rotten lepro tips
- Thread starter BHQ
- Start date
parismango
Banned
rhncue said:
tap tap tap
As soon as I looked at the pic...I thought it was a Triangle too.
The problem exist with all the Tweeten family....Lepro, Triangle, Elkmaster. The problem can be cut to a minimum by taking the time to use the "Sniper" install method. By wetting the edges then cutting with a fresh razor the softer ones tend to tear up much less. I pretty much only use Lepros on a few house cues I retip for local rooms. If someone ask for a Lepro then I look for the one with the flattest, smoothest back...as these indeed seem the firmest. The Triangles can be thrown into a glass of water..the better ones don't float. When using tips that are so cheap...just like expensive laminated tips...often the difference is in the install method. In the past, when I installed an Elkmaster using the lathe tool to cut the sides down, it was a typical soft hitting Elkmaster. When wetting the sides and cutting with the razor...taking great care NOT to stress the leather just like a Sniper install....then suddenly the Elkmaster becomes almost another tip. When they are cut & not stressed then the sides stay very firm, they hit VERY similar to a Sniper, and they don't even mushroom or play like such a soft tip.
Sharp, sharp tools are the key to less waste as well.
I have installed a lot of elkmasters on bar cues for my favorute watering hole, roughly 3 boxes worth, and I also play with the same cues on a friday or saturday nite, and outside of a few mushrooms here and there (maybe 3%) they have held their shape and play very well. Even though they are used to break with. The Lepro's I agree whole heartedly about...Forest Gump comes to mind 'life is like a box of lepros......'
I have about a half a box of 14mm that are so hard, I have to use a belt sander sandpaper to flatten the back, but the 13mm are so soft, I have to use 2 coats of super glue to prime them. I have had a similar experience with the last batch of triangles that I bought. Maybe (hopefully) just a bad batch, not a new trend.
With so many tips out there now, what is a good replacement tip for the Lepros?
Dave
I have about a half a box of 14mm that are so hard, I have to use a belt sander sandpaper to flatten the back, but the 13mm are so soft, I have to use 2 coats of super glue to prime them. I have had a similar experience with the last batch of triangles that I bought. Maybe (hopefully) just a bad batch, not a new trend.
With so many tips out there now, what is a good replacement tip for the Lepros?
Dave
Varney Cues said:
Kevin, I had 10 Triangle tips that I recently purchased and tried your test. Four of the ten floated and six sank. I used a little digital scale that has a claimed accuracy of .01 ounces and weighed the ten tips. The four that floated all showed .030 oz. while all six of the ones that sank showed .035 oz. Now the scale doesn't claim accuracy to a thousandth of an ounce, but it seems very unlikely that I would have gotten the results I did unless there is actually a difference in weight of the tips. Of course, simple physics suggests that the tips that sink are more dense and likely weigh a bit more. Just thought someone might be interested in an independent confirmation of your "water test." And thanks for the tip!
Oh, and by the way, the little scale I used is one I bought after reading some posts about it on AZ. It is really nifty and small enough to fit into a cue case. Here's a link: http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1165
I like the Tiger Dynomite tip as a replacement among a couple of others.
Let's face it. Single layer tips are slowly becoming a thing of the past for more reason's than one. Unless someone comes out with a better, more consistent single layer tip, the laminated tips are the way to go.
There are problems related to most of the SL tips including the water buffalo tips that chip out and the rest of the Tweeten tips as previously mentioned.
If someone absolutely has to have a SL tip, I also wouldn't rule out introducing them to the Triumph or Chandivert line. The latter will become harder to come by shortly because of the closing of the manufacturer. I am down to my last couple hundred of them.
Gene
Let's face it. Single layer tips are slowly becoming a thing of the past for more reason's than one. Unless someone comes out with a better, more consistent single layer tip, the laminated tips are the way to go.
There are problems related to most of the SL tips including the water buffalo tips that chip out and the rest of the Tweeten tips as previously mentioned.
If someone absolutely has to have a SL tip, I also wouldn't rule out introducing them to the Triumph or Chandivert line. The latter will become harder to come by shortly because of the closing of the manufacturer. I am down to my last couple hundred of them.
Gene
Dave38 said:
I replaced my LePro with a Talisman Medium Pro and had no problem to adjust to the new leather. It refuses to delaminate although I installed it without a lathe
Although the price is higher, it's not that expensive and it lasts much longer.
Regards,
Detlev
parismango
Banned
sorry fellas , i grabbed a meucci originals thinking it had been tipped w LePro.
this particular tip doent have the Orange Pad back that Triangle usually has , what was i thinkin'!??
whatever the brand , its a Fantastic tip for breaking a pack of balls!
doesnt miscue , grips cueball just right , one out of every three shafts i own wears this tip!
this particular tip doent have the Orange Pad back that Triangle usually has , what was i thinkin'!??
whatever the brand , its a Fantastic tip for breaking a pack of balls!
doesnt miscue , grips cueball just right , one out of every three shafts i own wears this tip!
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parismango
Banned
radge69 said:
TRIUMPH . . i meant triumph has the orange pad back.
(i guess you know by now , i'm from the other side of town)
parismango said:
Hey parismango...from now on just ask us what you have & we'll tell you...it'll be easier & faster....LOL!!!
BillPorter said:
Glad to help Bill. Nice to know someone actually reads my dribble.
Great feedback Mike...Good to hear from you!!!!!!!!Michael Webb said:
BHQ said:
The good lepros are as good as any tip that I ever play with, and they are easy to work with. I bite them to test, but a needle, pinging them, or hammering them all work. The bad ones are complete garbage and fall apart easily. That's the good thing about layered tips: rarely do you get a bad one. The cost however offsets that.
Now, I'm going to tell you a secret Brent, because I owe you (and you're a hell of a nice guy). LOL!! And as such, I'm telling the rest of the world. And I don't know how this affects anyone, but here it goes.
In case you didn't know... Tweeten also makes their tips in 13.5mm, which is IMO, the perfect size for professional installers. But, they're not normally sold through Muellers or other tip selling companies. I don't know why that is. IMO, 14mm is entirely too big if you're putting a tip on 12 3/4 or smaller.
All that being said, I really like Triangles still, but my last box, the majority were suspect. I might have a storage issue, so this could be on me, not on Tweeten.
Fred
Last edited:
radge69 said:
These tips are bad right from the factory. Sealing them is not the problem...JER
BHQ said:
I actually found out they made 13.5mm tips while at the factory. I think they must sell them to cuemakers but most don't realize they're made to ask.
I have to believe that anyone can call Tweeten's and buy them. Can't hurt to ask.
LOL!!! I can't. The problems never end.you give up plumbing yet?????
Fred <~~~ working on the downstairs bathroom!
Cuestix in Colorado offers LePro and Elkmaster tips in 13.5mm size. gotta be legitimate business and buy box of 50.
www.cuestix.com or (800) 645.9803
www.cuestix.com or (800) 645.9803