Pool Cue Tip Shaping (with a ¾" copper pipe)

Cut a piece of ¾" ID copper pipe in half and attach some sandpaper to the inside. Using this simple tool, you can easily shape a pool cue to same diameter.
Using it like a saw: yes, sanding back and forth over the tip will shape it faster. However, this can also throw off the tip's circularity, so be sure to continuously rotate the stick. A nice compromise is to alternate between methods.
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The procedure is easy enough, but the 'why' behind it is a bit tougher to explain. It mostly boils down to reducing error. Depending on the type of shot you're making, consider where the tip of your pool stick will hit the cue ball. When you want the cue ball to have backspin, you hit it low; when you want forward spin, you aim a bit high. If you want to 'throw' a ball with side-to-side spin (or 'english,' as it's usually called), it will require a strike to the cue ball that's to the side of center. For example, if you want to use side-spin to sink the eight ball into the corner pocket at your left, you might hit the cue ball slightly on its right, causing it to enter a counterclockwise rotation. When it transfers its energy to the eight, the eight will seem to have the opposite spin (in much the same way that gears trade rotation), and it will roll to its left.
For the vast majority of shots, a skilled player could sink them without using any spin. For such an ideal player, the stick would always be striking the ball at its center. And thus, a cue stick with a flat tip would work just fine. But if the player's aim should be off center even a bit, it requires a spherical tip for the player to actually hit the spot they're aiming at.
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Note to the pool sharks:
Consider what Sun Tzu wrote around 2,500 years ago~
"One may know how to conquer without being able to do it."
By no means am I claiming to be skilled enough at this game to offer sage advice. If polishing the tip on denim is too smooth for an outstanding player's preference, I'm not surprised. No matter; one can decide how far to take this procedure for themself, because they will still be better off overcorrecting than not knowing how to shape a tip at all. How smooth is up to you. In theory, the chalk is supposed to be your friction insurance--so the video is here demonstrating how to shape to any resolution desired.
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Music:
Latinium by Javolenus (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. dig.ccmixter.org/files/Javolen... Ft: NiGiD

[@pocket83squared]

Before you ask, "Tiki Cat" is available to you for free under Creative Commons; you can just print the picture out and frame it, just as I did. Here's the link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowbrow_(art_movement) Sure, we all have our snobby sides. But popular is not necessarily bad. Garden gnome-level kitsch can be both funny and cute. It's not as though I appreciate _only_ crap art. Maybe the following rhetorical will be exclusive to those of us in Appalachia, but haven't you ever driven by a run-down, almost third-world looking trailer and thought to yourself, _oh, what a lovely wind spinner!_

[@queenbee3443]

"Kitsch causes two tears to flow in quick succession. The first tear says: How nice to see children running on the grass! The second tear says: How nice to be moved, together with all mankind, by children running on the grass!” -Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being

[@dfeprado]

This tip was extremely useful. Thanks a lot!

[@GirishManjunathMusic]

You've certainly got your fingers in many a pie. This channel, and its elder sister, have proven quite the trove of entertainingand engaging moments ever since I joined on. Thank you.

[@queenbee3443]

One of the things your channel consistently reminds me to do is create (and adjust) tools for any given problem. In a world where almost anything can be delivered to your doorstep in 48 hours or less, it seems to me that more and more of us either expect to be able to pull something out of a box to solve our problems, or simply throw in the towel/resign ourselves to imperfect results. I guarantee you someone out there has noticed this undesired effect of a flat-tipped cue and immediately jumped onto the interwebs to order an expensive, top-of-the-line version, "now with performance-enhancing rounded tip!". Creativity and/or lateral thinking open(s) up a whole world of problem-solving possibilities, and I'm always amazed at the tiny tweaks you give things to improve their performance. I now store all my viscous fluids upside down, glued to a scrap piece of something, turn old coat hangers into awls in my drill, epoxy some leather onto needle nose pliers for delicate work (or drill a small hole through the nose)- the list goes on and on. While I love your projects, and especially love the thoughts you share, it seems to be the tiny details in the background that stick with me. You consistently inspire me to view my surroundings with intention- to see the jewelry in a piece of scrap electrical wire, the shower rod in a piece of pvc, the laundry chute in the bathroom cabinet, and the plumbus in a golf ball. I keep thinking about the quote you shared about the weightlessness of the mind at gameplay; letting yourself mess around with things and learning their properties and limits vastly expands your problem-solving arsenal, even when it feels childish or like a waste of time. Thank you for encouraging me to find the joy in mistakes and experimentation. I'm so excited to see more regular pocket content! Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful mind with us.

