Cue Tips and Moisturizer?

G

geocheren

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This thread should probably be on the Ask a Cuemaker section, but I thought some players might know, or have experiences regarding this subject. Mods, feel free to move this thread should you see fit.

I hear that some tips, or just cue tips in general, tend to 'dry rot' over time. Does adding moisturizer to the tips affect the way the play, or how long they last (before they dry rot)? Can a dried out tip be 'brought back to life' so to speak using moisturizer? Would adding moisturizer soften a tip up?

From the term 'dry rot', I assume that it means that the tip has lost all or most of its moisture content. How does a 'dry rotted' tip play? is it harder to apply english, because its harder?
 
Never considered it. I'd probably rather just get a new tip. They are pretty cheap and it seems like whenever i fix something myself, it doesn't usually stay fixed for very long. :embarrassed2:
 
Heres how I initially thought of it: since moisturizer helps dry skin, and since leather was once skin, why wouldnt it help restore moisture to the tip, especially if it wasnt properly stored? What about applying moisturizing lotion to old tips before installation?

Applying a drop (or less) of moisturizing lotion to the installed tip doesnt seem like a fix that would damage the tip in any way, and it seems like a cheaper alternative to getting a new tip, if you happen to have moisturizing lotion available.
 
Like saddle soap on a leather baseball glove? Or mink oil?

Maybe a cuecase maker could respond.
 
This isn't my remedy. Only something I remembered from a similar post, probably a long time ago.

One drop of Neatsfoot Oil. Let the shaft sit up right over night to let the tip absorb the oil. You may need more than one drop, as in the next day if it doesn't soak all the way in.

Personally, I would rather replace the tip if its that old but you can give it a go.

The tip came from an old timer. Back in the day, there probably wasn't as many repair men around so you had to maintain your own equipment.

The other day, I pulled out my Predator shafts to give them a try again. I put the Z shaft in the lathe and when I touched the blade to the tip, it pretty much disintegrated. I was kinda amazed as this was the first time I experienced this. It looked to be the original Everest on it.
 
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geocheren said:
This thread should probably be on the Ask a Cuemaker section, but I thought some players might know, or have experiences regarding this subject. Mods, feel free to move this thread should you see fit.

I hear that some tips, or just cue tips in general, tend to 'dry rot' over time. Does adding moisturizer to the tips affect the way the play, or how long they last (before they dry rot)? Can a dried out tip be 'brought back to life' so to speak using moisturizer? Would adding moisturizer soften a tip up?

From the term 'dry rot', I assume that it means that the tip has lost all or most of its moisture content. How does a 'dry rotted' tip play? is it harder to apply english, because its harder?
Click to expand...

It would mushroom like crazy, or it would still disintegrate, if you tried to use it. For just preserving an antique tip, neatsfoot oil has been suggested by a wise contributor.
 
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