Cue tip shaper
- Thread starter tableroll
- Start date
+2 on last4ever. I have been using it for years. Works great!
Zerksies
Well-known member
I now stay away from them tools that cut the sides of the tips to get it flush. I've nicked plenty of ferrules with them. I would rather go slow with a razor blade and do it by hand.
I do the initial cutting with tape around the ferrule. Then after i'm flush with the tape i go slowly without it. then i give a rough shaping then i fine tune with the last4ever tool.
A lathe is the best but most don't have access to one.
xX-Wizard-Xx
Well-known member
the metal tweeten tool works just fine .... yo can get them for 5$
I've been doing my own tips by hand for about 30 yrs. IMO, without a lathe, absolutely nothing beats a decent quality kiridashi knife for cutting the tip flush to the ferrule. Not the really thin cheap 10$ ones but one with a relatively thick spine that doesn't flex. You can fine them in the $20-$30 range. The knife is completely flat one on side, easy to sharpen on a water stone and will last forever.
Here's my playing shaft, with the tip done by hand. It's a heavily compressed elkmaster and not the easiest to cut.
Here's my playing shaft, with the tip done by hand. It's a heavily compressed elkmaster and not the easiest to cut.
Last edited:
Been doing tips by hand since 60's, and then for years had a lathe for others and myself.
I use the $20 Mori/layered/hard tips, I don't mind the time it takes.
40 yrs ago at pro events, allot of the W. Coast Mex players would hunt me down (before the times where lathes were at events) because I would put one on for $20, and the La Pros were about $1 a tip, so the time was worth it.
This was in the day/vegas you could get Prime Rib dinner for $4.
Like you said....razor blade.
But it must be NEW. Why?
Because as your pushing down on the cut, a dull razor can/will pull/accordion non-layer leather/expand it, and now a bad tip.
If you have a bad tip, you'll know right away with a razor.
On a lathe tho, I was not able to feel the leather as easily when it was bad/dried out, a house cue, no biggie, ball bangers it doesn't matter.
While I'm watching TV I'll vertical the shaft on a hard surface, then trim the sides. VERY SLOW.
Like Zerk said, to not nick the ferrule. In my days they were usually Ivory.
Spending 1/2 hour getting your tip/ferrule right is worth the time.
I've used Super Glue Gel since it came out.
Zerksies
Well-known member
Like the post above you i've been doing a rough cut with tape and a razor and i have been finishing the sides with a kiridashi knife
Since the tape increases the diameter of the ferrule, doesn't that cause a slight angle cut to the leather coming off the ferrule?
It's the touchy/feelie stuff with a new razor that allows me to not NICK the ferrule/to get it flush is easy, but the beveling after that takes allot of time, so I spin it up with a 1800 rpm hand drill counter set up, and that works for me.
It's the touchy/feelie stuff with a new razor that allows me to not NICK the ferrule/to get it flush is easy, but the beveling after that takes allot of time, so I spin it up with a 1800 rpm hand drill counter set up, and that works for me.