I’ve spent over $1,500 in plating and club repair equipment and bought 11 sets of clubs on eBay after watching your videos. It’s to the point that I’m having clubs shipped to my neighbors house so the boxes don’t appear at my door for my wife to find. If you’re looking for other video ideas, I’d love to see how a “C” student strips an iron to the raw metal and how to chrome plate a club head after its nickel plated. I can’t get that part right yet. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Haha. Spread them around to the neighbors then say they donated them to you. I've been avoiding going down to bare steel since I'd just be laying on a layer of nickel right after anyway. But that begs the question of my method a true restoration or just a refresh? I suppose a full restoration down to steel would be likend to a frame off restoration on a car, would would be the right way in my opinion. Are you going to do the chrome at home? I'd like to pick your brain in how it goes, safety concerns, etc as you get going.
Thanks! I appreciate you! Shoot me some ideas on what you'd like to see. More irons? Putters? Tutorials? This channel is to show you all how easy this is. I
@@BradMeehan I love the clubs restorations from buffing to a polish. Maybe a more in depth one about what to look for when buffing and polishing and what can go wrong like in your electroplating videos (burning it) ?
I have a 1-A putter that looks like yours before you cleaned it up and have debated whether or not to try to do the same thing. I may give it a try. Thanks for the video. I love the “ping” sound, my golf buddies not so much.
Brad, because of your videos, I’m hooked! I’m in the middle of restoring a full set (1-PW) of 1987 Taylormade Tour Preffered irons just like you did back in one of your vids. Thanks to you, they are looking amazing! I even found some new old stock original grips for em. Glad to see you back, and thanks again! 🙏
@@BradMeehan so far I’m about half way through and they look really good! At my pace, they should be done by 2024🙄 Once these are complete, I’d like to try my hand a plating. But one step at a time. Cheers!
Hey great to see you making videos again! Just to let you know, your videos inspired me to get into club restoration and have bought all the equipment and have successfully restored a few clubs! Any comments on the longevity of the nickel finishes you’ve put on? I’ve got some Cadwell black nickel coming in the mail and super excited about it. One tool I’ve used that I haven’t seen on your channel is a pneumatic die angle grinder. You can buy deburring and polishing pads that really speeds up the process, especially in hard to reach areas. Keep it up!
Thank you. I hope you now see how easy it really is. I'd love to.see that black nickel. I've been wanting to do a black nickel with a copper face. I think that would look sweet. I saw a black/copper motorcycle on RU-vid and that contrast was great. Longevity wise, the nickel just isn't as durable as the chrome. I haven't done true chrome yet due to the expense and safety concerns. One friend of the channel left a comment above about getting the Caswell chrome kit, so I'd like to hear back on his progress before diving in. This channel really just me learning along the way and sharing what I've learned so I'm not afraid to make mistakes to give a true picture of what were up against. Thinking of doing a video of subscribers photos, so let me know when you get a few done.
@@BradMeehan absolutely. I have some pretty good before and afters I can share when requested. Will document and update on the black nickel finish, as well as their pickle #4 and SP degreaser to see if I can prep multiple heads at once and have the proper cleanliness but also maintain efficiency. Also, for future video requests, because there’s not a lot out there: black nitride coating, DLC coating (I hear it’s the best), Satin/matte/brushed metal finish.
Hi Brad, thank you for these videos that are inspiring. May I request that you demonstrate how to debur and polish with Dremel tools. This information will be useful for a startup setup where space is an issue. Thank you in anticipation.
I'd recommend against a dremel because it tends to leave waves in the finish on flat areas. Also, I understand space may be an issue but I always do the polishing outside. It gets really dusty inside so you can set the grinder on the ground or table and work. It's also much faster than a dremel. I'll make a video showing the dangers of using it on a junk club.
I think the shaft buffing, and regripping was a great idea, not sure I would have taken off so much material to restore the head. (Big fan of the tarnish look) I probably would’ve gone down a de-tarnishing method versus removing actual bronze material. Beautiful job though.
