New Cue Care / Break-In Advice

BWTadpole

BWTadpole

The Nitcracker
Silver Member
I just purchased a new cue, but I'm not too experienced breaking in the tip. The cues I've had up to this point have been second-hand and well-used. My main concerns are the length of time one must play with a cue until the tip will hold shape, and also keeping the tip from mushrooming.

My second worry is with the white wrap. I'm a right-handed player, but I also chalk with my right hand. Frequently, my hand ends up blue from extra chalk that falls off. I don't excessively chalk up, just a few swipes when I'm in rhythm. Are there any treatment options I have with my wrap in addition to keeping my hands clean as I play?
 
I bounce mine on the pavement.
Yup.
Join the cue tight and start bouncind the cue.
I notice they bounce more as soon as the tip hardens up.
 
as far as the wrap goes, when it gets dirty

get a can of spray starch
clean rag

spray some starch on the rag and wipe down the wrap ( all kinds of shit will come out of it) then dry the wrap thoroughly. after that leave it " in the rough" or smooth it out by running a shot glass or coffee mug up and down the wrap quite a few times
 
JoeyInCali said:
I bounce mine on the pavement.
Yup.
Join the cue tight and start bouncind the cue.
I notice they bounce more as soon as the tip hardens up.
Click to expand...
I bounce mine as well... ~100 times... just let it drop from ~1 foot high onto concrete. Re-shape your tip after that... and you're good to go for quite a while... especially if you're using a layered tip, since they maintain their shape so well as they wear.

Re excessive blue chalk on your hands... I'm the same way so I have with me while shooting, a damp washcloth that I use to wipe my hands between innings... and I also wipe down my shaft between innings as well. Helps to prevent excessive bluing of my shaft(s).... fwiw.
 
Jeffrey Gale said:
I though I was the only crazy one that bounces his cue to break in the tip. :D
Click to expand...
I bounce mine well over a hundred times. A hundred goes by rather quickly. About 2 minutes.

I got that tip from Canadian cuemaker and long lost poster Tony Matthews.

Fred
 
How about a no-proporsity tip- But then I wouldn't get a laugh reading some of these tip tips. Kamui I just had to post. They'll last yrs-www.kamuibrand .com mark
 
A female champion friend of mine pounds the tip a couple hundred times with a cue ball. Seems like pounding on concrete would take quite a toll on the leather...but I like mine worn down or shaved off some at first anyway.

Regards,
Jim
 
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