Bar cue tip replacement.

[muskyed]

A few of the local establishments I frequent, have figured out, or have been advised by friends of mine, that I have a cue lathe, and can do tip replacements. I didn't purchase the lathe as a money-making thing, quite frankly just like doing things myself when I can. Anyway, I have been asked to repair some of their cues, and most of course have slip on tips. Are they glued on, or are they just slipped over? Also, I would assume that the reason some are on, is that the ferrule has been broken off. I have replaced a couple of ferrules on some house cues of mine with threaded ones, mostly for the experience of it, and was quite easy, but not sure I want to replace a bunch of ferrules for basically free or at most a free drink. Anyway, to tell if the existing ferrule is broken off underneath the slip-on ferrule that's on the cue without taking it off? Only way I can think of is to measure them to see if they are an inch or so short. I really don't mind helping them out replacing tips for them if they pay for the tips, but really don't want to get into replacing all the ferrules also. This isn't something that I am going out to bars to offer my service to, it's just a couple of places that I am friends of the owners with.

 

[TheBasics]

muskyed, Howdy;

One of the fastest ways to ruin a friendship is to turn it into
a business relationship.

hank

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

muskyed, Howdy;

One of the fastest ways to ruin a friendship is to turn it into
a business relationship.

hank

Your observation is right, never did business with friends.

Friend are friends

Clients are not friends.

Keep them seperate.

 

[Sheldon]

They're usually not glued. If you're real careful, you can run a razor blade up them (parallel to the shaft) and they come off pretty easy. If you have a strong grip, just grab and twist real hard, if the ferrules are loose, you'll know it. I do the tips at a few places around here, it's pretty quick and easy and keeps them happy. I typically only re-tip cues that are straight and have ferrules on them. If they want new ferrules, I charge double.

 

[muskyed]

I never even hinted at this as a business. Just a friend helping a friend. Wouldn't actually charge them anything, except materials. They were just hoping to get back to a standard non slip on tip. I'll probably just offer to do the ones with ferrules on them and leave it at that, nice and easy. Thanks, Sheldon, for your help.

 

[SSDiver2112]

I just did all the tips at my bar.

I used a utility knife to remove the slip tips. What you find underneath is a crapshoot. Could be a usable ferrule, but in most of the ones I worked on the ferrule was destroyed or missing.

You can always just put another slip tip back on if you don’t want to deal with the ferrule you find. For me I couldn’t bring myself to do that so I ended up just replacing most of the ferrules. Good practice for me and now I can just do a simple tip change when needed. Just let them decide how nice they want their cues to be and charge accordingly. Don’t short change yourself. Time is valuable too.

 

[Michael Webb]

Favors are nice but they can be a burden.
You spend money in that club, you should charge something for your efforts. You will more than likely spend it there anyway.
That's good business, and maintaines friendships too!

 

[ldmitchell]

I do tip replacements in exchange for food and drink.

 

[Tom1234]

I do tip replacements in exchange for food and drink.

I’ve done the same. After meeting the young couple that owned the place, I realized they could use some help. Their house cues sucked (most needed ferrules and tips). The going rate around here is $50 to replace both. The billiard supply outfit wanted $15 for a new POS house cue. I replace damaged ferrules and installed new tips for comping my next tab. Win win for both of us.

 

[muskyed]

Thanks all, yes this is just for a couple of places I stop and shoot at, one of which wife and I shoot for and would like to just help out. I have had many other requests from members of another league wife and I shoot at, to do their tips, after they found out I have a lathe, and have seen my work on my cues, but have politely turned that down, except for a few close personal friends.

 

[WilleeCue]

A few of the local establishments I frequent, have figured out, or have been advised by friends of mine, that I have a cue lathe, and can do tip replacements. I didn't purchase the lathe as a money-making thing, quite frankly just like doing things myself when I can. Anyway, I have been asked to repair some of their cues, and most of course have slip on tips. Are they glued on, or are they just slipped over? Also, I would assume that the reason some are on, is that the ferrule has been broken off. I have replaced a couple of ferrules on some house cues of mine with threaded ones, mostly for the experience of it, and was quite easy, but not sure I want to replace a bunch of ferrules for basically free or at most a free drink. Anyway, to tell if the existing ferrule is broken off underneath the slip-on ferrule that's on the cue without taking it off? Only way I can think of is to measure them to see if they are an inch or so short. I really don't mind helping them out replacing tips for them if they pay for the tips, but really don't want to get into replacing all the ferrules also. This isn't something that I am going out to bars to offer my service to, it's just a couple of places that I am friends of the owners with.

