It's been a while since I read about these, and I just got one, so I thought I'd put the word out again about this cheap, neat tool. This trimmer that looks like a big pencil sharpener is extremely effective in trimming a mushroomed tip flush to the ferrule. I hesitated buying one, thinking that it was kind of cheap looking. Then I saw a "what's in the case?" youtube video featuring Ralf Souquet, and he showed the one he carries. He casually picked up one of his shafts in the video, and in about 10 seconds trimmed the sides of his tip. The trimmer really does work that easily.
I've trimmed the tips of about 8 cues so far, and they all turned out perfectly. If you're careful, there's no risk to your ferrule. The angled entry of the trimmer allows it to instantly seat any size tip and hold it firmly in place while you turn the shaft inside the trimmer. Wetting the sides of the tip with saliva seems to soften the leather just enough for a smooth cut.
The one I received didn't have the little labels shown in the eBay photos. If you get one, make sure you're aware to orient the shaft inside the trimmer so that the shaft is parallel with the blade. If you insert the shaft at an angle to the blade you'll severely bevel your tip.
If you don't have one of these or something like it, you don't know what you're missing.
I've trimmed the tips of about 8 cues so far, and they all turned out perfectly. If you're careful, there's no risk to your ferrule. The angled entry of the trimmer allows it to instantly seat any size tip and hold it firmly in place while you turn the shaft inside the trimmer. Wetting the sides of the tip with saliva seems to soften the leather just enough for a smooth cut.
The one I received didn't have the little labels shown in the eBay photos. If you get one, make sure you're aware to orient the shaft inside the trimmer so that the shaft is parallel with the blade. If you insert the shaft at an angle to the blade you'll severely bevel your tip.
If you don't have one of these or something like it, you don't know what you're missing.