To my knowledge, there has never been a book that brings together in one location all the information on billiard maintenance tools, ferrules and tips and provides six simplistic techniques for replacing a cue tip and making it stay on the cue.

This book reviews many of the popular maintenance tools on the market today.  It discusses the various types of ferrules most commonly found on cues.  It provides an extensive review of over thirty types of tips that are available on the market today and will discuss the types, densities and sizes.

If you own a cue, you will need to know how to maintain your tip and how to replace it when the time comes.  The “How To” and “When To” will be discussed in detail.  If you are one of the many who knows little about the tools and methodology to do this, then this book is for you.

This book has been developed at the request of many billiard players and friends, who from time to time have had a need to re-tip their billiard cue sticks. After years of tipping cues for many billiard players, I have constantly been asked, “Why don’t you write a book and explain how you tip a pool cue?” So here it is, for all of you, who have made this request of me, over the years.

I hope you will find it informative, simple and explained in terms that even the novice player can understand. I use pictures to show the tools, and the steps in the repair process. I am a firm believer in the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

The photos will show each step of the replacement process. I have provided a list of the equipment, sources, and various products that you might use to accomplish replacing the tip on your cue stick.

This book is for those of us who cannot afford to have a professional cue maker replace our tips or afford the $10- $40 fee that is usually assessed for the labor and tip.  It will eliminate the need to ship your cue away for weeks at a time.  The inconvenience, of having to be without your cue, will be eliminated.  Hopefully, with a little practice and following the instructions, you will be able to replace your cue tip and enjoy playing the game.

Chapter IV
"How to Tip A Pool Cue”
“The Laymen’s Guide”

Well, hopefully by now, you have learned something about ferrules and tips and now you need to decide what tip is best for your game at this time. You have determined that your tip needs to be replaced and found the tip you want to try and now need to learn how to tip the cue. It is going to be easy. So relax. By the time we get through this chapter, you will be ready to tackle the task. The photos should provide the visual help needed for you to understand how it is done.

We have reviewed the types of tools and equipment needed for tipping the cue.  We also talked about the many types of ferrules that are on cues and the examination of the ferrule, prior to replacing the tip.  In Chapter III, we reviewed many of the different types of tips that are available for your cue.  Finally, we talked about the sizes and densities, of tips, and are ready to put this information to work for us.  Let us talk about how to replace the old tip on your cue with a new tip.

What Tools Do We Need?

We need a good cutting implement.  A sharp knife or razor blade is a must.  I like to use the thinnest cutting tool I can get that is controllable so I do not cut myself. If you own a plastic top sander or one of the better metal rapid top sanders, this is a plus. Top sanders usually use a sand paper that is 300 - 320 grit.  The ferrule metal top sander takes a 317 grit paper. You will have to remove the balance of any leather that may remain on the ferrule.

Through high school and college he spent time in the pool halls exposed to the game of pocket billiards.  Later in his retail career, he delivered and set up pool tables.

As General Manager for a billiard retail store, he learned about cues and servicing them.  He read everything he could regarding the product lines and would attend billiard shows to assist the buyer in cue selections.  He became familiar with cue manufacturers and was asked to evaluate cues by an importer.

After tipping thousands of cues manually, he was often asked how he was able to make the tips stay on.  His knowledge and exposure to the business, manufacturers and people who knew, was the key to his success.