New Tip

[Coleman Jnr]

Im looking at fitting a new tip to my cue, and just wandered whether there was any ones in particular people had tried and tested and whether a good quality one actually makes a difference?

Also is there any technique to it, or is it a matter of just gluing it on. The one on there currently is 10mm I believe.

Cheers

Here's what I have picked up over the years re: re-tipping of your pride and joy:

Three main makes of tip are the Blue Diamond, Elkmaster and the Blue Velvet.

A few years back it was reported on here that Milko had retipped Jean Brackenridge's cue using a Blue Velvet which is hard on the outside with a soft centre (sounds like a chocolate, good enough to eat !) She was extremely happy with it and her scores went through the roof.

I bought a couple off Sparky who had managed to acquire a job lot - and it did it for me also.

Any local sports shop will sell you a re-tipping kit, costing a couple of quid, consisting of a plastic clamp with ring, and white cue cement. You just cement the tip in place, clamp it and leave it overnight. Simples !

[NigelS]

Hi Stephen

Can only tell you what works for me, as it is a lot down to personal preference. The tips you have mentioned are fine, they tend to have the harder outer shell as Tommo has described. I find it best to start of with a bigger tip than you need and sand it down so you get to the softer part of the tip. I believe that the softer tip gives you far more feel when hitting the ball.

I dont recommend the retipping kit as Tommo describes with cue cement, I find tips come off too easily. I use super glue, and it works fine, and sets within minutes rather than leaving it overnight.

Anyway good luck, and I hope I have not made too many double entendres in this post talking about soft tips giving more feel!

[Coleman Jnr]

ok thanks for the advise, I will give it a go and see what happens!

[Chris_Sav]

Yes to slightly oversize  Blue Elk. I have found them more consistent than traditional Blue Diamond. I have not used Blue Velvet.

Preparation is most important, clean the cue tip very carefully. Don't forget to sand the underside of the new tip to get the chalk off and give a surface the glue will stick to

I use superglue gell, not runny superglue. the gell type is gap filling and does not wet the tip.

I use a grindstone (very carefully) to take the tip down to the correct width and file the tip profile to the desired roundness.

Sav.

[Coleman Jnr]

Well the tip itself isn't very old, it just seems to have hardened and almost be like a plastic tip you find on a pub cue. Im going to try and file it down and shape it first and see how it goes this weekend, if its still no good il try replacing it!

If it hasn't worn down too far and still has a bit of length left, you could try softening it up by going round it with a pair of long nose pliers.

I like to rough up the contact point with some rough sandpaper or the side of a box of Swan Vestas to help it accept the chalk better.

We all have our own idea of what works for us. Some players sharpen their cues to look like a pencil, which helps them to put a massive amount of side on the ball. I prefer to play straight shots and minimise the risk of miscueing, so keep my tip at its original size.

I would however recommend that you re-tip your cue if you are unhappy with it at present. Even glueing a new tip on and leaving it at that will give your cue a good new feel the next time you play with it.

[milko]

As Tommo says I do use Blue Velvets that are cheap but may change to an expensive tip like the one our New World Champion is using as it's not doing him any harm at all by the looks of it !!

[Q]

Nov 14, 2013 0:02:00 GMT NigelS said:

I dont recommend the retipping kit as Tommo describes with cue cement, I find tips come off too easily. I use super glue, and it works fine, and sets within minutes rather than leaving it overnight.

I agree wholeheartedly with Nigel here, I bought one of those 'retipping kits' many years ago, followed the instructions to the letter, left the cue for 36 hours and when I removed the clamp the tip fell off!!!! The kit was then filed in the nearest rubbish bin.

Normal superglue works very well but you have to be VERY accurate with the initial placement, the superglue gel favoured by Sav allows a little bit of movement as you place the tip.

However I have found the best way to replace a tip is to give your cue to Sparkie and leave it for 24 hours, it comes back fitted perfectly, rounded to perfection and ready to use

[neilh]

I've been playing with my current cue for 40 years and it still has the original tip! Is that some kind of record I wonder?

Yeah Neil,

We've all heard of Trigger's Broom:
foolsandhorses.weebly.com/triggers-broom.html

[milko]

Dec 9, 2013 10:23:53 GMT neilh said:

I've been playing with my current cue for 40 years and it still has the original tip! Is that some kind of record I wonder?

Well it hasn't done you any harm, Neil. My cue that I've played with for about 35 years has changed considerably with all the sandings it's had plus numerous blue diamond and blue velvet tips that have gone on. Every time I have a slump in form the cue get's beheaded and a tip change, it used to be a foot longer than it is now!

Keith