My attempt at making a tip

[Shockerz]

After taking the bait last week in a thread I thought I'd have a pop at making a snooker tip for fun.

I deliberately didn't use any specialist tools etc and wanted to almost bodge it together to see how it would go in the knowledge you would have your worst results (it can only get better).

I wanted to find out a few things e.g.

1) Can I achieve a result that at least looks like a snooker tip?
2) Will it take chalk?
3) Does it stay intact after a few shots
4) Will it grip e.g. screw a ball etc
5) Will it fall apart

I'm still trying to work out what I learnt but too a few pics along the way. Here is the finished result (hopefully the link works!:



Obviously I would do things different but It felt good to have a go at something I clearly know naff all about...

[itsnoteasy]

Fook me, that looks good Shockerz! Far far better than I expected, no offence lol. Have you,played with it yet?
What was the secret then to stop the absorption ?

[Shockerz]

Fook me, that looks good Shockerz! Far far better than I expected, no offence lol. Have you,played with it yet?
What was the secret then to stop the absorption ?

Thanks mate. First off, I was pleased with how the tip looked when I placed a bit of chalk on it, it certainly looked ok after a bit of filing.

I stuck it to a hand made Horrace Lindrum Champion cue that I did up (quite bowed but looks nice).

Had a few pokes with it on Sunday and the results were interesting:

1 Reasonably held chalk, struggled a little in the centre if the tip as a little unstable.
2 Really soft tip
3 Didn't grip very well so struggled to screw a ball that great etc
4 Tip hardened up pretty quick

As regards the absorption, I actually wish the glue had absorbed a bit more as I'm still convinced (wrongly or rightly) that if the glue had absorbed more then the layers would have struggled to move apart?

I play with a Talisman Soft normally so I wonder how they get theirs so hard all the way through? Do they soak it as it seems hard all the way through?

[itsnoteasy]

I have only used Omin Reds Laminated tips, but they don't seem to be soaked in glue as the hide is still fluffy for want of a better word, but they are rock hard. I'm not sure if their hide is thicker or the glue layers are but there seems to be more width in their layers.
What do you think?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-OM...UAAMXQ1d1TItch

[Shockerz]

The layers stuck together reasonably easily and obviously the more layers I put on the stronger it became.

I then cut a strip off and cut them into 15mm squares and they then became spongy again.

As it was spongy again I thought I'd soak it in milk over night and then stick it in a vice and compress it back out and hopefully bond the whole tip smaller. It did do this as you can see in the pics but it's overall strength would still be in question.

Took loads of pics though through the whole thing.

[Big Splash!]

First of all, bloody good first attempt. It actually looks like a nice tip. Yeah, I'm sure these companies don't just glue layers of leather together. They're chemically treated to be harder I reckon.

Check this out, it may be useful: http://www.wikihow.com/Stiffen-Leather

I believe Cue Soul are using the wax method. That would account for the waxy feel of the tip and the way it files down very smoothly.

Next week, I'd like you to make a car out of recycled plastic milk bottles.

[itsnoteasy]

I'm sure I read when making milk duds you had to heat the milk to make the chemical reaction work.
You could go the opposite way and bake the leather in the oven?
Ha! Should have read Splashers link first, good find Splasher, lots to think about there.

[Shockerz]

I have only used Omin Reds Laminated tips, but they don't seem to be soaked in glue as the hide is still fluffy for want of a better word, but they are rock hard. I'm not sure if their hide is thicker or the glue layers are but there seems to be more width in their layers.
What do you think?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-OM...UAAMXQ1d1TItch

Funny that, I have seen that picture recently and they certainly look thicker. I think mine were thicker than the pic actually shows as I still had to sand / file the height down to something I liked.

I'll have to have a think as mine seemed rock hard but was actually really soft once I'd filed and chalked it. I'll post a pic of mine from the top so you can see they look similar even though mine aren't stable.

[Big Splash!]

I'm sure I read when making milk duds you had to heat the milk to make the chemical reaction work.
You could go the opposite way and bake the leather in the oven?

Have a look at the link I posted, you may only need hot water. Many ways to stiffen leather apparently. But yeah, baking may help. As all good conker players know.

[Shockerz]

First of all, bloody good first attempt. It actually looks like a nice tip. Yeah, I'm sure these companies don't just glue layers of leather together. They're chemically treated to be harder I reckon.

Check this out, it may be useful: http://www.wikihow.com/Stiffen-Leather

Next week, I'd like you to make a car out of recycled plastic milk bottles.

Cheers mate.

Oh dear, you chucked petrol on the flames now, I'll have to give that a go when I get time to see if I can stiffen the leather. Does this method work on other things?

I'll give the car project a think and come back to you!

[Shockerz]

Have a look at the link I posted, you may only need hot water. Many ways to stiffen leather apparently. But yeah, baking may help. As all good conker players know.

Maybe I'll do a few ways at the same time so I can compare them to save time (might have to fit a few more vices to my benches!

[Shockerz]

I'm sure I read when making milk duds you had to heat the milk to make the chemical reaction work.
You could go the opposite way and bake the leather in the oven?
Ha! Should have read Splashers link first, good find Splasher, lots to think about there.

Well not only did I soak them in cold milk, I forgot about them the next day and pulled them out of the curdled milk. I carried on as sometimes by accident you learn something different.

If it had have work then they would have been Shockerz stinky tips!

[mikeyd100]

Good effort Shockerz, to be honest it looks a lot better than I thought it would - fair play to you man

[Shockerz]

Good effort Shockerz, to be honest it looks a lot better than I thought it would - fair play to you man

Cheers mate. And me!

[jimmymoller]

I've been using my own home made tips for years. Tried many of the "brand names" but never been impressed by any of them except elks. Yeah Elks them cheap ones which everyone here says there are only a few in a box that are any good. I had a box of 50 years ago and aint found a dud yet and there are only 7-8 left now.

The leather I use has a bit of a tale behind it... Just after the war a box literally fell off the back of a lorry. This guy picked the box up legged it round the corner, opened it and found it full of womens leather heels. Later he gave them to my uncle who was a cobbler. My uncle used them but a lot were still in his workshop when he retired in the 90's. (Women aint worn the type of shoes they were for since the 50's) He then gave me what was left, I bought a 10mm dot punch and get 6 tips out of each heel. They are cowhide, feel like an elk but just brown obviously.

Perhaps the secret is 60 odd year old English shoe leather from. ( Air dried of course )