Laminated tip question

Sloppy Pockets

Sloppy Pockets

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I switched my playing tip over to an UltraSkin about six months ago. It was the first time I ever used a laminated tip. I tried a soft and really liked it, feeling that it grabbed the ball better for me, and held its shape after the initial play in period.

I got a dime radius on it, and now after it's worn down some there is a tiny circle about 4mm across that won't take the chalk well anymore. It looks to be the entire outer layer. I was thinking it might be that the outer layer is now so thin that it's mostly whatever resin/adhesive they used to glue the layers together, and very little leather on the outside.

Is this normal with laminated tips? If so, should I just sand that layer off to get to the next layer, or just replace the tip? I don't mind changing it out, it's easy enough to do and they sure are cheap enough to AZers.

Not slamming the product at all, just curious is all.
 
Sounds like a glue layer, although they are not supposed to be nearly that thick.

So while a visible ring of adhesive is not uncommon on a layered tip, what you describe is and is most likely a failure of QC during the layup process. Probably a fluke but none the less.

Cut that layer off, reshape and if all is good by the next layer, I'd say your fine.
 
Pathetic Shark said:
Odds are, I'll take my chances...

Prove to me a single layered tip performs better and I'm all over it.
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All day long and twice on Sundays...

Mr. Moori made the first layered tips and changed the game because he knew that the Japanese pig skin was superior in elasticity to anything on the market... That was 20 years ago.... Adhesives and elastomers have moved light years in the same amount of time....

A kamui SS will harden 10% plus in 4-6 weeks... As will EVERY layered tip I have tested... The Ki-Techs will move about 2%...

While COR and hardness are not 1:1 they are very much related... As in the Ki-tech plays within 2% of how it played on day one and the Kamui/Layered changes 10%plus....... Not a big deal until you have to replace the tip because of wear or delamination.... being in the middle of something ($$$) is not the time to deal with a 10% difference in the new tip vs the old.....


Chris
 
The Renfro said:
All day long and twice on Sundays...

Mr. Moori made the first layered tips and changed the game because he knew that the Japanese pig skin was superior in elasticity to anything on the market... That was 20 years ago.... Adhesives and elastomers have moved light years in the same amount of time....

A kamui SS will harden 10% plus in 4-6 weeks... As will EVERY layered tip I have tested... The Ki-Techs will move about 2%...

While COR and hardness are not 1:1 they are very much related... As in the Ki-tech plays within 2% of how it played on day one and the Kamui/Layered changes 10%plus....... Not a big deal until you have to replace the tip because of wear or delamination.... being in the middle of something ($$$) is not the time to deal with a 10% difference in the new tip vs the old.....


Chris
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I think layered tips are a PITA and very overpriced (except Ultraskins). However, performance-wise they are night and day to a non layered, well some of them are. I don't care about a tip hardening as you don't notice that on a day to day basis, and harder the better for me anyway. All I care about is miscueing (glazing) and how much grip it has.

My experience:

Layered tips - lots of draw, lots of glazing
Non layered - less draw, few miscues.
 
I was never a fan of layered tips, I always liked the Triangles. I felt layered tip mfgs took advantage of consumers over pricing tiny pieces of leather. I don't mind spending money, but I don't appreciate getting robbed, be it for tips, chalk, or cues.

That being said, in looking at a layered tip's face, I always felt that with the layers exposed like rings across the face, they offered some potential gripping benefits.

I found Tiger Emerald tips at what I considered a reasonable price (about 3.50 each) so I gave them a try. Now that is the only tip I use.

They hold chalk well, even in the center, reasonably priced, and IMO overall better tip than Triangles.

I suggest you give these a try. Oh, one more thing, a breeze to install and shape.
 
RRfireblade said:
Sounds like a glue layer, although they are not supposed to be nearly that thick.

So while a visible ring of adhesive is not uncommon on a layered tip, what you describe is and is most likely a failure of QC during the layup process. Probably a fluke but none the less.

Cut that layer off, reshape and if all is good by the next layer, I'd say your fine.
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I did what you said, and after a little finessing with the Gator Grip it holds the chalk fine.
 
The Renfro said:
You have an alternative when it wears out... Guarantee the Ki-Techs wayyy outlast them....
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I won a free sampler from you, so next up in the cue queue is a soft Ki-Tech. I'll let you know how it works for me.

I wish I knew ahead of time I could have substituted another soft for the hard one, though. Those Ki-Tech hards really earn their name. I can't see ever using one unless I make a break cue some day.;)
 
The Renfro said:
you want that showing up before or in the middle of your next tourney match or gambling session???? Odds are u figure it out after......
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Well, being a child of the 60's and playing in big money games and tournaments at that time I had 5 shafts for my Palmer and always a piece of sand paper in my box case.

I don't care if it is a layered or single tip, you can always find some maintenance that might need to be done.

Just my .02 cents
 
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