elk master tips

[loglivn]

Koop.
How would you press a tip to get even compression? Elkmasters are flat on the bottom, but rounded on top. If you put one in a vice, the center is going to compress more than the edges.
It seems easier to find a tip that is already of the hardness that you want in a tip. That's why I use Triangles.
Steve

I use a brass cylinder with a 13mm hole through it and a brass plunger with one end domed shaped and put that in a vise with an elkmaster tip inside.

 

[manwon]

Ah, the voice of real experience - thanks! I have a couple of questions:

How many tips do you press at one time?

Don't they spread out without a jig's walls to keep their diameter constant? Seems you would have trim them and they would be thinner than necessary.

Why five days instead of four or seven? I wonder if soaking the tips would reduce the time needed to obtain the same compression.

What are the changes in diameter and thickness after five days?

I press only one tip at a time. The tips will flatten out, and compress to about half of their original thickness.

The reason I press them for five days is because they will not compress anymore if you leave them longer, and this is what I was taught to do.

I have never heard of anyone soaking Elk Master tips in milk, in the old days road players use to soak non-layered tips in milk. They would then press them until dry. Why they did this or what purpose the milk served I have no clue.

Manwon

 

[loglivn]

I use a brass cylinder with a 13mm hole through it and a brass plunger with one end domed shaped and put that in a vise with an elkmaster tip inside.

Soak an elkmaster in a sanding sealer and then put it in a jig using a vise to compress it. Heat the brass up with a propane torch and that will harden an elkmaster tip up quite a bit. The first time I tried it I compressed it too much. It sounded like I had a rock on the end of my cue.

 

[Unknown]

I don't care how much you press an elkmaster, it's not going to cut it for jumping with a full length cue.

not true a guy that plays in local tournaments has a dufferin cue and uses nothing but elkmaster tips (not pressed) and he can jump quite proficiently with it.

 

[Cuedog]

Why?

Soak an elkmaster in a sanding sealer and then put it in a jig using a vise to compress it. Heat the brass up with a propane torch and that will harden an elkmaster tip up quite a bit. The first time I tried it I compressed it too much. It sounded like I had a rock on the end of my cue.

I'm still unclear as to why anyone presses tips at all. With the multitude of choices out there, why not just find a tip that works as is? The tip I found that pleases most are the Tiger Products line of tips, and in particular, the Sniper tip.

If you are looking to save money, and possibly sacrifice quality for price, look into a water buffalo tip. They are very consistent and usually cost less than the laminated tips.

As far as Elkmasters, LePros, and Triangles go, they are all suspect. It takes an bunch of luck to get one that hits the same as the one you are replacing. I know some will say that is a reason for pressing them, but again, I ask, why bother?

Too many other proven tips out there that require no extra effort at all and hit lights out! Not trying to be a wise ass here, just trying to understand the reasoning.

Gene

Gene

 

[Cuedog]

Earl's tip of choice

Hehehe...those are some good hustles, I could probably pull them off if I was sober.

Seriously though, Earl uses some of the hardest tips I've ever heard, so I doubt an elkmaster would find itself within gluing distance of his cue.

I can somewhat 2nd that. I remember about 6 or 7 years ago, at the Super Billiards Expo, I was purchasing tips from the Chandivert tip company reps. Earl came up and after some discussion, he bought the rest of the "Rocky" tips they had because he wanted "the hardest tip you have". He said it about twenty times, that's how I remember well enough to quote him.

So I would say that Klopek is probably on point unless Earl has gone in the extreme opposite direction as far as his hardness preference is concerned.

The Chandivert company has since gone out of business, so who knows.

Gene

 

[Klopek]

not true a guy that plays in local tournaments has a dufferin cue and uses nothing but elkmaster tips (not pressed) and he can jump quite proficiently with it.

I know jumping with elkmasters can be done, but there'll come a time when the cue and obstructing ball are 4" away when an elk tip may not consistently provide the desired results. I should have been more clear when I said they wouldn't "cut it".

 

[manwon]

I'm still unclear as to why anyone presses tips at all. With the multitude of choices out there, why not just find a tip that works as is? The tip I found that pleases most are the Tiger Products line of tips, and in particular, the Sniper tip.

If you are looking to save money, and possibly sacrifice quality for price, look into a water buffalo tip. They are very consistent and usually cost less than the laminated tips.

As far as Elkmasters, LePros, and Triangles go, they are all suspect. It takes an bunch of luck to get one that hits the same as the one you are replacing. I know some will say that is a reason for pressing them, but again, I ask, why bother?

Too many other proven tips out there that require no extra effort at all and hit lights out! Not trying to be a wise ass here, just trying to understand the reasoning.

Gene

Gene

Contact Efren, and ask him why he uses these tip's!!!

 

[Klopek]

I'm still unclear as to why anyone presses tips at all. With the multitude of choices out there, why not just find a tip that works as is? The tip I found that pleases most are the Tiger Products line of tips, and in particular, the Sniper tip.

If you are looking to save money, and possibly sacrifice quality for price, look into a water buffalo tip. They are very consistent and usually cost less than the laminated tips.

As far as Elkmasters, LePros, and Triangles go, they are all suspect. It takes an bunch of luck to get one that hits the same as the one you are replacing. I know some will say that is a reason for pressing them, but again, I ask, why bother?

