoestring budget and it always ends up costing a lot more than they initially thought..
Some brands do operate with minimum orders, so you might be spending a lot more to stock up than you think. It all depends on the brand and if you buy straight from the maker or a middle man that takes some of the profit, the bonus is that you can get away with less inventory.
Personally I represent all the big brands and I stock in excess of 100 different tips.
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dendweller
Well-known member
Looks like Atlas still has them
Also mueller's has them:
Triangle Cue Tips – 15mm
Triangle tips are made from prime pieces of chrome tanned hides with a unique process resulting in one of the industry's most firm, high-quality tip. 15mm. Hardness rating: Hard 81.4
Paul_#_
Well-known member
15mm non-break tips are hard to find:
Mueller's won't let you order the 15mm Triangle tips. Try selecting a quantity of Triangle 15mm tips from its webpage and the order fails. If you search for Triangle tips on Mueller's website, Mueller's lists only 12, 13, and 14mm tips. You can find Mueller's 15mm Triangle web page only by Google searching and not from searching on Mueller's website. I think Mueller's 15mm Triangle webpage is a throwback from an earlier time; something Mueller's has not gotten around to deleting.
As far as other non-break 15mm tips, Mueller's 15mm Le Pro can be ordered but is not in stock and would have to be backordered.
Screen shots from Mueller's web site:
Just looked, yes it does. When you clicked on 15mm says box of 40, I thought I got 50 so I went and checked. Box says 50, but there is only room for 40 of the 15mm size. They'll last me, I just use them for sticks at a couple bars I go to' They make great tips for that. These 15 mm ones are really great tips, they don't mushroom and I don't have to reshape them, not only that they play really good to the point that I have thought of using them.
I don't think they actually make them anymore
I wondered why that page, wouldn't let you choose the quantity available, goes to show they are not easy to find.
And you'll always have the guys that don't want any of the tips you have in stock. Brian.
Nothing new unfortunately, i find just friction alone will do the job
when you get good at doing these, doesn't take long at all.
I learned the hard way with that discount scam. for me it was TEMU. what seems to be a free ended me spending $200 of mostly junk. whenever I see something of spin the wheel b.s., I just close it or ignore it. note: it's prevalent everywhere.
dendweller
Well-known member
I remember that, thought it was strange at first but it makes sense, they put them in the same box that is designed to fit 50 14s.
Well, those are made from compressed microfiber, so my best guess is they will play very similar to a bulletproof tip of the same hardness.
Compress microfiber and you get a very similar product to Lexan.
Wow!! There's that many different tip makers??
There you go!!Also mueller's has them:
Triangle Cue Tips – 15mm
Triangle tips are made from prime pieces of chrome tanned hides with a unique process resulting in one of the industry's most firm, high-quality tip. 15mm. Hardness rating: Hard 81.4www.muellers.com
