Will I ever have to replace a phenolic tip?

[Ilove2playpool]

I'm planning on buying the predator bk2 that has a linen phenolic tip. I don't know much about phenolic tips. Actually the only thing I know is that they are very hard and are good for breaking and jumping balls. Anyway, I have a few questions to ask the group:

Do phenolic tips ever wear down or need to be replaced.

Also, since the new predator bk2 purports to have a "Linen" phenolic tip, what does that mean. Are there different types of phenolic tip?

And finally, can you or should you ever tip pik a phenolic tip?

 

[X Breaker]

Phenolic tips require some scruffing and piking from time to time. Technically speaking, they will wear off gradually. Realistically, you probably will never need to replace your phenolic tip unless if it cracks, chips, or comes off.

There are many types of phenolic, to name a few, linen phenolic, canvas phenolic, paper phenolic, and so on. They were made from various raw materials and the differences lie in their ability to hold chalk, and their strength.

Whether you need to pik your tip or not is very personal. I not longer use a phenolic tip because I build my own cue now and it does not feature a phenolic tip; but while I was using the phenolic, I did pik my phenolic tip quite often. Piking creats holes on the tip surface which helps chalk to stay. When you pik your tip, remember to be careful that you do not damage the ferrule. It is very easy to let the pik slide and scratch the ferrule.

Richard