Best Glue for Pool Cue Tips
Best Overall
LocTite Professional Super Glue
Runnerup
Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Best Inexpensive
TIGER Glue for Billiard Pool Cue Tips
By Phill Williams
6th Mar, 2023, 8 min read
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You may have spent quite a bit of time choosing the perfect cue tip for yourself. But you equally need a high-quality glue to attach it. Obviously, you don't want to be in an awkward situation where the tip comes right off the pool cue in the middle of a crucial game.
A high-quality glue will deliver a strong and reliable bond between the cue tip and ferrule, saving you from the hassle of re-tipping again and again. At the same time, the glue must be easy to apply, should set quickly, and must be resilient to shocks.
Now for the next problem: which glue is the best?
To save you from the hassle, I've rounded up 5 of the best glue for pool cue tips. So, whether you are installing a super expensive Kamui tip or any leather tip, you can surely benefit from the recommendations.
Replacing the cue tips isn't a difficult job, provided you have the right tools i.e., a cue repair kit and a glue. You don't necessarily need a cue repair kit. A sharp cutting blade knife would do the work just fine, but it will be time-consuming and often messy.
I've been replacing my cue tips and sometimes for my mates for a while now. The process does take some time to get used to, but after a couple of tries, you're sure to get it right. Just remember, simply choosing the best glue does not guarantee that your cue tips won't fall off. You also need to apply the tips with the right technique. I've also included step-by-step instructions on how to install a cue tip below.
If you haven't picked up the cue tip yet, I strongly recommend you to check my top picks here.
Our Top Picks for the Best Glue for Pool Cue Tips
- LocTite Professional Super Glue- Best Overall
- Gorilla Super Glue Gel - Runner Up
- TIGER Glue for Billiard Pool Cue Tips - Best Inexpensive
- Tweeten 10 Minute Cement Glue for cue repair - Best cement glue
1. LocTite Professional Super Glue
The LocTite Professional Super Glue is by far the best and the most effective glue to securely attach your pool cue tips. No wonder, most pro and seasoned players (including me), use the same glue.
Being a liquid glue, it's quite convenient to use and apply and does not create a mess. Just apply an even thin layer of glue on the sanded tip and ferrule, and press the tip onto the shaft for a minute and it's done! Leave the stick facing tip down overnight to cure properly. The fast setting property, along with superior strength, makes it the best glue for your cue tips.
What I particularly like about this glue is that it's transparent and does not leave any ugly marks at the joint. However, be aware that you must be careful handling this glue. If it gets on your hands or clothes, it would be super difficult to get it off!
Final Note:
If you're looking for the best glue for sticking cue tips that delivers ultra-strong bond, this is it! A 20gm bottle should be good enough to stick 30 to 40 tips.
2. Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Dollar for dollar, Gorilla Super Glue Gel is the best budget glue for cue tips. A 20gm bottle costs less than $6, which should easily last you for 10 to 20 uses. The glue is fast-setting and takes just 10 to 30 seconds to set and dry. The unique rubber particles make the glue impact resistant and further adds to the strength.
The anti-clog cap helps to keep the glue fresh and always ready to use. It performs almost similarly to Loctite (our top pick) and results in a strong bond. The Gorilla Super Glue Gel is also highly rated on Amazon with over 4.8 rating across 2000+ reviews. A no brainer for anyone looking for quality glue to attach cue tips.
3. TIGER Glue for Billiard Pool Cue Tips
This specific pool cue tip glue has the lowest setting time of 10 to 20 seconds, with maximum bonding achieved under 2 hours.
This glue is advertised and rightly as one of the most powerful glues on the market, and will undoubtedly keep you cue tips secured for a long time. It utilizes advanced adhesive technology and uses extremely powerful Cyanoacrylate-Based glue to bond your tip to your cue within 15 seconds.
The product comes in a 1oz bottle, which can store enough glue for dozens of tip repairs. Amazingly, it can also be used as a strong adhesive for general household repairs!
