Addicted Triangle Duds

TwoRailDave said:
has anyone tried lepros?
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LePros actually are good donors.... The main trick to them is get the leather open for it will accept the media you are using... The most common way is to sand the crap out of them.....

SO order a size up from the size you intend to make or figure out another way to get them open.....

Last thing to know is they do NOT like heat....

Chris
 
HueblerHustler7 said:
Milk has a binding compound called Casein. This works as a binder for the fibers in the tip... I find that this works well for both expanding and changing the interior structure of the tip. i'm sure some people use water, I just don't see any use in water other than to expand a tip.
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Are you familiar with Baron tips? Is so, is it also a pressed/dud tip?
Thanks
 
HueblerHuastler, your recipe is just the same I got to utilize upon reading some threads re milk duds. I used to treat Triangles with milk, then I changed to half and half to get more fat (I don't know if it means more caseine also, I just did this way).
I've never met anyone mention lactose free milk and it influencing tips integrity, could you tell more on that, how did you come to such conclusion?

But as I've seen mineral spirits mentioned along with milk, etc., I use this method more often. Soaking tips in spirits also makes the fibers glued together while pressing them. The benefit of spirits is that they don't "expire" as soon as milk does. Basically, with milk I can prepare a couple of tips, then the solution goes to drain. So I have to take more 24 hours to prepare another couple. With spirits I put two dozens into a can and I don't have to wait until a tip soaks. When I need to have a tip pressed I just take one out and it goes into a press right away.
That said, MILK duds are great, but spirits duds are faster and less messy to make ;)
All that of course provided I have nowhere to bake the tips before pressing. And that's another benefit of spirits, as I don't think baking spirits soaked tip is a good idea, LOL.
 
Vahmurka said:
HueblerHuastler, your recipe is just the same I got to utilize upon reading some threads re milk duds. I used to treat Triangles with milk, then I changed to half and half to get more fat (I don't know if it means more caseine also, I just did this way).
I've never met anyone mention lactose free milk and it influencing tips integrity, could you tell more on that, how did you come to such conclusion?

But as I've seen mineral spirits mentioned along with milk, etc., I use this method more often. Soaking tips in spirits also makes the fibers glued together while pressing them. The benefit of spirits is that they don't "expire" as soon as milk does. Basically, with milk I can prepare a couple of tips, then the solution goes to drain. So I have to take more 24 hours to prepare another couple. With spirits I put two dozens into a can and I don't have to wait until a tip soaks. When I need to have a tip pressed I just take one out and it goes into a press right away.
That said, MILK duds are great, but spirits duds are faster and less messy to make ;)
All that of course provided I have nowhere to bake the tips before pressing. And that's another benefit of spirits, as I don't think baking spirits soaked tip is a good idea, LOL.
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Ive heard quite a bit on using mineral spirits as a compound for making pressed tips and also heard great things about the results just havent had the chance to try this yet.

In reference to the lactose free milk ( my theory ) is that it is less acidic, not sure if this is valid but seems like a reasonable conclusion.

RENFRO

You seem to have valid points and the background to back it up. I checked out your site and would love to see some feed back from players on your tips. Thanks for the info ill keep it in mind when I decide to buy a cow:grin: also I'm not quite sure what you are referring to about casein, ALL milk products contain this type of protein. It also has been used for glue products in the past making it a great ingredient for tips. Of course unpasteurized milk would be better and more useful but not everyone has that on hand. Seriously thanks for the great info for the thread.

Other than that my tips have proven to be a great recipe for me. But ill try to do more research before making final decisions on the tip process I use.

TWORAILDAVE

I've heard very little about doing le'pro tips, both good and bad things, but most have given up because people have run into problems with the consistency of the tips.

I also agree with Renfro about removing the outer seal of the tip all around if you are going to give it a try and DO NOT bake or microwave they literally start to look like a chocolate milk dud melted.

EddieBmE

I have heard of them but haven't had the pleasure of using any of their tips. I also haven't heard of anyone of the forums trying them.

In reference to them being soaked and pressed or not I'm not sure. Their layered tips I'm most positive that their not soaked as for this could make the tips delaminate if you are careful.


