Newbie tip change question

2

219Dave

Pool is my therapy
Silver Member
I've had the same tip on my cue for almost two years now, and I'm thinking of trying something else. A local pro shop has the tip that I want to try. Does everyone pretty much switch out a tip the same way, or are there different techniques? Specifically, I think I've read on here people talking about using a lathe. I'm pretty sure this guy doesn't have one. Do you need a lathe to properly put on a new layered tip?

I'm not sure if it matters, but I'm thinking of trying out a Kamui medium or medium soft on my 314-2 shaft (12.75 mm)

Thanks in advance!
 
Buy the tip from someone that has a little shop to put them on or buy the tip and find a cuemaker that will put it on. Johnnyt
 
I've been putting on my own layerd tips for years. I do not have a lathe. I've had tips put on while I was at tournaments by someone with a lathe, and I honestly I don't notice any difference once it's shaped and scuffed. Certainly you want someone who has experience doing tips to take care of yours, but other than that changing a tip is a fairly simple task.
 
219Dave said:
I've had the same tip on my cue for almost two years now, and I'm thinking of trying something else. A local pro shop has the tip that I want to try. Does everyone pretty much switch out a tip the same way, or are there different techniques? Specifically, I think I've read on here people talking about using a lathe. I'm pretty sure this guy doesn't have one. Do you need a lathe to properly put on a new layered tip?

I'm not sure if it matters, but I'm thinking of trying out a Kamui medium or medium soft on my 314-2 shaft (12.75 mm)

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Since he doesn't have a lathe (pro shop???), you can pretty much count on him to hack-up your ferrule when installing the tip. Not to worry, Predator can install a new ferrule for $45.
 
KJ Cues said:
Since he doesn't have a lathe (pro shop???), you can pretty much count on him to hack-up your ferrule when installing the tip. Not to worry, Predator can install a new ferrule for $45.
Click to expand...
So you are saying that you cant put a tip on a cue without a lathe..... without "hacking up" the ferrule?
BS
Chuck
 
Thanks for the answers, but still a little confused. Is the prevailing wisdom that you do or don't need a lathe?
 
219Dave said:
Thanks for the answers, but still a little confused. Is the prevailing wisdom that you do or don't need a lathe?
Click to expand...


You CAN do it without a lathe, but you CAN very easily screw up your ferrule if you dont know what youre doing or if youre not sure what youre doing.
So if you dont know how to do it, then get someone at a shop with a lathe do it for you.
I do my own tips, layered and unlayered, and they never come out as good as they would if they were done on a lathe. But they are good enough for me.
 
RiverCity said:
So you are saying that you cant put a tip on a cue without a lathe..... without "hacking up" the ferrule?
BS
Chuck
Click to expand...

Oh, I'm not saying it can't be done....of course it can.
But now let me ask you. If you were running a billiard 'pro shop',
would you trust your abilities to put every tip on by hand?
Plus guarantee every client that comes through your door that you're
not going to touch the ferrule, the tip will be square to the ferrule and it will be perfectly centered? Every time?

When you're running a business, you don't mickey mouse it.
You do it right or you find another line of work.
The player that entrusts you with his/her cue, even for something as simple as a new tip, is entitled to expect and deserves, the highest
level of professionalism that their money can buy.

Maybe he didn't mean to say 'pro shop', or he gave it a very loose translation.
 
KJ Cues said:
Oh, I'm not saying it can't be done....of course it can.
But now let me ask you. If you were running a billiard 'pro shop',
would you trust your abilities to put every tip on by hand?
Plus guarantee every client that comes through your door that you're
not going to touch the ferrule, the tip will be square to the ferrule and it will be perfectly centered? Every time?

When you're running a business, you don't mickey mouse it.
You do it right or you find another line of work.
The player that entrusts you with his/her cue, even for something as simple as a new tip, is entitled to expect and deserves, the highest
level of professionalism that their money can buy.

Maybe he didn't mean to say 'pro shop', or he gave it a very loose translation.
Click to expand...


I agree, i would not take my cue to get re-tipped at a "pro-shop" that didnt use a lathe.
When i do my own tips, i am very very careful not to touch the ferrule.
I wouldnt let someone else do my tip "by hand" and expect him to be as careful as i am with my property.

But maybe the OP is just assuming that this shop doesnt have a lathe. Or maybe this is just a shop that just sells pool related items.
 
You just have to know what angel to hold the pencil sharpener at:killingme: .
 

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219Dave said:
... Specifically, I think I've read on here people talking about using a lathe. I'm pretty sure this guy doesn't have one. Do you need a lathe to properly put on a new layered tip? ... !
Click to expand...
No you don't need a lathe, and even if a repairman has a lathe, it doesn't mean he's not an idiot. I took my favorite shaft to the premiere billiard supply store in the area a few decades ago to get a new tip. They had a lathe. They also used a chisel (cutting tool) to remove the extra leather on the side. They weren't satisfied with just leather so they took off some ivory too. I didn't much like the oval ferrule. They're gone now.