[@tommywingate7186]

How and why…… incredible ! Your demonstration along with the right tool has cleared up nagging questions. Thank you

[@drmkiwi]

So that is why my pool game has been so bad all these years! Thanks for the "tip" and video. Cheers, David

[@ceaseless8761]

just made and used your tool. She worked wonderfully. Saved me a few bucks and time, cheers to you brother. You got a new subscriber.

[@gman5051]

I guess I need to do a little more sanding on my new tips … you pointed out to me , and now I will take action .. thanks for that !

[@gagothesour]

I hate how the first 2 seconds made me laugh

[@stanleydepriest9144]

Fantastic explanation. Great tip. Thanks a ton.

[@Makwaa]

This answers my question, thank you.

[@jerryc6147]

So, I JUST ordered a tip shaper and the next video I pulled up was this one. I hate when that happens. Great idea though so I'm gonna follow your lead anyway. Thanks.

[@DciMaluko]

Pra galera do Brasil, eu fiz esse projeto e o que você precisa é: - Um cano de PVC de 3/4 de polegada. (Ele usa cobre mas o cobre é mais caro e mais difícil de achar, serrar e etc). - 2 lixas. 1 de 100 para iniciar a moldagem da ponta do taco e 1 de 220 para acabamentos. Ele diz no vídeo que o tamanho ideal para a ponta fica entre o dime e o nickel. O dime é a moeda de 10 centavos americana de 17.91mm de diâmetro. O nickel é a moeda de 5 centavos, de 21.21mm de diâmetro. O mais próximo que temos no Brasil é o centavo, de 17.00mm e que já está fora de circulação a muito tempo... A nossa moeda de 10 centavos tem 20mm de diâmetro, e seria um pouco maior do que o meio termo entre os 17,91 e 21,21 das medidas que ele considera corretas. Eu acredito que o resultado com o cano de 3/4 de polegada fica praticamente identico ao resultado que ele atingiu aqui. A minha dica da moeda de 10 centavos serve porque o rapaz da construtora que me vendeu o cano de PVC acreditava estar vendendo o de 3/4 quando na verdade ele ia me vender o de 1 polegada. Como eu tinha a moeda de referência e achei muito grande no momento da compra pedi pra ele colocar 10cm de um cano de PVC que tivesse uma medida menor, que foi justamente o de 3/4, medi ao chegar em casa. Boa sorte

[@lordelovely2547]

I've been searching how to improvise a tool for prepping my cues. This is precise, clean and informative. I appreciate this +1 sub, like, notif

[@pocket83squared]

Appreciated. Glad it helped.

[@Evillt1]

Awesome 👌 thank you!

[@nateh133]

Great Video Thanks

[@Wordsnwood]

Came for the comments... too late, they've all been deleted. Happy Christmas, Pocket!

[@pocket83squared]

Mod status required here to say "balls." Seriously, though: how many productive conversations make use of that word? Max level sparkle season to you as well, Mr. Mulder ;)

[@69adrummer]

Very cool!

[@70tdc12s]

It would be cool to have a block of wood on the ground that would have the two pieces of pipe with sandpaper and an area with a scrap of Jean material attached so you could just point the stick down and rotate it between your palms. Great idea

[@debscannell]

Thank You!

