HELP- How To PROPERLY SHAPE ELKMASTER TIP???

Duane Remick

Duane Remick

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i just got a cue in with a new elkmaster,
it needs to be be trimmed and shaped,
what is the best method?
I have tried trimming the edge with a sharp box knife blade , and also sanding the tip to shape on elkmaster tips in the past,
but seems to make the tip nice and fluffy!
a condition that really doenst work well for me :D
 
If it's light and fluffy, chances are it has expoded and you will need to replace it IMO
 
What I do is Install the tip, trim it to the ferrule and the put some sealer on the sides while in the lathe and burnish. What I find is this type of tip is very soft and when it's fluffy the leather is torn and useless. You need a new tip and you need an extremely sharp knife to cut it and install properly the doming can be done with sone 320 sand paper in the lathe. The tip should be smooth and then lightly tip ***** and chalk. My buddy who uses elk master fluffs his up also and it has no bite and plays terrible
 
Hi,

Here's what works for me on EMs.

Keep the lathe in a medium speed range when cutting your sides and crown. Not too fast. Some people soak them in buttermilk and press them. I just put them in a vise to compress them for a minute or two. After glue up, I wipe the excess gel over the side of the tip while it is spinning with a paper towel to impregnate the side with glue. You don't want to keep doing this as you cut the side down because it will suck into the core of the tip and it won't be a soft tip anymore. One time only when the tip is still oversize.

When I am cutting sides or shaping the tip crown I wet it with spit and burnish it with a paper towel at high speed so the tip gets about 150 degrees for a few seconds. This case hardens it for a clean cutting sides and arc passes when shaping. Don't be afraid to stop and wet and re-burnish several times during the process at high speed. Sand side with 320 to finish the blending and cleaning up of the ferrule, then 600 to 1200 on the ferrule and then polish both tip and ferrule making sure not to get a polish on the end of the tip.

This should stop and exploding or sponging of the tip. Now your ready to pop a 30 MPH break shot. :killingme:

Rick
 
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I seal elks with a thin coat of super glue, and then shape with a razor blade. I also squeeze them in a C clamp before install. This seems to reduce the number of blow outs.

I think that by sealing the outside with the super glue, it gives the tip a chance to be broke in. The super glue will eventually wear off, but by that point the tip is broke in and holds its shape nicely at that point. I have less problems with mushrooming this way as well.
 
Duane Remick said:
i just got a cue in with a new elkmaster,
it needs to be be trimmed and shaped,
what is the best method?
I have tried trimming the edge with a sharp box knife blade , and also sanding the tip to shape on elkmaster tips in the past,
but seems to make the tip nice and fluffy!
a condition that really doenst work well for me :D
Click to expand...

Single edged RAZOR blade - a NEW one - for Elkmaster tips, you
sometimes need more than one per tip.

Dale
 
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