Here is my "DYI Hard Milk Dud Tip Recipe"
Using a Vise-Grip clamp and this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/POOL-CUE-TIP-PRESS-14mm-PRESS-JUMP-CUE-BREAK-CUE-PLAYING-TIPS-lathe-repair-
tools-/171402924717?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27e86912ad
1. Fill small microwaveable bowl with milk enough to cover one Elkmaster tip.
2. Heat in microwave set to high for 20 seconds.
3. Cool in microwave for 30 seconds.
4. Heat again for 10 seconds.
5. Let soak in microwave for 5 minutes.
6. Heat again for 10 seconds.
7. Let soak for another 5 minutes. (while soaking pre-heat oven to 150 deg.)
8. Rinse tip in cold tap water, and dry with paper towel.
9. Place tip in tip vise using the flat piston (not the domed one).
10. Compress in Vise-Grip clamp with adjusting knob set at 3/4 inch out.
11. Bake, (clamp and all) in oven for 30 minutes, then turn off oven, but leave
the the door closed.
12. After one hour or more, remove the tip from the vise/clamp and check thickness.
The Elkmaster tips are normally around .250" out of the box. After pressing as above,
mine are normally .180" +/- one or two thousanths.
I think sticking to a time table, and the consistent clamping pressure that the
Vise Clamp provides produces a consistant tip. You can adjust the clamp for a harder
or softer tip. I break and play with my shooter, using the above specs.
To me these tips feel, and sound like a hard tip, but grip like a medium.
I have never had one mushroom, even when used on a break cue. They rarely need reshaping.
If they glaze over, I give them a light scuffing. I practice or play every day, and
I expect at least a year before my tip will need replacing.
