Predator Revo tip pad

[skor]

Hi,
I've glued a new tip to a Predator Revo shaft and after the glue dried, I've applied some side pressure with my thumb to make sure that it's glued well ans won't pop off. Been doing this for years with no issue.
When doing that the tip popped off with the pad that was glued to the ferrule. I can't really glue it back. Is it a big deal to glue a tip directly to the ferrule? never had pads on old Predator 314 shafts.
I understand that not having it will void any warranty, I don't care about it, I live outside the USA and sending anything over is not a reality.
So the question is really would the ferrule get damaged not using it?
Maybe I should use a kamui clear that has some kind of pad built-in

 

[sudocrushms]

You can get silencer pads online. I had to replace one of mine and it's been perfectly fine. Straight to the vault plate shouldn't be an issue unless you're in the habit of wearing your tip down to the nub.

 

[JasonATX]

It's phenolic, not a fiber pad according to this: https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/what-is-the-predator-vault-plate-v-tek-pad.509192/

Supposedly, you can get them from Predator, but you have to order like 10 at a time.

 

[skor]

I do my own tips manually, no lathe.
So cutting phenolic pads by hand seems that might be an issue.
Also ordering from Predator overseas is an issue sometimes.
I don’t wear down the tip too low as I like it high.
I took a chance and put a tip directly to the plate.
I hope it won’t damage the plate, hopefully it’ll sound better…
Will test it later at the pool hall

 

[deep]

I do my own tips manually, no lathe.
So cutting phenolic pads by hand seems that might be an issue.
Also ordering from Predator overseas is an issue sometimes.
I don’t wear down the tip too low as I like it high.
I took a chance and put a tip directly to the plate.
I hope it won’t damage the plate, hopefully it’ll sound better…
Will test it later at the pool hall

View attachment 859200

Nice re-tipping job.

I've been using the Mezz IG plates for a while and don't have any complaints.

IG Tip Plate | Mezz Cues: High Quality High Performance Cues, Shafts and Gear

Mezz cues is a high quality, high performance pool, carom and snooker cues, 100% made in Japan.

mezzcue.com

 

[skor]

Nice re-tipping job.

I've been using the Mezz IG plates for a while and don't have any complaints.

IG Tip Plate | Mezz Cues: High Quality High Performance Cues, Shafts and Gear

Mezz cues is a high quality, high performance pool, carom and snooker cues, 100% made in Japan.

mezzcue.com

I think that next time, I'll just cut this tip at the base of the leather and keep the clear and black pad for the next tip
I've done similar thing on a Rhino shaft, leaving the clear pad of the original Time Crystal for a regular Kamui tip I've installed and made it into a "clear" tip.

 

[skor]

Nice re-tipping job.

I've been using the Mezz IG plates for a while and don't have any complaints.

IG Tip Plate | Mezz Cues: High Quality High Performance Cues, Shafts and Gear

Mezz cues is a high quality, high performance pool, carom and snooker cues, 100% made in Japan.

mezzcue.com

I've got some of those Mezz pads and tested installation on an old beat-up shaft that I have. I was afraid that it'll be hard to cut down to size as I don't have a lathe and I do it by hand but it was pretty easy.

 

[RandyinHawaii]

Hi,
I've glued a new tip to a Predator Revo shaft and after the glue dried, I've applied some side pressure with my thumb to make sure that it's glued well ans won't pop off. Been doing this for years with no issue.
When doing that the tip popped off with the pad that was glued to the ferrule. I can't really glue it back. Is it a big deal to glue a tip directly to the ferrule? never had pads on old Predator 314 shafts.
I understand that not having it will void any warranty, I don't care about it, I live outside the USA and sending anything over is not a reality.
So the question is really would the ferrule get damaged not using it?
Maybe I should use a kamui clear that has some kind of pad built-in

View attachment 859180

I just got a new Revo 12.9 and after just a few shots, the tip popped off with the pad.

 

[skor]

I just got a new Revo 12.9 and after just a few shots, the tip popped off with the pad.

Looks like some quality control issues at Predator

 

[Paul_#_]

I took a chance and put a tip directly to the plate.
I hope it won’t damage the plate, hopefully it’ll sound better…
Will test it later at the pool hall

You did not keep the silencer pad on the Revo.
Did things work out in not having a silencer pad?

 

[Iwishiwasrich]

I've got some of those Mezz pads and tested installation on an old beat-up shaft that I have. I was afraid that it'll be hard to cut down to size as I don't have a lathe and I do it by hand but it was pretty easy.

View attachment 863715

If you don't mind me asking, how do you get results that good by hand with no lathe?

 

[skor]

If you don't mind me asking, how do you get results that good by hand with no lathe?

slowly and carefully It's not something that I can explain easily by writing, but' I'll try.
I use a utility knife to cut the tip down to the diameter of the ferrule. cutting just a little bit at every cut, so it take some times, I cut in an angle away from the center so it is a bit wider at the top and flush at the bottom with the ferrule, I try to get it straight as much as possible but I don't worry too much about it because I'll deal with it later. you can use different techniques with the knife, just find what's working for you.