[@OldFatMarriedGuy]

This video reminded me of the small pool table we had growing up and the joy it brought through the years. I don't have room for a full size table, and for some reason we're spending more time at home now, so I'm entertaining notions of making one. Yes, I could just buy one, but where's the over-complication to my life aspect of that? I was just about to ask what the dimensions of your pool table were, but then realized the obvious. Once I purchase a set of balls, it shouldn't be hard to find the regulation size of a pool table's dimensions. The difference between the size of a small ball and a full-size ball will yield the key to scale, and since fractions are my friend (or at least not a mortal enemy) of mine, those answers will all reveal themselves with a tiny bit of grade school math. Thanks for the great video.

[@pocket83squared]

Between the rubber bumpers, the felt area is 21x45". I don't remember the significance of that ratio, since it was over 20 years ago, but no doubt I used some very specific reasoning to come up with that scale. I suggest you still do your own math, because it's pretty hard for me to stand by such an old decision. If I were to do it again today, I would probably build it 22.5x45", to give it a little more room at the break for spread. Remember, though physical dimensions for something can be scaled, the physics may lose something in the translation. The balls that we mostly use are 1.25", but we also play with 1.75" sometimes, though the larger ones will cause the game to feel a bit clustered. Oh, one more thing: choose your felt carefully. Small balls are more affected by craft felt's pilling, so I've been meaning to replace it for two decades now. Good luck! Little tables like this are lots of fun, with way less commitment.

[@tetedure1769]

The idea in your though is that you explain us the way you manage and shape your tip. Everybody at first (when they are a beginer like i think you are) see every way to save money in the large pool world. I prefer to play insteed of loosing my time like you. (Sorry i just tell you what 99% of people think) Why don't just patent a new tool ? By investing time and energy, i'm sure you can make a lot of money. *With that money, you would be ok to buy a good standard pool table. A new cue, and a new house (why not. To have enough place in your basement so you could get a cool place for playing pool every night and week end) I'm little sarcastic i admit.But i am 100% honnest with you. Good luck!

[@pocket83squared]

Let's assume for this discussion that you are a pool expert, and I am a novice. How many _other_ things in your life have you developed to the point of expertise? I might then tell you not to bother with some of the shortcuts you've made in other areas, for reasons of false economy. Make no mistake: with everything you do, you loose time; with every decision we make, and with every investment of our attention, more of our potential for expertise slips behind us. As such-since we're being 100% honest here-you should probably keep your presumptions about the time investments of others to yourself. Good luck to you, as well.

[@tetedure1769]

@@pocket83squared You seem to taking it in the bad way. I'm sorry because i am not good when i have to speak or write my thinking in english. *Because i'm french canadian and my first language is french. I put effort for well explain you after some of my time listening your video. *So please, just keepind in mind that it was all about respect. In my mind tell you "i was sarcastic" doen't mean that i think you are an idiot. I just try to wish you the best with ALL your ideas. (it is one of every good ideas you are able to show on youtube: If i'm not wrong-You seem to give more than one idea to us; that's why i presume you are not just passion with the pool world. Good luck and sorry mister ; )

[@vabriga1]

Thanks.

[@Dapstart]

i must avoid talking about the elephant in the room... very well. nice video!

[@xlfive]

Haha thanks for this,my buddy has just bought a 2nd hand pool table I can now go and impress him ,however winning a game is going to take more practice 🤣

[@thalivenom4972]

hit softly. if you miss the hole, youll miss by less, and itll still be there for next time.

[@pocket83squared]

@@thalivenom4972 That's probably the best beginner's advice I've ever heard. You are guaranteed to raise your likelihood of winning using that tip.

[@thalivenom4972]

@@pocket83squared haha thankyou. im quite the poolshark, been playing since i was too short to see the table properly. nice tip with the shaping too. ill give it a try.

[@8329kelso]

Why do you polish the tip??

[@kieran7655]

Not sure why you'd want a smooth polished surface on your tip. Isn't it more beneficial to have a rougher surface to hold the chalk better and provide a gripper surface for contact? Hence scuffers and picks on tip tools.

