I use the Picone presses. I bought two. Definitely worth the money.
It comes with both pistons. One for domed tips and one for flat.
I use a C clamp and you really don't need a lot of pressure.
I guess I do mine by feel and they usually come out approx .180.
Joey had posted previously that he presses his to .180. I try and attain that measure and they seem to work quite well at that.
If you use a C clamp and crank it down tight, you will end up with a very flat tip.
Keep that in mind Bud, with those presses, you do not need a lot of pressure.
Joe sends a pamphlet with the press that explains how to make the Milk Duds and a picture of a milling vise that he uses.
I use to soak for 24 and press for the same.
Now, I heat in the micro wave until the milk is hot. I let it cool down and you can see the tips expanding.
Once more in the micro and let it cool again. By this time the tips will have expanded about all they will.
Depending on how powerful your micro oven is, don't overheat or they will get real long and funny looking.
I've done this. Haha. That will render them unusable. My micro, 30 seconds is plenty and its not a big one.
I press for a couple or 4 hrs, take them out and let them air dry. This way I might get several tips pressed in a day.
They're soaked, they're pressed and they don't mushroom so I don't think press time makes a huge difference.
I use a few, sell a few and give a few away. No one has complained and they all like them.
After cutting an Elk Master, the edges do look a little ragged so yes, I will swipe a small amount of CA on the side after burnishing most times. Just for aesthetic purposes more than anything because after pressing, they won't mushroom.
Pass a few around to your friends and players at the hall. They will think you're the coolest dude around and after they try them,
you will most likely get compliments and you never know, maybe a couple of free beer.
I posted this in the main forum last week. There is a guy that plays from the bar that sponsors our team.
I over heard him telling a team that he was sparring in for one night that he has his tips custom made for him.
He apparently pays $300 per tip. Of course he was talking about Milk Duds. He had told me that the guy who makes them for him takes 6 months to do. They are soaked and pressed over and over for that period of time.
Please do not try and sell these for $300, you will get laughed at.