Thanks for the all the questions and new info guys. :thumbup:
 
milk duds on the soft side

Cuebuddy said:
I have customers who like soft tips and I am wondering if a tip could be soaked and only pressed with light pressure? I might need to experiment a little.
I believe that tips get hard with play but it would be cool to have a milk dud that resisted mushrooming but is still on the soft side.:cool:
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pooldawg8 makes a good tip that is not to hard but holds shape and puts a nice spin on the cue ball. I am making them now a little on the hard side but holds chalk, and moves the cue with less effort.
 
TwoRailDave said:
has anyone tried lepros?
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I have been doing Lepro's pressed for a while and never looked back i just use a dremel sand off the outter coat then i just drop them in whole milk and put it in the fridge,24 hours later i press them. Then about 24 hours or later take them off the press when its all said and done they are 15mm.

Then i just let them sit for a few day or even weeks. Im getting about 7 months of play with little to no maintence but i will say everytime i press them to 15mm when i take them down to ferrule size they have never mushroomed at all or lost its shape.
 
JoseV said:
I have been doing Lepro's pressed for a while and never looked back i just use a dremel sand off the outter coat then i just drop them in whole milk and put it in the fridge,24 hours later i press them. Then about 24 hours or later take them off the press when its all said and done they are 15mm.

Then i just let them sit for a few day or even weeks. Im getting about 7 months of play with little to no maintence but i will say everytime i press them to 15mm when i take them down to ferrule size they have never mushroomed at all or lost its shape.
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GREAT info on Le'pros, I might have to give them a try but i've never been a fan of them maybe soaking and pressing them could change my mind.

Molly'sBoy

Bought three and loved them, just experimenting a little on my own. And I must say soaked and pressed Triangles are much more to my liking.
 
That's how I felt loved using Le Pros in the late 90's then they started sucking then I got sick of layerd tips then heard about pressing tips then I resurrected my fave tip and now it's like the old days
 
JoseV said:
That's how I felt loved using Le Pros in the late 90's then they started sucking then I got sick of layerd tips then heard about pressing tips then I resurrected my fave tip and now it's like the old days
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Maybe ill make one for my old cue that plays pretty much the same as my new one that way I can figure out if its to my liking before jumping to put one on my player lol
 
Just a heads up I have about 200 hours give or take all together on the tip, still has not glazed over pretty sweet. Very small mushroom accrued a couple of days ago no biggie it removed easily, I'm assuming this happened because I break with my playing cue.

Hope everyones having the same luck as I've had so far.
 
Cue Buddy, the Picone presses work 100%.
If you don't have a pair of calipers you can use them on the Duds.

Here is a thickness to hardness rating so you can measure them after.

.220" thick, soft
.200" thick, medium
.180" thick, hard

Joey posted this some time ago and I find its pretty accurate.

If you use a C clamp on them like I do, it does take a bit of trial and error to get the proper pressure but after making a few, you will come to know how much to crank on the clamp to get them pretty darn close.

This refers to the Elk Duds. If you really crank on the clamp as hard as you can, you will most likely always get it to .180.

The Triangle tips are considerably thicker. I use the triangles for break tips.
Pretty hard to get them that thin so I just twist the C clamp as hard as I can.

If a person was interested, you could purchase a cheaper Durometer and test the Hardness after.

Cheap isn't always the best obviously but with a cheaper Durometer, you could at least give yourself an idea of what thickness to hardness that you prefer to make them for yourself.

If you can pick yourself up a cheaper milling vise somewhere like at a pawn shop, these will work great for pressing. You would get yourself a piece of old tape measure and secure it to the base. This would give you an idea of how far you are twisting the press in.

Also, if you find that you have pressed one too much, don't toss it. Its as easy as soaking the tip again and re pressing it. I have done this many times and it does not affect the outcome of a Dud to be pressed more than once.

Once you twist the press and leave it for a while, you will find that as the tip drys, it will obviously shrink a bit. This will allow you to go back after several hours and apply a bit more pressure to the C clamp.
 
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Blue Hog ridr said:
Cue Buddy, the Picone presses work 100%.
If you don't have a pair of calipers you can use them on the Duds.

Here is a thickness to hardness rating so you can measure them after.