Ask yourself this, do they as friends discount your drinks.
Why would they expect you to do your thing for free?

Simply tell them what you need for replacing the tips and if needed the ferrules.
The slip on tips will either pull off or can be cut off in the lathe very easily.
You can buy Le Pro tips in a box of 50 very cheaply ... they are very good bar tips.
Most likely they will stay with the slip on tips rather than fork out any money.

 

[muskyed]

Actually, the bar that my wife and I play league for, does somewhat sponsor us. They have 3 teams there, and we play with the owner. Normal fees are $7 a night, but for us, being on the owners team, he covers it. Not only that, he is very generous at buying rounds of drinks for the team, whether you are at his bar, or at other league bars. It's been a bit of an adjustment playing in this bar league, vs our other more formalized league, as there is substantially more drinking involved. In addition to our league fees having been paid for, ea bar gives a free drink ticket, and if you win 2 of the 3 games you play, you get a free 6 pack to take home. Been lucky, last 9 nights I've played, got a 6 pack ea night.
We've just started this year, and told the owner that we wanted to pay our fees instead of him doing so. He said he didn't want that, but we insisted, so he said then he would save what we paid, and use it for an end of year banquet for us. So yes, he does quite a bit for us. He owns multiple bars, and they all do quite well.

 

[SSDiver2112]

Actually, the bar that my wife and I play league for, does somewhat sponsor us. They have 3 teams there, and we play with the owner. Normal fees are $7 a night, but for us, being on the owners team, he covers it. Not only that, he is very generous at buying rounds of drinks for the team, whether you are at his bar, or at other league bars. It's been a bit of an adjustment playing in this bar league, vs our other more formalized league, as there is substantially more drinking involved. In addition to our league fees having been paid for, ea bar gives a free drink ticket, and if you win 2 of the 3 games you play, you get a free 6 pack to take home. Been lucky, last 9 nights I've played, got a 6 pack ea night.
We've just started this year, and told the owner that we wanted to pay our fees instead of him doing so. He said he didn't want that, but we insisted, so he said then he would save what we paid, and use it for an end of year banquet for us. So yes, he does quite a bit for us. He owns multiple bars, and they all do quite well.

Sounds like they appreciate you and the cost of a box of tips and some inexpensive ferrules is a fraction of what you have received. Then again it also sounds like they would probably cover the cost of materials, so it comes down to whether you want to donate your time to the project. If you decide to take it on, then just be up front with how much available time you have to give and the expected time frame. When I did it, I just took home a couple of cues at a time and worked on them when I could. The bar could handle being a couple short now and then and I had no rushed time frame to worry about.

 

[chuckpilegis]

I retired and moved to a 55+ house in South jersey.Bought a cue lathe again and did the 3 clubhouses in the area and a few bars for free .Got nuthin better to do. Tips ferrules and wooden dowels are cheap.

 

[spktur]

Another thing, are you set up to handle a full length house cue?

 

[chuckpilegis]

For me no problem Midamerica large bore plus extra taig bed

 

[muskyed]

Good thought, maybe not. I have a mid america, but not large bore. I'll see if I can make one of my house cues to work, with out taking it apart. I was thinking the other day that I should have bought a large bore right away, but too late now.
Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[Renegade_56]

Good thought, maybe not. I have a mid america, but not large bore. I'll see if I can make one of my house cues to work, with out taking it apart. I was thinking the other day that I should have bought a large bore right away, but too late now.
Thanks for your suggestion.

Diameter is not the problem to do tips and ferrules on 1 pc house cues, it's the length you have to manage.

 

[Tom1234]

Diameter is not the problem to do tips and ferrules on 1 pc house cues, it's the length you have to manage.

Couple that with warped house sticks and you will need an extra steady rest to do a proper job.

 

[chuckpilegis]

Diameter is not the problem to do tips and ferrules on 1 pc house cues, it's the length you have to manage.

If I put my regular headstock on (15mm) I could still do the same so I agree