[@pocket83squared]

That's a tough question to answer with any authority, and chances are everyone will give you a different one. In theory, more perfectly round will mean a higher reduction in error. Many players chalk up between every shot; for them, it's not a problem. For the rest of us, we kind of have to find a reasonable balance. This method will let you get off at wherever your stop is.

[@MyUnquenchableThirst]

nice

[@MultiPets.]

Wish my local pool club thought about this

[@Planterejean]

Thanks. Very good video. Will work on my cue and then see if my game improves but at least I will not be able to blame my cue. Ha Ha Ha !

[@mdoli8517]

Which m.m copper pipe you used sir

[@reddevved]

did you make the small pool ball set too?

[@pocket83squared]

Nope.

[@reddevved]

@@pocket83squared understandable, have a nice day.

[@spark2335]

I see you have screw on tips very nice. How can i fix a screw on tip thats not center if the cue stick when i screw it on its not flush with the ferrule

[@pocket83squared]

That's a tough one. Step one is to determine if it's the tip or the ferrule that's off center. It's probably more likely to be the tip. Do you have more than one tip to insert/test?

[@batangbilyaran4681]

Is anyone knows what cue tip is that? Something like wood. I like that

[@BiLLiARDiNSTRUCT0R]

👍👍👍👍

[@georgebalanzar4618]

What size is the copper pipe your using to sand?

[@robdetuinman2]

I think he said 3/4

[@vb15227]

They do make a tip shapers for cues that have rough material in them. Just saying.

[@traviswillett9883]

💪

[@rattlejake0422]

I imagine you would be incredibly fun to play pool with....

[@rattlejake0422]

.....OR absolutely infuriating.

[@RM-eu5et]

What is the pvc size you are using?

[@pocket83squared]

No.

[@jcchannel2850]

I like a little flat spot right at the center.

[@james1795]

To each his own.

[@whitag01]

I lol 'd at "stop typing, it'll get deleted". You forgot to to add the part at the end where you hold the chalk in your hand and say innocently to your victim "have you ever smelled this stuff?" while holding it out. When they inevitably lean in to smell it you twist it on the end of their nose! Better with a crowd watching. Hilarity ensues!

[@chaselee1]

I’m not sure polishing the tip helps much, unless you scuff or aerate the tip after you polish.

[@dugy40]

Why would you buff the end smooth? I thought we use scruffers to make them rough for more grip?

[@pocket83squared]

Just to show _how,_ in case you want to. It's debatable what degree you should smooth a tip to. There will be pros and cons to both smooth and rough, and I'm sure everyone has an opinion. My personal opinion? Sand it to 220 grit, and leave it at that. Maybe give it one or two spins on the bluejeans.

[@dugy40]

@@pocket83squared what chalk do you use?

[@pocket83squared]

@@dugy40 Master. But I'm no professional. I just copy my uncle, who _is._

[@mariobh70]

For the people that want the perfect Dime size 3/4 in cpvc pipe.

[@darfjono]

come on, you can't just tease us with that tiny pool table like that. that's mean.

[@mactamac4466]

Omw to Home Depot..

[@hozurdaddy]

After you scuff you should leave it like that or airiate the tip to hold chalk. If you polish it you defeat the purpose of scuffing it up to hold the chalk

[@pocket83squared]

It could be argued. Depends on context. If You're a normal player who just chalks it up every once-in-a-while, then yes. If you're trying to reduce error to the smallest possible degree, then I'm not sure I can agree with that claim; pros tend to chalk between every shot.

[@commandernoodles2367]

what is the size of the pipe? the diameter.

[@pocket83squared]

Thank you, friend, for contacting the pocket83 support chat. Before we get started, let's be sure to take a moment to rate this video, then subscribe for more great videos like this, and to enable the little notification bell so that you will stay apprised to our great new content. Hello, Enteng! How are you today? That's great. This is pocket; I'll be helping you out with your question: "what is the size of the pipe? the diameter." First, we'll need to know which pipe are you asking about. Are you curious about the one that's discussed in detail during this video, or is there something else that I can help you to understand? Remember, your questions and comments are super-impotent to us, so thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to check out the other pocket83 channels out there for more great content! Fairness & safety, friend!

