I heard Efren uses an elkmaster that's hardened. Does anyone know the method of hardening one? Do you just compress it, or do you soak it in something or what? And who here has tried the tip like that, and how do you like the hit?
Efren's Tip
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
cuetechasaurus said:
I've heard Efren's using a Sniper tip by Tiger products now.
I also used Elkmaster's for several years. Some people squeeze them in a vice before installation. I prefer just working the tip down. I would just install the tip, tap it with a file, play it a little, and reshape it to get rid of the initial mushrooming After knocking it down three times it would hold it's shape for a long time. This takes maybe 20 minutes of shaping and hitting balls.
Elkmasters are fine for a few months and hold their shape really well once they're worked down, however, they get harder and harder and glass over. Eventually, like maybe 3 to 4 months of frequent playing, they won't hold chalk well even after scruffing and have to be replaced. You don't even realize that you're losing spin because the demise of the tip is so gradual.
I recently switched to a Sniper. Tiger did the installation. It's a great tip. It plays like a medium hard but really holds chalk well and doesn't glass over quickly. In fact, it took a little getting used to because I was getting a lot more bite with the Sniper than my hardened and glassy Elkmaster.
My understanding is the Sniper is quite a bit more durable and requires less frequent replacement and maintainence than an Elkmaster. They play like a hardened Elkmaster right out of the box. The Everest is a little softer like the Elkmaster but they also eventually harden up, so I think they need more maintainence and more frequent replacement than the Sniper, but offer a softer feel.
Tiger turns around tip jobs the same day. They did a much better job than I could ever do. I highly recommend them for tips and tip jobs.
Chris
TATE said:
Have you tried Mooris and if so, how do you like the Sniper tips compared to them?
I think they are called milk duds. A search on "milk dud" will probably give pretty good info on the tip.cuetechasaurus said:
Mike
Easily 12.5 MM.kenl said:
Funny thing is when Efren shot with a Meucci back in '96 ( cough ), he had Judd Fuller taper down the shafts.
Efren"s Tip
Efren hsa been using Elk Masters that have been pressed in a vise. I know because Little Al is the one who presses them for him when he is here. I got him a couple of boxes to take back home with him the last time he was here. I know that Lorry put a Sniper on his cue and he was playing with that to. I asked him what he was playing with and he said Elk Master. I think his tip on his Judd is around 12mm. I have been playing with Sniper tips since they came out and just went back to playing with a pressed Elk Master. I think they play very close to each other. I think they are both very good tips if done right.
I like to press Elk Masters in between two pieces of wood in a vise. We do not soak them in anything.
I will find out what he is playing with when he comes in for the IPT. I think he will be in the states for about three months.
Steve
Efren hsa been using Elk Masters that have been pressed in a vise. I know because Little Al is the one who presses them for him when he is here. I got him a couple of boxes to take back home with him the last time he was here. I know that Lorry put a Sniper on his cue and he was playing with that to. I asked him what he was playing with and he said Elk Master. I think his tip on his Judd is around 12mm. I have been playing with Sniper tips since they came out and just went back to playing with a pressed Elk Master. I think they play very close to each other. I think they are both very good tips if done right.
I like to press Elk Masters in between two pieces of wood in a vise. We do not soak them in anything.
I will find out what he is playing with when he comes in for the IPT. I think he will be in the states for about three months.
Steve
Last edited:
I do my own tips (fortunate enough to have a lathe that I use in my other business, making bamboo fly rods) and before I went to Moori, I used Triangle tips and pressed them overnight in a 16000psi machinist vice. Made them very hard, and very hard to work down, btw, but they were very durable and the pressing made them as hard as I wanted. Moori quicks are hard enough for me, so gave up the pressing and just use those now.
I tried the soaking thing once. I was told by a cuemaker to use "evaporated milk". I could tell no difference in the soaked and unsoaked Triangles, so abandoned the idea.
Later,
Bob
I tried the soaking thing once. I was told by a cuemaker to use "evaporated milk". I could tell no difference in the soaked and unsoaked Triangles, so abandoned the idea.
Later,
Bob
cuetechasaurus said:
The Sniper is a little softer than the current Moori mediums and hold chalk a lot better. They really are a terrific tip. Check out Tiger's site and e-mail Corey Harper. Corey will answer you right away.
He told me a few months ago he said Efren switched to Tiger sniper. I am very happy with mine.
Chris