Too many other proven tips out there that require no extra effort at all and hit lights out! Not trying to be a wise ass here, just trying to understand the reasoning.

Gene

I agree, but I somewhat understand the ritual behind creating a personal tip. I've aways thought of it like a samurai and his sword. Why spend 5 years crafting a sword when there's probably a dozen rusty one's out in the shed?. There's a psychological edge behind it, like becoming one with your cue/tip. I do all my own tip installation for the same reason, it's become ritual. I buy high quality hard layered tips, but I don't tamper with them at all. I say let them have their rituals, they do benefit players from a psycholigical standpoint.

 

[Cuedog]

Good one

Contact Efren, and ask him why he uses these tip's!!!

So you're directly relating Efren's success to his use of these tips. Come on.

Gene

 

[rackem]

Hehehe...those are some good hustles, I could probably pull them off if I was sober.

Seriously though, Earl uses some of the hardest tips I've ever heard, so I doubt an elkmaster would find itself within gluing distance of his cue.

Probably just the "Cutec Click"

 

[Klopek]

Contact Efren, and ask him why he uses these tip's!!!

Efren's been playing since he only had three choices for tips. He's only ever known solid tips and at this point why fix something that ain't broke. He must have noticed a decline in the elkmaster's manufacturing process cuz he's been experimenting the last few yrs with other tips. If he keeps coming back to elkmaster, it's probably more out of superstition than playability reasons. He could play lights out with a paperweight on the end of his cue. And this stuff about him pressing his tips is probably urban legend anyway. He may bounce his shaft to settle the tip in, but he doesn't need an edge at his level.

 

[manwon]

So you're directly relating Efren's success to his use of these tips. Come on.

Gene

Hey Gene, I am not directly relating Efren's success to anything. You made the comment that you could not understand why someone would use a pressed tip in the first place.

Gene, you also said that maybe it was because they were trying to save money and sacrifice quality for price.

I just thought that Efren may be able to answer your question since he uses them.

Manwon

 

[manwon]

Efren's been playing since he only had three choices for tips. He's only ever known solid tips and at this point why fix something that ain't broke. He must have noticed a decline in the elkmaster's manufacturing process cuz he's been experimenting the last few yrs with other tips. If he keeps coming back to elkmaster, it's probably more out of superstition than playability reasons. He could play lights out with a paperweight on the end of his cue. And this stuff about him pressing his tips is probably urban legend anyway. He may bounce his shaft to settle the tip in, but he doesn't need an edge at his level.

The fact that he uses Pressed Tips is not urban Legend. Santos also uses pressed Elk Master tips and this also is not a urban legend.

I am not saying that this the way to go, all I am saying is that allot of people seem to be doing it, and these people appear to know what they are doing.

Manwon

 

[Klopek]

The fact that he uses Pressed Tips is not urban Legend. Santos also uses pressed Elk Master tips and this also is not a urban legend.

I am not saying that this the way to go, all I am saying is that allot of people seem to be doing it, and these people appear to know what they are doing.

Manwon

Maybe they press, all I know is that if Efren said shaving his taint made him play better there'd be a lot of itchy sacks out there.

 

[Cuedog]

Misquoted

Hey Gene, I am not directly relating Efren's success to anything. You made the comment that you could not understand why someone would use a pressed tip in the first place.

Gene, you also said that maybe it was because they were trying to save money and sacrifice quality for price.

I just thought that Efren may be able to answer your question since he uses them.

Manwon

You are two for two in the misquotes of the day category. Here is exactly what I said.

I'm still unclear as to why anyone presses tips at all. With the multitude of choices out there, why not just find a tip that works as is?

and...

If you are looking to save money, and possibly sacrifice quality for price, look into a water buffalo tip.?

Takes on a more passive or innocent type tone when read as I actually wrote it. I'm not here to argue or press home my beliefs. Just informational and looking to solicit some as well.

Gene

 

[manwon]

You are two for two in the misquotes of the day category. Here is exactly what I said.


and...



Takes on a more passive or innocent type tone when read as I actually wrote it. I'm not here to argue or press home my beliefs. Just informational and looking to solicit some as well.

Gene

Thanks Gene, I completely agree.

 

[trueblu8]

In my opinion, of the solid tips, the clear winner is Triangle. Tip to tip, box to box, they are remarkably consistent. Every Triangle plays as well or better than the select best Le Pros, but with more feel. The Triangle tips hold their shape really well, yet they are not bone hard. They are not prone to glazing over like Le Pro, either.

I agree. But I am curious as to how a "pressed" Elk Master would play.

 

[trueblu8]

I remember about 6 or 7 years ago, at the Super Billiards Expo, I was purchasing tips from the Chandivert tip company reps. Earl came up and after some discussion, he bought the rest of the "Rocky" tips they had because he wanted "the hardest tip you have". He said it about twenty times, that's how I remember well enough to quote him.

That's hilarious!

 

[L. Salazar]

enough

Elkmasters are my choice because...
a. They are infused with Master chalk
b. Any tip can be pressed to the desired hardness by feel.
c. How can 1/4 of the top pros be wrong?
d. Since I've changed, I miscue 75% less