[@commandernoodles2367]

@@pocket83squared , the pipe you cut into half lengthwise and used to file the cue tip. I plan to follow it using a PVC pipe with sand paper glued to it.

[@pocket83squared]

@@commandernoodles2367 3/4" ID.

[@PostUp_Time]

*THE IDEA OR A COPY? THERE HAS BEEN A PIECE OF PLASTIC DESIGNED/MOLDED IN HALF A CIRCLE AS IF A PIPE WAS CUT DOWN CENTER. tHEN sANDPAPER SLIDES IN. tHEN YOU SAND YOUR CUE. PROBLEM SHOWN THE PIECE IS TOO SHORT. PIECES IN LENGTH NEED BE 6 TO 12 INCHES. YOU CAN THEN SAND THE TIP, HAVING ENOUGH LENGTH TO GET THE ANGLE JUST RIGHT. BEEN USING THE PLASTIC FOR YEARS FROM A POOL EXPO. GOOD STUFF!!*

[@BlackDynamite901]

I bought some Pvc pipe for two bucks ,way cheaper than 20 bucks for a simple tool.

[@JThriftybee]

:)

[@TheKatsAss]

Great video but those Tips are horrible, I removed the actual leather tip from mine and super glued an ElkMaster onto the screw on base. Works amazing!

[@WarLord18]

Awaiting the comments tht says tht u are chalking the cue wrong 😂

[@pocket83squared]

Did I seriously do it wrong? Is there really a thing for that? I hope you're just making an eye-roll.

[@WarLord18]

@@pocket83squared yea they usually move the chalk from the center to the diameter doing this outward motion at a 45° angle and repeat this motion while rotating the cue. This is to keep the cue tip from flattening over time. (If my directions were unclear there are many youtube videos explaining this in greater detail) any thanks for great videos and keep up the good work.

[@pocket83squared]

@@WarLord18 That makes sense. Although, if you can re-shape your tip easily, then it really won't be a problem. My excuse here is that it was for demonstration; whenever I do anything in real-life, I observe all local laws, codes, regulations, and cultural norms.

[@robertmeadows1657]

It keeps you from boring a big hole in your chalk.

[@pocket83squared]

​@@robertmeadows1657 In order to use up the maximum amount of your chalk, one must _necessarily_ bore a big hole in it. There's really no avoiding that. Sounds to me like we have some procedural dogma going on here. Not too unlike those of any other specialty niche group, eh? From wine tasting circles to paintball leagues; from wheelchair hang-gliding to saltwater fishtank aficionados; with well-witching or microscopy, the spiel is always the same.

[@benjaminrojas3166]

Seen what this do a water melon

[@pocket83squared]

Sine yo pity on the runny kind

[@user-cb1ln8vc8d]

Crazy thing about pool is how particular everyone is about everything. I was curious why they used chalk in the first place, and upon searching was met with hundreds of "dos and don'ts" with just the friggin chalk. Don't rotate the chalk or cue, don't use the wrong color chalk for your table, don't blow the excess chalk off the cue, blah blah blah. I didn't even get into the dos and don'ts of playing the game.

[@pocket83squared]

Weirdos like that are in every specialty. As if their superstitions have any bearing on their game whatsoever. Practice, and you'll get better-you don't even need the chalk. B. F. Skinner's pigeons became conditioned to act out all sorts of ridiculous behaviors in order to receive some (often randomized) food. Pool players are barely different.

[@Joshuaventures]

I play pool and I can agree with this. Though using the right colored chalk on a table is important. Using, say, blue chalk on a red felted table is just rude.

[@stephenburdess2914]

Atttatch the butt and put the copper pipe on the floor and you can roll it between your two hands . 👍

[@BionicleFreek99]

Heh.