.220" thick, soft
.200" thick, medium
.180" thick, hard

Joey posted this some time ago and I find its pretty accurate.

If you use a C clamp on them like I do, it does take a bit of trial and error to get the proper pressure but after making a few, you will come to know how much to crank on the clamp to get them pretty darn close.

This refers to the Elk Duds. If you really crank on the clamp as hard as you can, you will most likely always get it to .180.

The Triangle tips are considerably thicker. I use the triangles for break tips.
Pretty hard to get them that thin so I just twist the C clamp as hard as I can.

If a person was interested, you could purchase a cheaper Durometer and test the Hardness after.

Cheap isn't always the best obviously but with a cheaper Durometer, you could at least give yourself an idea of what thickness to hardness that you prefer to make them for yourself.

If you can pick yourself up a cheaper milling vise somewhere like at a pawn shop, these will work great for pressing. You would get yourself a piece of old tape measure and secure it to the base. This would give you an idea of how far you are twisting the press in.

Also, if you find that you have pressed one too much, don't toss it. Its as easy as soaking the tip again and re pressing it. I have done this many times and it does not affect the outcome of a Dud to be pressed more than once.

Once you twist the press and leave it for a while, you will find that as the tip drys, it will obviously shrink a bit. This will allow you to go back after several hours and apply a bit more pressure to the C clamp.
Click to expand...

Although this post was not directed towards me I am truly grateful for your feedback and info. I would love to start creating these tips in bulk and have them be as consistent as possible. Thanks again

still on my tip currently and it plays great, every once and awhile I take a tip pick to it to dimple the surface but not sure if was really needed these tips hold chalk like crazy.

If anyone would like to try one just PM me and ill be happy to make up a batch.:thumbup:
 
another tip that i do - before soaking, i press the tip slightly hard and then soak it right away after releasing it. kinda like squeezing a sponge - it sucks in the liquid better and more efficiently, i think.
 
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arps said:
another tip that i do - before soaking, i press the tip slightly hard and then soak it right away after releasing it. kinda like a squeezing a sponge - it sucks in the liquid better and more efficiently, i think.
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Now that sounds like a good idea
 
HueblerHustler7 said:
Although this post was not directed towards me I am truly grateful for your feedback and info. I would love to start creating these tips in bulk and have them be as consistent as possible. Thanks again

still on my tip currently and it plays great, every once and awhile I take a tip pick to it to dimple the surface but not sure if was really needed these tips hold chalk like crazy.

If anyone would like to try one just PM me and ill be happy to make up a batch.:thumbup:
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I don't remember ever using a tip pik when I started squishing Lepros. As far as making bulk that won't work in my case I just squish about four or five tips a year. You should probably make a few dozen before selling them or as samples cause you just might start a wild fire and might not be able to keep up. Sounds far fetched but one will never know until they find out.
 
JoseV said:
I don't remember ever using a tip pik when I started squishing Lepros. As far as making bulk that won't work in my case I just squish about four or five tips a year. You should probably make a few dozen before selling them or as samples cause you just might start a wild fire and might not be able to keep up. Sounds far fetched but one will never know until they find out.
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Thanks for the heads up, like you have said you never know.

Perhaps I will make a batch of 20 or so. Of course ones that dont make inspection to my standards will no make the cut and will stay here with me.
 
Hooked On Tips

Ordered my Picone Press today.
Now looking for a vise to press my Elkmasters and Triangles.
Does anyone know who makes a cheap Vice/Press with a pressure gage.
 
BarneyCalip said:
Ordered my Picone Press today.
Now looking for a vise to press my Elkmasters and Triangles.
Does anyone know who makes a cheap Vice/Press with a pressure gage.
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Im not sure. I just use my house hold vise from my garage, But If you find anything nice thats fairly cheap with a pressure gauge that would be great if you could share your results. I would be interested in purchasing one as well.

Thanks.
 
^same here, i just use a regular bench vise.

i'm not really concerned about measuring how hard a tip is after pressing as long as it creates a good "ping" sound when playing. i'm also not worried if i "under press" a tip, because it will harden anyway as you play with it.

anyone here tried pressing laminated tips? here's a photo of a regular and a pressed Tiger Emerald tip:
fmryir.jpg
 
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