Knife for triming a new tip.

[WildWing]

Good to see you went with tape and sandpaper to finish the installation, that was my real point. The first 90 to 95 percent of the tip isn't the hard part, its the last bit to get it flush with the ferrule. It looks good. My point was that most trying the whole process with just a sharp chisel are asking for trouble.

 

[9Ballr]

I've been changing tips on my cues for about 20 years.
I use three tools.
This razor blade:

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-11-92...429553412&sr=8-1&keywords=utility+razor+blade

400 grit sandpaper for the tip.
And a scuffer.

Done!
Three tools.
20 years, never had a tip come lose.
Do it about once a year to my main playing shaft.

1. Cut old tip off. (razor blade)
2. Make sure ferrule surface is level and clean. (razor blade)
3. Make a few circles gently pressing the glue surface of your tip onto the sand paper.
4. Glue the new tip on.
5. Remove the excess tip. (Back to the razor blade on this one).
6. Shape. (scuffer)
This takes about 15 minutes.

 

[macguy]

I've been changing tips on my cues for about 20 years.
I use three tools.
This razor blade:

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-11-92...429553412&sr=8-1&keywords=utility+razor+blade

400 grit sandpaper for the tip.
And a scuffer.

Done!
Three tools.
20 years, never had a tip come lose.
Do it about once a year to my main playing shaft.

1. Cut old tip off. (razor blade)
2. Make sure ferrule surface is level and clean. (razor blade)
3. Make a few circles gently pressing the glue surface of your tip onto the sand paper.
4. Glue the new tip on.
5. Remove the excess tip. (Back to the razor blade on this one).
6. Shape. (scuffer)
This takes about 15 minutes.

One of the tricks is how you hold the shaft when trimming. Others may have their own way but I hold the shaft tip down on a wood block. The shatf is actually resting against my cheek as I trim it. My face is probably no more then 6 or 8 inches from the tip.

I rotate the shaft and with a steady hand trim it in a slight bell shape away from the ferrule. I continue till it is perfectly even with the ferrule. The begin to bring it to parallel with the shaft. Do some finish work and it is done.

I had a kid working for me who could do the whole operation in like 10 minutes. He would have that razor blade moving up and down like a sewing machine. Never even touch the ferrule. Like I said in my other post, your hands are amazing tools.