Making a nice dome on a talisman ?

[Rojjj]

Hi, I've recently purchased some soft Talisman tips from ADR147 (Thanks Adrian) and followed the tip install guide and have put a couple of talisman tips onto my 2 cues. One is a 10mm ferule and the other a 9.5mm. I used a craft knife to get rid of the excess and normally i'd use some sandpaper and a few old nail filing boards to shape my blue diamonds.

The talisman tips though (probably due to the lamination and even though I got the softer ones) are a lot firmer to shape. I'm uneasy about taking rougher sandpaper or a bigger file to my nice cues and wondered what tips or tricks people use to shape these new type of tips.

I've also noticed that playing the tip in it seems to have compressed unevenly on the top of the tip where i use stun and screw compared to the underside (I do always hold the cue in the same position). I've always been used to my tip looking like a uniformed dome. Until recently I've always used blue diamonds and wafers (call me old school) but I've been impressed with the feel of the talismans, just not sure if mine looks quite right.

I'm not overkeen on the mushroom look. Do you think they will bring out a 9 or 10mm talisman or moori to save the hassle of trimming them back. I've always been a better potter than DIY enthusiast

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

[Watford]

I found them a bit fiddly to shape too.
Been over a year since I used one but I just had a few different grains of sandpaper. Oh and one of those tip shaper tools but they aren't brilliant.
Hmm I'm not much help really!
Have you got ADR's tipping guide, that might have something in it!

[ADR147]

umm don't blame me if you cock it up but here is a hint from my own tip fitting kit!

[Semih_Sayginer]

umm don't blame me if you cock it up but here is a hint from my own tip fitting kit!

good advice ADR (as long as the sharpener is sharp (ie. not old with a blunt blade))

[ADR147]

yes - that one has been out and on a grinder but just buy a new one! - it takes a little practise to do it right but its a very fast and acurate method once you get the hang of it - i would try it on a cheap cue with a few elkmasters before you do it on your playing cue!

[Semih_Sayginer]

yes - that one has been out and on a grinder but just buy a new one! - it takes a little practise to do it right but its a very fast and acurate method once you get the hang of it - i would try it on a cheap cue with a few elkmasters before you do it on your playing cue!

ive had a go with them many times over the years. they are good, but not any better than other methods, but they guys having problems and in this case this may do the job better/well so its good advice for him.

[Rojjj]

Many thanks, WHSmith here I come

[sg147]

plse what did ADR147 suggest you shapped your talisman tip with.

[ADR147]

it was a photo of a metal pencil sharpner the sort for larger pencils.

[poolqjunkie]

I dont know if this ever happend to any one of you, but when using a piece of very rough sand paper to shape the tip, you may get some scratch lines on the ferrule as well. So, I now put a piece of tape to cover up the ferrule before I shape it. I actually use the tape before putting the tip on, so the glue will not stay on the ferrule making a big mess.

I think if you shape the tip only downward, not upward, then using something a bit rough is okay.

I would just turn the cue upside down and trim off the excess with a blade. Just chop chop chop.

I sometimes use a sharpie(a black marker) to color the side of the tip afterward just to make it look nicer.

Just my own opinion.

[ADR147]

umm not sure about that - did you read my tip guide mate.

[poolqjunkie]

umm not sure about that - did you read my tip guide mate.

No, sorry. Actually, I would really like to try out this talisman. I have used them on 9 ball cues, it is the brown one, not the black one, right? I remember they are very firm, and hardly change shape afterwards. The layers are not parallel if I remember correctly, kind of wavy, is that the one?

[ADR147]

read the guide or e-mail me and i will send it to you - i have the tips if required adr147 at hotmail dot com

[poolqjunkie]

read the guide or e-mail me and i will send it to you - i have the tips if required adr147 at hotmail dot com

Thanks ADR147. I know you know what you are talking about, and I trust your guide to be the one to get for those who wants to install their own tip.

Are these the same ones made by Tony from Thailand? Are they specially made for snooker? Do they play the same as the bigger ones made for pool? I am asking because I still have some of the big ones I think. Is ROS playing with this tip?

May be I will get some from you once my microwaved tip dies.:-)

[ADR147]

read it - should explain the differences