Milk Duds
- Thread starter Flex
- Start date
Water Duds
I compressed several elks a couple of months back after soaking and hour in water. Originally they are about .250 tall, after compression they are .180 tall. I needed a reference point as a start. It is a more firm hit but they still play on the soft side.
I have better than 30 hours on them, still play on the soft side and no, absolutely no mushroom. It's my playing cue and I break with it as well. They hold chalk very well but still a bit to soft for me. I'd say at that height they play a little less firm than medium.
As far as english, draw etc, that's in the stroke not the tip. I can easily draw table distance with any tip. I was searching for a better tip without paying such high prices and I really don't care for laminated tips.
Many years ago I use to soak elks in clear lacquer. It worked fine and they firmed up at a much faster pace. I have some that I soaked in milk for an hour or so also, just haven't tried them yet. I can only wear out tips so fast. LOL I'll put them on another cue but I'll bet they feel the same.
Next step for me is compressing them down about .020 more. I have my vice marked from before, I'll just crank it down a tiny bit more. I think it's important to have a reference and not just make them flat as a pancake. That way I can reproduce the same feel. What I really like is a med firm hit. These tips as they are though are great for playing 1P.
Rod
I compressed several elks a couple of months back after soaking and hour in water. Originally they are about .250 tall, after compression they are .180 tall. I needed a reference point as a start. It is a more firm hit but they still play on the soft side.
I have better than 30 hours on them, still play on the soft side and no, absolutely no mushroom. It's my playing cue and I break with it as well. They hold chalk very well but still a bit to soft for me. I'd say at that height they play a little less firm than medium.
As far as english, draw etc, that's in the stroke not the tip. I can easily draw table distance with any tip. I was searching for a better tip without paying such high prices and I really don't care for laminated tips.
Many years ago I use to soak elks in clear lacquer. It worked fine and they firmed up at a much faster pace. I have some that I soaked in milk for an hour or so also, just haven't tried them yet. I can only wear out tips so fast. LOL I'll put them on another cue but I'll bet they feel the same.
Next step for me is compressing them down about .020 more. I have my vice marked from before, I'll just crank it down a tiny bit more. I think it's important to have a reference and not just make them flat as a pancake. That way I can reproduce the same feel. What I really like is a med firm hit. These tips as they are though are great for playing 1P.
Rod
oddity
I made a few milk duds at once. Put one on a shaft and liked it just fine, not surprising since I used one for many years. However, something interesting happened to one I left laying on my desk. It may have sat there several months when I noticed it and started fiddling with it while on the phone. What I noticed was that there seemed to be a gap between a very thin outer shell and maybe 1/32" of an inch below it, either a very soft layer or an actual air gap. On that particular tip it would seem that far from strengthening or hardening the tip, treating the tip with milk caused it to break down over time. I did keep my milk cool enough that it didn't sour during the initial soaking.
I'm not sure what to make of this since I haven't soaked a batch of tips at once to see how common this would be. Just laying it on the table as possible food for thought.
Hu
I made a few milk duds at once. Put one on a shaft and liked it just fine, not surprising since I used one for many years. However, something interesting happened to one I left laying on my desk. It may have sat there several months when I noticed it and started fiddling with it while on the phone. What I noticed was that there seemed to be a gap between a very thin outer shell and maybe 1/32" of an inch below it, either a very soft layer or an actual air gap. On that particular tip it would seem that far from strengthening or hardening the tip, treating the tip with milk caused it to break down over time. I did keep my milk cool enough that it didn't sour during the initial soaking.
I'm not sure what to make of this since I haven't soaked a batch of tips at once to see how common this would be. Just laying it on the table as possible food for thought.
Hu
I tried soaking them in 90% iso-alcohol, then into the vice. They dried quickly, and didn't play too bad. I actually prefer the Sniper tips though.
When I crush my elkmasters in a vice, I put a steel ball bearing about the size of a marble in the center. I find this hardens the center up for breaking and other power center ball shots while leaving the sides softer for spin shots.
P.S. I like milk in my cereal, I have never tried cornflakes on my cue.
Bern
P.S. I like milk in my cereal, I have never tried cornflakes on my cue.
Bern
you ought to try my raisinettes.
M.C.
M.C.
The reason milk is used is because of the sugar in it...acts as a glue. Maybe chocolate milk has more sugar. Could work great; at least I don't see any harm.X Breaker said:
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Tried mine out tonight. Very pleased with it. I lost a few racks to start with but broke & ran in the 5th then again in the 7th (but scratched on the 8)
It really did feel hard to start with, but soft shots felt very nice. As for putting English (or side as us English call it!) on the CB, wow! I was using a LePro before I put the milk dud on, there is no way I could hit that close to the edge of the CB with the LP!
I found my positional play was better than it had been for a long time. Draw shots worked well too. This was on a 9ft Diamond.
Flex, all credit to you for starting this thread. Thanks to you I now have a tip that reminds me of my snooker playing days!
Ade.
It really did feel hard to start with, but soft shots felt very nice. As for putting English (or side as us English call it!) on the CB, wow! I was using a LePro before I put the milk dud on, there is no way I could hit that close to the edge of the CB with the LP!
I found my positional play was better than it had been for a long time. Draw shots worked well too. This was on a 9ft Diamond.
Flex, all credit to you for starting this thread. Thanks to you I now have a tip that reminds me of my snooker playing days!
Ade.
Im gonna try soaking one in Redbull and Vodka. That should give it a little kick