1/2 sizes for tips

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
If the old or new tip companies want to come out with something new, why don't they make tips in 1/2 sizes or even 1/4 sizes? What does a simple die for the punch press cost to make or have made...peanuts, that's how much. I'm sure cuemakers and tip installers don't ever want to see it. They have been making the same sizes for 200 years. The reason more players don't put their own tips on is because all of the shaving, sanding away of the oversize tips. I still put mine on...but I'm thick and don't like to wait. If they made all the sizes that were a breeze to glue on and shape a little, more players would buy a lot more different tips to try, bring the tip companies more business. Johnnyt
 
Yes, and more consistency

Johnnyt said:
If the old or new tip companies want to come out with something new, why don't they make tips in 1/2 sizes or even 1/4 sizes? What does a simple die for the punch press cost to make or have made...peanuts, that's how much. I'm sure cuemakers and tip installers don't ever want to see it. They have been making the same sizes for 200 years. The reason more players don't put their own tips on is because all of the shaving, sanding away of the oversize tips. I still put mine on...but I'm thick and don't like to wait. If they made all the sizes that were a breeze to glue on and shape a little, more players would buy a lot more different tips to try, bring the tip companies more business. Johnnyt
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I agree. At least offer 12.5 mm, as it's pretty popular.

But beyond that most companies sell tips that are actually larger than described. I suppose if you make them that way, the actual size can vary and still be at least what they're sold as. I've had "13 mm" tips that varied from 13 to 14. I also bought some "13mm" Triangles that were 12.5.

For the prices they charge, you'd think you could expect a little more consistency.
 
The problem is that an exact-sized tip leaves no margin for error when glueing it to the ferule. It has to be exactly centered or it's toast. Superglue is very unforgiving.

Best to keep them oversized. You can always shave off the extra; you can't put more on.
 
bdorman said:
The problem is that an exact-sized tip leaves no margin for error when glueing it to the ferule. It has to be exactly centered or it's toast. Superglue is very unforgiving.

Best to keep them oversized. You can always shave off the extra; you can't put more on.
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Well said if you use Super glue. If the tip is the same size as the ferrule it's almost impossible to get it perfectly centered before the glue sets.
 
Johnnyt said:
If the old or new tip companies want to come out with something new, why don't they make tips in 1/2 sizes or even 1/4 sizes? What does a simple die for the punch press cost to make or have made...peanuts, that's how much. I'm sure cuemakers and tip installers don't ever want to see it. They have been making the same sizes for 200 years. The reason more players don't put their own tips on is because all of the shaving, sanding away of the oversize tips. I still put mine on...but I'm thick and don't like to wait. If they made all the sizes that were a breeze to glue on and shape a little, more players would buy a lot more different tips to try, bring the tip companies more business. Johnnyt
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Bad idea. Shafts sizes are rarely nominal sizes because most people think they know how to sand them. Even if they were 10 percent of pool players couldn't align pre-sized tips 10 percent of the time correctly. Let alone the time it takes to shape a tip by hand.

Pay the repair guy for a job well done, it's worth the money.
 
The next big tournament you're at, bring calipers with you and measure the diameters of 100 shafts, and then you'll see why they don't both making half sizes.
 
Johnnyt said:
If the old or new tip companies want to come out with something new, why don't they make tips in 1/2 sizes or even 1/4 sizes? What does a simple die for the punch press cost to make or have made...peanuts, that's how much. I'm sure cuemakers and tip installers don't ever want to see it. They have been making the same sizes for 200 years. The reason more players don't put their own tips on is because all of the shaving, sanding away of the oversize tips. I still put mine on...but I'm thick and don't like to wait. If they made all the sizes that were a breeze to glue on and shape a little, more players would buy a lot more different tips to try, bring the tip companies more business. Johnnyt
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Are you the sort of man that has and uses a chalk holder and/or joint protectors?

I ask, because there is a normal sized line, not a fine one, between appropriate and jumping the shark where billiard equipment is concerned. I'd say that offering 1/2 sizes in tips would only serve to identify those players which have absolutely no clue, from those that own a razor blade, burnisher and have a rudimentary understanding of what a tip looks like when it hits well.

Not trying to be Snarky McSnarkenstein... just sayin.

Lesh
 
Johnnyt said:
If the old or new tip companies want to come out with something new, why don't they make tips in 1/2 sizes or even 1/4 sizes? What does a simple die for the punch press cost to make or have made...peanuts, that's how much. I'm sure cuemakers and tip installers don't ever want to see it. They have been making the same sizes for 200 years. The reason more players don't put their own tips on is because all of the shaving, sanding away of the oversize tips. I still put mine on...but I'm thick and don't like to wait. If they made all the sizes that were a breeze to glue on and shape a little, more players would buy a lot more different tips to try, bring the tip companies more business. Johnnyt
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FWIW, Tweeten's has been selling 1/2 mm size for years and years (12.5mm, 13.5mm) General public just doesn't realize it.
 
Cornerman said:
FWIW, Tweeten's has been selling 1/2 mm size for years and years (12.5mm, 13.5mm) General public just doesn't realize it.
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I've been buying and putting tips on cues for over 50 years and never knew that. Thanks. Johnnyt
 
SCCues said:
Well said if you use Super glue. If the tip is the same size as the ferrule it's almost impossible to get it perfectly centered before the glue sets.
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I brought cue tips 1000 tip centraliser , when correctly set up as per their instruction video, it is very good at getting tips centered.

As for the oversized tips, with my new tip trimmer, it comes off in 1 pass.

Neil
 
Johnnyt said:
I've been buying and putting tips on cues for over 50 years and never knew that. Thanks. Johnnyt
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I don't know if you have to call Tweeten's directly or what. When I visited the factory, I got a 50 count box of 13.5mm.
 
I'm sure it is the tip installers well organized lobbying efforts that keeps this from happening.
 
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