Can a soft tip be hardened while on the shaft?

If it’s mushy like a spring, cut it off. It will never be fixed. That usually happens during the installation process of Triangles and Lepros. Thankfully most of the pool world has gone to layered tips, and we rarely have to worry about this anymore.
 
iusedtoberich said:
If it’s mushy like a spring, cut it off. It will never be fixed. That usually happens during the installation process of Triangles and Lepros. Thankfully most of the pool world has gone to layered tips, and we rarely have to worry about this anymore.
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I've used Le Pros for decades, and haven't had any problem with them. Although they say 'pressed' on the box I've always made sure to press them in a vice before installing them with my cue lathe. I actually know some people that are going back to them and getting away from the layered tips, although it's all personal preference of course.
 
L.S. Dennis said:
I've used Le Pros for decades, and haven't had any problem with them. Although they say 'pressed' on the box I've always made sure to press them in a vice before installing them with my cue lathe. I actually know some people that are going back to them and getting away from the layered tips, although it's all personal preference of course.
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I hear ya. I did cue repairs for about 10 years, ending in 2009 when I moved a few states away. If I was ever to restart, I would 1000% not offer any solid tips. Ever! Yikes bad memories of triangles exploding while shearing the side with a brand new utility knife blade.
 
336Robin said:
I have no idea what kind of tips these are, but they are soft, tall and a lityle poofy.
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I thought you were a crafty vet when I was wetting my unders.

You got a bad tip. Change it.

I learned this on a thread here, but don’t care to search for it. I made a few duds and used a few regular elkmasters. A few opened up like an accordion; tall and poofy. Dude told me the pressed ones would do the same if they were bad. Sho’ Nuff’ one of the pressed tips did.

Tips are cheap, why would you beat your head against the wall trying to use some garbage for 6 months or more, when you could swap it out in less than an hour with a razor blade and some sandpaper. This goes for anyone who pays someone to retip their cues; TAKE CARE OF IT YOURSELF!!!
 
iusedtoberich said:
If I was ever to restart, I would 1000% not offer any solid tips. Ever!
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Come on now! I’ve had a couple layered tips delaminate on me, usually when they were getting close to being whooped out.

When using a solid tip, I know right away after install if it’s N.F.G. (No Freaking Good). Otherwise that tip is good to go. Also. A pressed single layer tip seems to maintain a more consistent feel throughout the life of the tip. A layered tip gets harder and harder as the shots go by.

Just a hack here, so grain of salt, but I pay attention to this shit and don’t think I’ m talking out my rear here.
 
VarmintKong said:
Come on now! I’ve had a couple layered tips delaminate on me, usually when they were getting close to being whooped out.

When using a solid tip, I know right away after install if it’s N.F.G. (No Freaking Good). Otherwise that tip is good to go. Also. A pressed single layer tip seems to maintain a more consistent feel throughout the life of the tip. A layered tip gets harder and harder as the shots go by.

Just a hack here, so grain of salt, but I pay attention to this shit and don’t think I’ m talking out my rear here.
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Sure, and as an installer you know within 10 seconds of beginning to shape it if it is good or bad. The bad ones explode like an accordian. The issue is you wasted all the time putting the tip on. Then have to cut it off and start over. It's a money loser, and a frustration maker. There have been dozens of thread over the years in the cue maker section on "how to find the good ones" before putting them on. Those issues simply do not exist with the layered tips.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Sure, and as an installer you know within 10 seconds of beginning to shape it if it is good or bad. The bad ones explode like an accordian. The issue is you wasted all the time putting the tip on...
Those issues simply do not exist with the layered tips.
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That’s the thing though. With a solid tip you know right away. With a layered tip you won’t know until later on.
 
VarmintKong said:
With a layered tip you won’t know until later on.
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So you’re spending your hour and a half between matches at a tourney and decide to reshape your tip.

Ooops! The top layer popped off and now there’s only two layers on the side to the ferrule. That makes for some bone jarring shots; there’s nothing to compress when the edge makes contact. You have plenty of warning when that solid tip is getting too thin on the side.
 
VarmintKong said:
So you’re spending your hour and a half between matches at a tourney and decide to reshape your tip.

Ooops! The top layer popped off and now there’s only two layers on the side to the ferrule. That makes for some bone jarring shots; there’s nothing to compress when the edge makes contact. You have plenty of warning when that solid tip is getting too thin on the side.
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In my experience, only the super cheap laminated tips had layers popping off during the life of the tip. Anything from Tiger and Moori was as solid as gold.
 
Sheldon said:
Trash them, not worth the hassle.
You can put some thin superglue on them, but they'll get pretty hard.
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I ounce used 2 part epoxy on the circumference to sort of case harden the tip, leaving the center soft but the outside firm. My theory was that epoxy had a little more flex than superglue. Worked OK, of course your results might vary. 🤷‍♂️
 
GoldCrown said:
Not an expert here. There are some techniques if you google how to stiffen leather. Whatever you do please experiment on a cheap/junk cue first.

I’d simply change it
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I'll probably try something first like a liquid, then dry it, then play it in some.
Thanks I may google that up.
 
muskyed said:
If it's layered, you could try taking a couple layers off.
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I suspect its an elk master that hasn't played in yet. Its on a cue I'm not playing with full time.
I played with it yesterday and its ok. I'll play with anything but if I could get it to play in a little quicker
that would be awesome.
 
Bob Jewett said:
If you want to experiment... Dilute Elmer's Glue with water, soak the tip, press and let dry under pressure.

But I take a sharp knife to poofy tips and start over. I assume you mean it is starting to come up like an accordion. I don't trust those. Maybe glue will help.
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That's great suggestion. On my list of possibles for sure.

Life is interesting since it's on the shaft. I don't mind playing it in, if it will play in.
I guess we will see. I'll play it again next week before I do something to it.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Sure, and as an installer you know within 10 seconds of beginning to shape it if it is good or bad. The bad ones explode like an accordian. The issue is you wasted all the time putting the tip on. Then have to cut it off and start over. It's a money loser, and a frustration maker. There have been dozens of thread over the years in the cue maker section on "how to find the good ones" before putting them on. Those issues simply do not exist with the layered tips.
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I weigh triangles and dump the litest 3rd of the box and haven't had a problem with accordianing. The lite ones may not accordian but they are going to fuzz up when you shape them. This is only for my own cues. I tried going with ultraskins, unfortunately I didn't like them much.
 
dendweller said:
I weigh triangles and dump the litest 3rd of the box and haven't had a problem with accordianing. The lite ones may not accordian but they are going to fuzz up when you shape them. This is only for my own cues. I tried going with ultraskins, unfortunately I didn't like them much.
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Which ultraskins did you try?
 
iusedtoberich said:
If it’s mushy like a spring, cut it off. It will never be fixed. That usually happens during the installation process of Triangles and Lepros. Thankfully most of the pool world has gone to layered tips, and we rarely have to worry about this anymore.
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I looked at the tip this morning and it seems to have beat in a little after several hours of Pool yesterday.
I'm going to play all week on it next week then reevaluate. It started life a little springy but it might be ok.
Appears to be compacting which is what I want, but I've never had one this spongy from the start.
 
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