I have that same Ping 1-A putter, but off the top of my head I don't remember if it is a Phoenix or a Scottsdale. Either way, it doesn't look anywhere near as nice as what you just did! Awesome work!
Awesome job! i have a similar 1-A which i bought off ebay about 15 yrs ago for about $70 and the condition of the head looks nearly identical of this one. I've cut it down to 32 inches (my standard length) and installed a Winn Pistol grip. i believe it was about 35.5 or 35.75 inches when i got it. The sole of mine reads " PING BY KARSTEN PO Box 9006 Phoenix ARIZ 85029. Sounds like mine was one of the earlier models made before the US Patent #. There is no US Patent (nor Pending) and no Karsten Manufacturing Corp.
Great job. Bet that original ping is still a great putter with the center shaft. In 69 I was working in the pro shop at Port Charolette CC in FL and the pro and his assistant went out and shot 39 and 40 for nine from the women’s tees with just a ping putter. Probably 5,000 yards from the reds. Question - the stamping on the bottom - did you take effort to clean out all that or did the buffing take care of it or did it make any difference?
Hi Jon! Thanks! The putter was gorgeous. I got a few inquiries so decided to let it go versus letting it just sit on shelf. Sounds like it went to a good home. Thanks for checking in!
@@BradMeehan thank you! I have this same putter. Picked it up on a whim for $18 a few years back without even knowing what I found. Does the scotchbrite take material off of just clean it? I think I am going to give this a go.
Thank you. I'm not sure about the diameter. You might ask in the GolfWRX vintage/hickory forum. Lots of really smart people there that would know. forums.golfwrx.com/forum/246-hickory-persimmon-and-classic-clubs/
Thank you. They are Scotch-Brite belts, so like the scuffing pads but in a belt format. I'd say use a 400 to get the scratches out and use a wood block under the paper so it's flat.
Hey Brad! I’m attempting to restore the same type of putter and I’m using your video as reference. Just out of curiosity, when grinding and polishing the putter, do you use any sort of respiration or facial protection?
Take a look at the link in the description. I made a store front with all the products so you can see it. It's called the Multitool attachment under the Polishing category.
It sure seemed like there was a ball bearing in there. I reshafted two Ping putters back in college in the late 80’s. Watching Brad twist the head on this one and the noise it made brought me back in time to when I was dropping f-bombs on them both. I then realized how ingenious it was for Karsten to use the ball bearings to secure the heads. lol
Brad, I know you are very focused on safety so maybe a warning not to do this with BeCu and Manganese Bronze clubs? Inhaling dust from either is not good news. Also on safety, I used a hook blade for grip removal as it gets under the grip and less likely to slip.
Hi Graeme. Thanks for checking in. I was just reading about the BeCu cautions. That's a good note. Also, just added the hook blades to my shopping cart. Thanks for the tips. Hope you're well.
@@BradMeehan I'd love to see what you can do to some ISI. I have a set that I've been cleaning up with the Dremel. nothing fancy but looks so much better. just need to try paint filling next.
Those were not shiny when new, they always had a dull bronze sheen. Only Ping putters that I have seen that were shiny were the gold plated putters they used to do for every PGA Tour win.
Thank you. There was also a re-issue that looked like a bar of gold on a shaft, which i drew inspiration from. But, you're right on the original finish.
BERYLIUM COPPER WARNING! PLEASE STOP AND READ, SOME OLD CLUBS CONTAIN BERYLIUM, LEAD AND OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS, DO NOT SAND OR POLISH ANYTHING WITH BERYLIUM YOU WILL DIE! Do some research and please put a disclaimer for aspiring restoration enthusiasts!
You've ruined a classic putter that is designed to show the patina of the manganese bronze, not linished to remove the face angles or mirror polished. That job has lost all the value in the club.
It will tarnish pretty quickly. It won't be as good as original, but not a mint collectable and probably worth it to take out the dings. If you could put a tumbled finish on it, that would be the gold standard.