4. Tweeten 10 Minute Cement Glue for Cue Tip Repair
Cement glues are not preferred to glue cue tips mainly because it's quite slow to set. However, it does come with a slight advantage in comparison to liquid glues. The issue is when you stick a leather tip with liquid superglue, the glue might seep inside the tip affecting the true properties of the tip. Most of the newer leather tips do come with a protective layer to prevent the glue from seeping in, but not every tip has this feature.
With cement glues, you don't have the seeping issue, and hence many players still prefer it. The bond and strength is similar to you what find in superglues with the only exception it takes quite a bit of time to set.
If you're inclined towards trying cement glue, there is nothing better than the tweeten cue tip Cement glue.
How to Properly Install a Pool Cue Tip?
Installing a cue tip is quite straightforward but does require a bit of patience and proper technique. The step remains the same whether you're installing a tip on snooker cue or pool cue. Here, I've listed detailed instructions on how to install a cue tip by yourself, using just a cutting blade and sandpaper.
Tools required to install cue tip
Please be careful, and make sure you don't cut yourself.
- Start by unscrewing the butt. Handling the shaft alone will be much more convenient.
- Using a sharp razor blade cut the old tip off. Gently rotate the cue while cutting the tip to get an even and clean cut. Try to cut as close to the ferrule without actually shaving the ferrule. Make sure to get rid of the old glue residue completely.
Cut the old cue tip
- Next, scuff the ferrule lightly using sandpaper or the blade. The rough surface allows for better bonding.
Shave ferrule to remove glue residue
- Similarly, scuff the bottom of the new tip using sandpaper (200+ grit or higher should be fine).
- Apply an even layer of glue on the ferrule and press the tip against the ferrule. I prefer using Loctite glue due to its fast setting properties. Wipe off any excess glue. Let it dry for a couple of minutes.
Attach the cue tip
- Next, hold the shaft upside down against the tip and using a sharp blade cut the excess tip, so that it's perfectly flush with the shaft.
Cue the excess tip
- Now you need to shape the tip. You can either use sandpaper or simply use a shaper. Using the shaper is recommended, as it makes the work a lot easier. Gently rub the tip against the sandpaper to smoothen the edges. Depending on what shape you need - dime or nickel, continuing rubbing the tip till you get the desired shape.
- Use 600+ grit sandpaper to scuff the top of part of the tip, so that it can hold chalk properly.
- Finally, use a liquid burnisher or cue wax to burnish the side and give finishing touches.
This is it! You have successfully installed your cue tip and are set to play.
Buyer's Guide
There are a couple of points you need to keep in mind while choosing a glue for the cue tips. The first is the type. Broadly there are three types of glues - Gel, Liquid, and Cement.
The gel is the most popular and preferred choice because it's convenient to apply without much spilling. Liquid, on the other hand, is similar to the gel, but the chances of spilling are higher. However, both gel and liquid glues set very quickly. Therefore you need to be precise and accurate when attaching the tip. Cement is slow setting, that also means you get sufficient time to center the tip if you don't get it right in the first attempt. However, cement glue isn't as effective as the other two. Also, it takes a couple of hours to cure and completely set.
Price should be the last concern when choosing a cue tip glue. Even the costliest ones cost about 5 to 7 dollars, which would be suffice to glue over dozens of cue tips.
As a rule of thumb, the cheaper a glue is, the less likely it is to provide a secure hold. Each glue on this list is tried and tested and has been proven to provide long-lasting, secure hold.
Let's Wrap Things Up:
You don't necessarily need to pay for professional re-tipping, which can easily cost you anywhere from $20 to as high as $50. I'm not saying they aren't good, but installing the tip isn't something which you can't learn and do it by yourself.
All you need is a sharp blade or a re-tipping kit, glue, and a lot of patience. The pool cue tip glues that I've recommended above are the best out there, and you can buy any of them with confidence. Even most of the pros use the very same glue.
I hope you found the guide helpful and could find the right glue for your cue tips. If you've any further questions or queries, please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
