How to Take Care of Billiard Cues

An important part of cloth care is proper cue care. Cues should always be stored in the cue rack. It is advisable to protect them from temperature extremes, so an inside wall away from direct heat, sunlight, or air conditioning is the best place for the cue rack. The tips should be kept scuffed so that they will accept the chalk (which prevents mis-cues which can tear the cloth!). Under no circumstances should you play with a cue that has a worn, or missing tip, as this is the main reason cloth gets nicked or torn.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. The easiest way to replace tips is to take it to a reputable billiard dealer; however, with a little time and patience you can do it yourself. Cue repair kits are available which contain cue clamps, sanders and shapers to make the job a little easier. To replace a cue tip, remove the old tip and sand the top of the cue and the bottom of the tip perfectly flat and clean. Tips come in a limited range of sizes (11mm to 14mm), while shafts come in a myriad of sizes. The tip should be the same size as your shaft or a little larger, which can be trimmed to fit the shaft after the glue has dried. The final step is to shape and scuff the tip.

2. Slip-on tips are also available for a quick fix, but since fit is important with slip-ons, you need to know the diameter of your tip. If the slip-on tips are just a little large, the cue can be “shimmed” with Scotch tape to keep the tip on tight. It is not necessary nor recommended that they be glued on.

3. Tip chalk is the medium that allows the cue tip to “grab” and direct the cue ball. When the cue tip becomes so impacted with chalk that you begin to mis-cue, the tips should be scuffed up to knock the excess chalk out of the tip and raise the leather fibres so that they can again accept chalk. There is no better product for this than the BRAD cue scuffer. Cue care products for keeping the tips scuffed and the shafts smooth are available. Shaft conditioner, micro pore papers, suede leather, waxes, and many other products keep your enjoyment high and your frustrations low.

Tips & Warnings

• For more tips about billiards, visit intlbilliards.com FAQ's.
• The high preponderance of internet sales has greatly diluted the quality of billiard information available. Always make sure you get information from several sources for best results, you will be able to determine who knows what they are talking about and who just thinks they do. The best bet is to visit your local billiard dealer or their site before proceeding with your plans. Never purchase from a company or individual who sells out of a temporary warehouse.