I think every player should learn how to do his own tips. It's possible to do a job that looks professional with nothing but a knife, glue, a couple of pieces of sandpaper, some Scotch tape and spit. And with no danger to the ferrule. It takes about half an hour plus waiting for the glue. You could start with a Le Pro or Triangle to get the knack.
 
Just to make sure I wasn't going crazy, I went to the website of the place I was thinking of taking my cue--Pro-tyme billiards in Orland Park, IL (SW Chicago burbs). They clearly refer to the "pro shop" and "cue shop" and those are the same place. It's a room above the pool hall with some display cues for sale, tables for sale, accessories, etc. The guy on the phone said that they had in stock Kamui's, and quoted me a price to install one. When I asked him about other cue services, like I have another cue where I want the shaft turned down from 13 to 12.75. He said he'd send it out, as he didn't have a lathe. But he did, he said, have a tool to use to put on a new tip.

So basically, there it is. Should I hunt around for a guy who'll use a lathe to put on a new tip?
 
I've seen and done it both way's,though I prefer a lathe,that's just me.Like the other thread's above have mentioned,it's how skilled the person is and how carefull.I am not that skilled and mine turn out great.I learned 90% of it through AZ-er's on the "ask the cuemaker's" search thread's.Thank you Az-er's and cuemaker's! This might help but is a great product for on the road or no lathe at all. Just my opinion,I am not an expert by any mean's! Ron

http://www.seyberts.com/products/Deluxe_Tip_Replacement_Kit-984-277.html
 
219Dave said:
Just to make sure I wasn't going crazy, I went to the website of the place I was thinking of taking my cue--Pro-tyme billiards in Orland Park, IL (SW Chicago burbs). They clearly refer to the "pro shop" and "cue shop" and those are the same place. It's a room above the pool hall with some display cues for sale, tables for sale, accessories, etc. The guy on the phone said that they had in stock Kamui's, and quoted me a price to install one. When I asked him about other cue services, like I have another cue where I want the shaft turned down from 13 to 12.75. He said he'd send it out, as he didn't have a lathe. But he did, he said, have a tool to use to put on a new tip.

So basically, there it is. Should I hunt around for a guy who'll use a lathe to put on a new tip?
Click to expand...

http://www.poolndarts.com/p-3287-Willard-Tipping-Machine/
He probably has one of these or something similar. If thats the case, then it shouldnt be a problem having him do it if youre sure he knows how to use it.
You should ask around and see if anyone you know has gotten a tip changed by this guy, so you can see the result. If nothing else, ask him if you can watch him work on your tip. You can tell him you want to see how its done in case you want to start doing it yourself. He shouldnt have a problem letting you watch him work if he is confident of his abilities.
Good luck.
 
I agree that any kind of "shop" should have a lathe.... or at least a Willards tipping machine for doing customers tips.
However, as Bob stated, the results of a tip replaced by hand is subject only to the knowledge and experience of the person putting it on.
mooriinstalled.jpg

I lived in an area without access to a lathe for 10-15 years, and learned how to do tips out of need. This is an example of my Moori installations.
Chuck
 
RiverCity said:
However, as Bob stated, the results of a tip replaced by hand is subject only to the knowledge and experience of the person putting it on.
Chuck
Click to expand...

I agree with this ... I've put on many tips and trimmed using porper big shaver. I've seen others use Willard.

One local guy working at a pool hall use his hand, blade and sometimes porper little shaver and he does EXCELLENT work.

I now have a cue repair lathe and use it to put on and trim tips and learning to "free style" with blade for finer trimmer ... lathe can save time.

219Dave, it's probably more important to look at some tip work the person has done and see if he does a good job or not.

Jazz <-- just into the hobby and don't do other people's tips for money
 
i go to a repairman with a lathe because i like supporting the cuemakers, and its a hassle to do it myself, im lazy.
 
RiverCity said:
... I lived in an area without access to a lathe for 10-15 years, and learned how to do tips out of need. ...
Click to expand...
I can one-up you on need. I played in a rec room that not only had no lathe but had no tips on the cues. After the ferrule mushrooms out some, you can keep a fair amount of chalk on the end-grain of the wood. I volunteered to install tips (and fix the ferrules).
 
RiverCity said:
I agree that any kind of "shop" should have a lathe.... or at least a Willards tipping machine for doing customers tips.
However, as Bob stated, the results of a tip replaced by hand is subject only to the knowledge and experience of the person putting it on.
mooriinstalled.jpg

I lived in an area without access to a lathe for 10-15 years, and learned how to do tips out of need. This is an example of my Moori installations.
Chuck
Click to expand...

Chuck.....may I ask what tools you use to get such great results?

thanks
Ray
 
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