What kind of metal file is best? (for retipping a cue)

34YearsOfPlayin · Aug 24, 2020

Currently I have a metal file that is not doing a good job. It always looks like I have smoothed out the cuts (from cutting down the 14mm tip to a 13mm size shaft)
but after wetting the sides of the tip and using a dollar billl to smooth out (burnish) the sides of the tip after I am done I can see all the cuts (they reappear. The sides of the tip were not smoothed out well enough. Although it looks like they were prior to burnishing) I made from cutting the 14mm tip down to fit a 13mm pool cue shaft.

So what I need is a metal file that actually smoothes the cuts out (from cutting down the 14 mm tip to a 13mm tip after I glue the 14 mm tip on to the 13mm pool cue shaft). What I am currently using is not working and I want a file that works well.

Can you please recommend a good metal file to use instead (or any other advice you have)? Thank you

JoeyInCali · Aug 24, 2020

Avoid them .
Bastard file if u have to.
This is much safer. Believe me.
https://www.billiards.com/accessori...ZTBryk6BKaEkXiypEINVnYKj6QrAukOxoCnHQQAvD_BwE

whammo57 · Aug 25, 2020

what type of hammer is best to use to hit the end of a screwdriver ???? asking for a friend

Kim

SpiderWeb · Aug 25, 2020

The smooth file works better than the mill file,

tsp&b · Aug 25, 2020

whammo57 said:
what type of hammer is best to use to hit the end of a screwdriver ???? asking for a friend

Kim

LMAO:smile-square:

tsp&b · Aug 25, 2020

Just use a small piece of 220 sand paper then touch off with 500 or 600 and then burnish with the back side of the sand paper.

GBCues · Aug 25, 2020

Can you tell us more about how you install tips?
Are you using a lathe?
Thanks
Gary

34YearsOfPlayin · Aug 25, 2020

GBCues said:
Can you tell us more about how you install tips?
Are you using a lathe?
Thanks
Gary

No lathe. I'm not a cue builder. I put my own tips on. I use a razor. loctite glue and a handeld device which gets the old glue and tip off the ferrule and a metal file which apparently is not good to use.

Video I used to learn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UHlJUye9zI (for more info)

Thank you.

Duane Remick · Aug 25, 2020

whammo57 said:
what type of hammer is best to use to hit the end of a screwdriver ???? asking for a friend

Kim

Get a nice Mallot-
stay away from hammers when all possible-
a heavy hammer will certainly spilt a cue shaft,
like a piece of firewood-

JoeyInCali · Aug 25, 2020

34YearsOfPlayin said:
No lathe. I'm not a cue builder. I put my own tips on. I use a razor. loctite glue and a handeld device which gets the old glue and tip off the ferrule and a metal file which apparently is not good to use.

Video I used to learn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UHlJUye9zI (for more info)

Thank you.

That video should be banned.
Good Lord. Facing the ferrule with that sandpaper should be a crime.

34YearsOfPlayin · Aug 25, 2020

JoeyInCali said:
That video should be banned.
Good Lord. Facing the ferrule with that sandpaper should be a crime.

Can you post your method for retipping a cue? Thanks JoeyInCali for all your replies.

34YearsOfPlayin · Aug 25, 2020

whammo57 said:
what type of hammer is best to use to hit the end of a screwdriver ???? asking for a friend

Kim

OMG...I had no idea what I was asking was a stupid question. Thank you. How do you do it?

34YearsOfPlayin · Aug 25, 2020

Duane Remick said:
Get a nice Mallot-
stay away from hammers when all possible-
a heavy hammer will certainly spilt a cue shaft,
like a piece of firewood-

I did not know it was a stupid question. Thanks for the reply on how you do it.

radge69 · Aug 26, 2020

This is basically how I did them by hand before getting a lathe. Yes you'll need to be a few tools, but it works. My only recommendation is don't install layered tips this way, stick to single layer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhU0lYPEGKc&t=58s

JoeyInCali · Aug 26, 2020

34YearsOfPlayin said:
Can you post your method for retipping a cue? Thanks JoeyInCali for all your replies.

I use a lathe .
I trim with utility blade at high speed spinning.

cueman · Aug 26, 2020

Buy a drill and rig up a small homemade lathe at least. Forget the file.

34YearsOfPlayin · Aug 27, 2020

cueman said:
Buy a drill and rig up a small homemade lathe at least. Forget the file.

Checked out some youtube videos of making a homemade lathe from a drill. Requires a lot tools I don't have. Can you buy really cheap mini lathe or something? Or possilbly a diy homemade lathe already made? Like what is the ballpark figure. Did some searching but I would rather ask someone who knows what I need already. How about recommending one? Thanks

Keith E. · Aug 27, 2020

34YearsOfPlayin said:
Checked out some youtube videos of making a homemade lathe from a drill. Requires a lot tools I don't have. Can you buy really cheap mini lathe or something? Or possilbly a diy homemade lathe already made? Like what is the ballpark figure. Did some searching but I would rather ask someone who knows what I need already. How about recommending one? Thanks

The gentleman that you just quoted above could probably tell you a thing or two about cue equipment.

Keith

34YearsOfPlayin · Aug 28, 2020

These lathes are hundreds of dollars. I think I will just send it to a pro in the future. thanks for all the replies.

Duane Remick · Aug 31, 2020

34YearsOfPlayin said:
I did not know it was a stupid question. Thanks for the reply on how you do it.

I'T'S ALL GOOD ….
Just a little humor amongst the azr's….
"Go to youtube-
search cue tip installation-
there are several-
"take some time-
watch as many as you can,
several times-
and be patient-

"only 1 vid I saw shows where the ferrule is masked off-even at the end-
so in case of excess glue-will not get on the ferrule-
I really like that-I use tape,
every time I install a tip-
as I make sure plenty of glue is used

What kind of metal file is best? (for retipping a cue)

AzB Silver Member

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Kim Walker

iisgone@yahoo.com

Well-known member

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Damn, still .002 TIR!

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