Elkmaster Vs Pressed Elkmaster

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DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just wondering how much difference in hardness there is between a regular Elkmaster and a pressed Elkmaster tip? it was my understanding that Efren used to play with an Elkmaster, and most people assumed it was pressed.

Does pressing an Elkmaster make it sort of halfway between soft and medium? or is the difference just really barely noticeable?

Mike
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Just wondering how much difference in hardness there is between a regular Elkmaster and a pressed Elkmaster tip? it was my understanding that Efren used to play with an Elkmaster, and most people assumed it was pressed.

Does pressing an Elkmaster make it sort of halfway between soft and medium? or is the difference just really barely noticeable?

Mike
Click to expand...

Mike,

I could be wrong, but it is my understanding that after soaking an elkmaster you can press it to whatever hardness you like, including a hard (I've played with one that was hard...and it was). It's the force and length of time in the press which determines its hardness. The appeal is that after pressing, the tip will still hold chalk like a soft would and hold it's shape.

So if that's true, the standard elkmaster would be softer most of the time.

Hope this helps.

Dave
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Just wondering how much difference in hardness there is between a regular Elkmaster and a pressed Elkmaster tip? it was my understanding that Efren used to play with an Elkmaster, and most people assumed it was pressed.

Does pressing an Elkmaster make it sort of halfway between soft and medium? or is the difference just really barely noticeable?

Mike
Click to expand...

Mike:

Another alternative to pressing an Elkmaster, if you're mechanically-inclined and are good with tip tools, is to install a standard Elkmaster, and just play several racks of "slam-ball" (i.e. hitting every shot with a power stroke -- which has the added benefit of loosening up your arm / practicing accuracy with power). After several racks of slam-ball, you'll notice the Elkmaster has squashed down a bit and mushroomed. Using your good mechanically-inclined tip tool skills, carefully shave-off the mushroomed area, and burnish. You may have to do this one more time in a month or so, but after the Elkmaster has "settled" and no longer compresses, you'll still have the characteristics of a soft tip, but one that is stable, consistent, and no longer mushrooms.

My older Elkmasters are my favorites, because they have all the characteristics of a layered tip (i.e. consistency, stability, and no mushrooming), but with the ruggedness and durability of a one-piece/single-layer tip (i.e. no worries of delamination, because there's no such thing with an Elkmaster).

P.S.: because the Elkmaster is soft, you don't need to aggressively tip-pick/sand/scuff like I see lots of folks doing. Just a regular chalk-seating regimen will do everything you need, and the Elkmaster will last you a long, LONG time!

Hope this helps!
-Sean
 
I would view dry pressing as an accelerated break-in process.

As noted above, Elkmasters start out soft, but become firmer with use.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Just wondering how much difference in hardness there is between a regular Elkmaster and a pressed Elkmaster tip? it was my understanding that Efren used to play with an Elkmaster, and most people assumed it was pressed.

Does pressing an Elkmaster make it sort of halfway between soft and medium? or is the difference just really barely noticeable?

Mike
Click to expand...

If you go to YouTube and search "What's in the case Efren Reyes" he tells you he's playing with a medium pressed Elk Master. Ron
 
spanky79 said:
not any more, he uses a blue diamond now, also a soft tip
Click to expand...

spanky79:

"Blue Diamond" (i.e. the famous chalk)? Or did you mean "Blue Knight" (a soft tip also made by Tweeten)?

Just want to clarify -- I've not heard of Blue Diamond "tips," but hey, I learn me something new every day!

-Sean
 
the blue diamond and elkmaster are virtually identical to me....these are the 2 most common tips for snooker. some say they can tell a difference, but i can't

i've been pressing elks and bd's for awhile now and it just basically eliminates the break in time for the tip. though with these tips you do get some bad ones in the box and the hardness is inconsistent from tip to tip. pressing won't change any of that, a crap tip is a crap tip. and even with pressing, some tips will be a lot harder and some softer.
 
The Elk master tip right out the box is what is used as replacement tips in my home room they are cheap and last long enough for public abuse. I have run the gambit with tips and always come back to Elk Master Milk Duds, you just can't beat them.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Just wondering how much difference in hardness there is between a regular Elkmaster and a pressed Elkmaster tip? it was my understanding that Efren used to play with an Elkmaster, and most people assumed it was pressed.

Does pressing an Elkmaster make it sort of halfway between soft and medium? or is the difference just really barely noticeable?

Mike
Click to expand...

I liked them soaked and pressed.
 
Elk Masters pressed in Buttermilk

you press the Elkmasters in buttermilk. The one's that bounce higher when dropped make a higher pitch. Higher pitch tips are used for nine ball and the lower pitch are for one pocket. Efren and Francisco were in the bay area last month and we are out. An old Filipino makes them just a couple at a time, and they are not for sale. There are other people who make Milk Duds as they are being called. Good Luck, Barney :)
 
I pick out the softest tip in the box and throw it on as is. It doesnt take long to break it in and while its still soft I have fun with mad spin I can put on the ball. Thats the best part of putting on a new tip! :)
 
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