How many of you make your own milkduds?

[x3dnd3x]

Hi all,

I guess some of us here always prefer a block tip and at the same time wanting to save money. I've been trying for a while to make my own milkduds. Haven't got the results I wanted but these are the pictures just for some sharing.

Most essential is raw cow's milk + the amount of constant pressure applied to the tip.


I soak the tip for 3 days. Changing the milk every 12 hours or so.
P1030473_zps30ddf9c0.jpg

P1030475_zpse0cec73f.jpg

Have a feeling the 2nd and last tip might not be as good.
P1030476_zps2b97daec.jpg

P1030477_zpsa0d7ff4a.jpg

I just purchased this tip press. Read that its the same as industrial presser. Hopefully it would turn out well.

P1030469_zpsddc29f42.jpg

[RogiBear]

I have had a go, but I wasn't getting consistent results. I couldn't see the point in the end, i found other tips played better for me, and with no effort

[Byrom]

I have a few questions - is this milk duds thing an old wives tale I wonder?

Why soak the tip for so long? I thought an hour and a half in heated milk was enough?
Do you not heat the milk first yourself?
Why use raw cows milk? - Why not goats milk? or ordinary milk for that matter - what difference is there in the type of milk used anyway?
Why does this work well for a tip?
and what benefit if any is there over just using an ordinary compressed elk?
Is there anyone supplying these to try them?

[x3dnd3x]

I have had a go, but I wasn't getting consistent results. I couldn't see the point in the end, i found other tips played better for me, and with no effort

Of course there are available tips out in the market but I believe its kinda fun for me. Ohh well, I have like 200 pieces of spare Elkmaster to experiment with.

[x3dnd3x]

I have a few questions - is this milk duds thing an old wives tale I wonder?
I have no idea whether its an old wives tale. I can't confirm this.

Why soak the tip for so long? I thought an hour and a half in heated milk was enough?
There are some who have good results with soaking for just 1 hour. Basically you want the milk to saturate the tip. Heated milk is a no no imo.

Do you not heat the milk first yourself?
No I don't.

Why use raw cows milk? - Why not goats milk? or ordinary milk for that matter - what difference is there in the type of milk used anyway?
Because comparing between raw cow and goat's milk, raw cow's milk actually has a higher % in casein proteins and is cheaper. Not any ordinary milk because you want as much cassein proteins absorbed into the tip.

Why does this work well for a tip?
It tightens up the leather fibers and makes the tip consistent throughout from head to toe.

and what benefit if any is there over just using an ordinary compressed elk?
Back then I did this as well before I started trying out milkduds. The feel you get is totally different. A head chemist once told me compressing the leather fibers without tightening them up ain't gonna change anything. You're just doing the surface level and not a whole. What he recommended to me after just pure compressing, cut the tip into half and feel the difference. I felt the difference.

Is there anyone supplying these to try them?
Yes there is but not in snooker sizing. Its all 14mm. Although many others have said that the 14mm feels different from the 10mm, I personally do not feel any difference. Probably just placebo effect to me.

I'm no expert but I believe in science.

[itsnoteasy]

I don't understand, if you soak your tip and it expands, how is that tightening anything ? Surely the fibres are expanding which will make them , if anything ,looser won't it?

[x3dnd3x]

I don't understand, if you soak your tip and it expands, how is that tightening anything ? Surely the fibres are expanding which will make them , if anything ,looser won't it?

I can't really explain well. Started this thread to see if there's any others who soak their Elkmasters in milk and to get better recipes. I would like to say the tightening is when you compress the tip. Yet again you could also say there's no difference at all if 1 just purely compress without soaking.

[RogiBear]

This is how I made them, however I used 11mm tips http://www.gladiators-usa.com/MILK%2...CUE%20TIPS.htm

[x3dnd3x]

This is how I made them, however I used 11mm tips http://www.gladiators-usa.com/MILK%2...CUE%20TIPS.htm

Maybe you might wanna try not baking them and letting them dry themselves.

[thelongbomber]

This is how I made them, however I used 11mm tips http://www.gladiators-usa.com/MILK%2...CUE%20TIPS.htm

I also was going to suggest the above link. Never tried though very curious how it would turn out.

[thelongbomber]

I just purchased this tip press. Read that its the same as industrial presser. Hopefully it would turn out well.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16806[/ATTACH]

Where did you get that? What size is it?

[x3dnd3x]

Where did you get that? What size is it?

Ebay.

According to the maker, he mentioned in his instruction manual, its for all sizes but the cylinder is 15mm. When you squeeze down, place a ruler by the side of the vice or a clamp so you know how much you're actually squeezing. It comes with a flat and concave center.

P1030468_zps74dc28aa.jpg

[x3dnd3x]

I also was going to suggest the above link. Never tried though very curious how it would turn out.

Heating is actually bad for casein protein chains though.

[cuefather]

Hi all,

I guess some of us here always prefer a block tip and at the same time wanting to save money. I've been trying for a while to make my own milkduds. Haven't got the results I wanted but these are the pictures just for some sharing.

Most essential is raw cow's milk + the amount of constant pressure applied to the tip.


I soak the tip for 3 days. Changing the milk every 12 hours or so.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16802[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16803[/ATTACH]

Have a feeling the 2nd and last tip might not be as good.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16804[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16805[/ATTACH]

I just purchased this tip press. Read that its the same as industrial presser. Hopefully it would turn out well.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16806[/ATTACH]

You need help from Dr Steve Peters

[Maverick54]

Got a feeling not many/if any of the top pros soak their tips. Sort of says it all really.