nutty idea I tried

[Cue Crazy]

I tried something that may seem alittle silly, but was suprised By the results, so thought I would share and see if anyone else had ever done this.

You guys know how if You try to press a triangle it sponges back to shape, and has quite a bit of memory. I have done this, and read of others making a milk dud tips from them to get them to compress and hold, but you generally have to wait over night or until the tip dries out.

Well I have one of those small import machine vices that I press tips with. I don't know if this was a fluke or not, but I clamped a tip fresh out of the box in there with no soaking, then heated It from the sides of the vice with a My butane torch as evenly as I could, but with enough distance so it only browned the edges of tip and not burn It up. Well I released the preasure from My vice, and it held it's shape staying compressed. I installed the tip and everything went perfect. It also seems to be a very nice firm tip without being too hard, but at the same time not too soft either. Installing was a breeze too.

Anyone ever tried this? Was it just a fluke or is it possible it somehow cooked any humidity out of the tip, helping it hold It's shape? Thanks Greg

 

[dave sutton]

i never did that. i soaked some tips in rubbing alcohol then pressed then and the came out hard. i used for breaking only but was playable

also a local guy soaks elkmasters in some milk concockion then presses and the come out ok

 

[Quesports]

I did something quite nutty myself the other day.
I took a McDermott I/2 shaft and added weight to the inside. They are hollow all the way to the ferrule, so I drilled out the end of the insert and added approximately 25 grams of weight to it. It originally was at 2.85 ozs and now is closer to 3.5 ozs. I have not actually weighed it yet; just an educated guess given the weight of stuff I put in. The balance point of my cue now is the same as it is with my standard shaft! I used some rather interesting stuff which is flexible and will not ( hopefully) change the way it plays. I used it today and it seems fantastic.
Time will tell!!
Dan

 

[Cue Crazy]

I've never tried alcohol, and that may evaporate quicker then other liquids, but I have done the milk dud method on triangles to compress, and that method doesn't evaporate too quickly unless heat is applied. The thing that caught My attention about the torch was that I was able to use the tip right after I did It, and not have to wait over night. I was really suprised that it held. Maybe it was a fluke, I don't know, but it definatly held it's shape on this paticular tip. Besides being able to see it hold when I removed it from the vice, I could tell By how much easier the the tip was to trim & crown.
Keep in mind I have only done this one time just screwing around, but the results were somewhat suprising to Me, so I thought it worth mentioning. I don't know if this method would work everytime or not. I know people like My milk duds, by the number of requests I have been getting, and usually that is from them trying out one I installed for another person, and deciding they want one installed, but I'll still have to see how this torch method works out, and make sure they don't come apart or anything, but so far they don't seem brittle or anything like that. I did have one done in the dud style that the face became warped on and the tip came off, but It looked Like the tip had gotton wet after installation, and that was the only one out of who knows how many I have installed, It's been alot of them though. The face really seems stable on this new method, as it was easy to face It square, but only time will tell I guess.

I guess Ya can't be afraid to try new or crazy things, if You want to pickup on anything new, and it only cost me the price of a tip. We'll see If it's a fluke or not. Maybe I'll go run some tests to see.

 

[RocketQ]

I wonder if the burnishing on the outside of the tip melted down into the tip when you heated it.

 

[Cue Crazy]

I wonder if the burnishing on the outside of the tip melted down into the tip when you heated it.

Could be, I'm really not sure If it's that or some kind of reaction with humidity or the natural moisture in the tip, but I guess both kind of go hand in hand when you consider the process to burnish tips uses moisture also. I just tired another one straight out of the box, and I first clamped It in the vise, left it for a minute or so, backed off the vise and It sponged back close to original shape. Then I clamped it again, and applied the heat, let it cool for a minute, unclamped, and It held shape, so maybe It's not a fluke, but I still need to look at playability, and durability.

 

[rvan]

can you use lepro tips for making milk tips, how do thay compare to morrie.

Thanks Rvan

 

[Cue Crazy]

can you use lepro tips for making milk tips, how do thay compare to morrie.

Thanks Rvan

I usually just press them instead of soaking, and they hold their shape good enough. I may have tried it before, but if so, it's been so long I don't remember the results, and haven't really had the need to try them like that since, so unfortunately I can't really give an honest comparison.

I know atleast one pro that uses Le-Pro tips, and he doesn't like his pressed or anything done to them. Infact he doesn't even like a cutting tool being used to trim the sides, he likes them sanded close, then trimmed with the razor.

The best way it seems to me, is to get the size lepro closest to the size ferrule it will be installed on. This should give the firmest results without taking it farther. Recent discusions and tests, have validated that for me, and I'm actually using several different sizes. Like I just ordered 3 more boxes. I got 13mm, 13.5mm, and 14mm le pros, so i'm even using half sizes now to make sure I get the closest fit, and don't trim past the tanning. This was mentioned By another member, and I have found It to be true Myself Greg

 

[MVPCues]

The best way it seems to me, is to get the size lepro closest to the size ferrule it will be installed on. This should give the firmest results without taking it farther. Recent discusions and tests, have validated that for me, and I'm actually using several different sizes. Like I just ordered 3 more boxes. I got 13mm, 13.5mm, and 14mm le pros, so i'm even using half sizes now to make sure I get the closest fit, and don't trim past the tanning. This was mentioned By another member, and I have found It to be true Myself Greg

I remember that post. Thanks for the added testomony to the original poster on this.

Kelly

 

[Cue Crazy]

I remember that post. Thanks for the added testomony to the original poster on this.

Kelly

Yeah I think It was a thread that Brent posted titled rotton lepros. It seems that the tanning only goes so far into the tip, so if you use too big of a tip and trim all the way through they can become mushy, and burnishing doesn't help the situation. I would take a shot at who mentioned this first to give credit where it's due, but I'd have to read the entire post again to be sure, and don't want to miss anyone. It's all in that thread though.

btw Kelly, check Your emails if You haven't already, Sorry I didn't get back last night, I ended up hitting the rack early again. Hope the picture helps.