I then use fine sand paper on the side of the tip to make it smoother and rounder.
Then round the tip a bit with this trimmer to get it closer to the dime shape. This leaves a mushroom shaped tip. Now I use the Longoni cue tip razor which does the final cutting of the tip edge and remove the mushrooming and leaved me with a nice round and straight tip. Before I got the longoni tool, I would just keep cutting it with the knife until I got to shape but this tool is great and shorten the process. Next step is another round with a sand paper to the sides of the tip to get it smoother.
Next step is to finalize the shape of the tip, I use the Last 4 Ever Dime tool.
Next is to burnish the sides of the tip with some spit a piece of leather. this usually burnish a bit over the edge of the side of the tip into the shape area so when I'm done burnishing, I use the Last 4 Ever tool once again just to scuff the whole area of the rounded surface.
I hope it's clear enough.
Next time that I'll replace a tip, I'll try to take pictures of the stages or maybe a video.

 

[skor]

You did not keep the silencer pad on the Revo.
Did things work out in not having a silencer pad?

No issues so far, plays just fine.
I will install a pad next time I'll re-tip the Revo. The ferrules/ plates on CF shafts are so thin so a pad is a good idea to install a pad in order to guard the ferrule not to loose width every time you re-tip the shaft because when removing an old tip, you always shave off the ferrule a bit to get it clean and even, a pad should last quite a few tip replacement so it'll prolong the ferrule/plate life.

 

[skor]

I think there is an issue with the material that the Predator Revo plate is made of.
As I really didn't like the tip that I have installed (Kamui clear hard), I've decided to replace it and while at it, to install a pad as well.
When I came to cut the tip off, I've placed the knife blade at the center of the clear pad of the tip, and when starting to add pressure, it just popped off the plate with no glue residue on the plate what so ever. I think that the plate material is not bonding well to glue, I use Loctite super glue gel and have no issue with it on other shafts and tips. My guess is that this is why it happens to so many people and I guess this is why people don't like the sound of the Revo hit, I think that it's just not glued well enough.
I have installed one of those Mezz pads that I've got and put a G2 medium. it looks like I was able to glue it well. maybe the Mezz pad glues better than Predator's pad. i had a long session with it today and it plays well and sound better, I just hope that it won't pop off.

 

[Paul_#_]

When I came to cut the tip off, I've placed the knife blade at the center of the clear pad of the tip, and when starting to add pressure, it just popped off the plate with no glue residue on the plate what so ever. I think that the plate material is not bonding well to glue,

Another explanation for why gluing the Kamui clear tip to the Revo vault plate fails is that you need to glue the vault plate to a fabric-like material instead of gluing the hard-plastic clear Kamui clear pad. I presume Revo’s silencer pad (or the replacement Mezz IG tip plate) are fabric-like materials and not the hard-plastic Kamui clear pad. I find the same gluing problem with the Rhino Time Crystal clear-plastic tip to the Rhino ferrule. The trick for this amateur is not to glue hard plastic to the ferrule/vault plate; use a pad whether silencer/Mezz IG plate/$1 pad.

Is the better sound only with the Mezz IG tip plate/pad? Or does Revo's silencer/pad sound good, too?

__

 

[muskyed]

I've got some of those Mezz pads and tested installation on an old beat-up shaft that I have. I was afraid that it'll be hard to cut down to size as I don't have a lathe and I do it by hand but it was pretty easy.

View attachment 863715

That's a great tip job for no lathe. I have a lathe and it's somewhat easy, but for no lathe, you should be proud of your work.

 

[skor]

Another explanation for why gluing the Kamui clear tip to the Revo vault plate fails is that you need to glue the vault plate to a fabric-like material instead of gluing the hard-plastic clear Kamui clear pad. I presume Revo’s silencer pad (or the replacement Mezz IG tip plate) are fabric-like materials and not the hard-plastic Kamui clear pad. I find the same gluing problem with the Rhino Time Crystal clear-plastic tip to the Rhino ferrule. The trick for this amateur is not to glue hard plastic to the ferrule/vault plate; use a pad whether silencer/Mezz IG plate/$1 pad.

Is the better sound only with the Mezz IG tip plate/pad? Or does Revo's silencer/pad sound good, too?

View attachment 865285__View attachment 865291

There shouldn't be an issue gluing the Kamui clear tip directly to the plate, just like there isn't an issue with other shaft's plates or ferrule.
The original Predator pad didn't sound great but my guess that is suffered from the same gluing issue, there are other reports of the original tip and pad popping off the shaft.
I didn't try to re-glue the original pad, which is just a simple piece of phenolic resin. The Mezz pads might be phenolic resin as well but it does look a bit different.
My guess is if the Predator pad can be glued well, it'll improve the sound but again, as there are a lot of reports on such issues, I suspect that the plate material is problematic, even with Predator's factory glue of choice.

 

[skor]

That's a great tip job for no lathe. I have a lathe and it's somewhat easy, but for no lathe, you should be proud of your work.

Thank you.
Here is the Revo 12.9 with the Mezz pad and a G2 medium