Refurbish / Refinish Putter DIY

[D_Golfer]

Hey guys,

A time ago i lost my putter headcover and haven't bought a new one.

Since then the putter has gained lots of scratches but is perfectly functional.

Has anyone ever refurbished a putter? Do you guys have any sugestions or info of how to?

The putter is a TM Spider Sightline (attachments).

Was thinking about removing all the red with sand paper but don't know if that is correct or what to do from there..

if u guys can help i apreciate it..

[downlowkey]

It’s definitely not a short read but this MGS thread should have all the info you need - Member DIY Club Restores/Refurbs/Refinishes

On a full refurb, you’ll want to remove the face insert before any sanding (water boil is a popular method and covered in the thread).

Proper hand/eye/breathing protection is important when you’re ready to start removing the finish. But that head is going to be a really difficult sand job with all the crevices. Caswell Plating makes some great finish stripping products as an alternative to sanding.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[D_Golfer]

18 hours ago, downlowkey said:

It’s definitely not a short read but this MGS thread should have all the info you need - Member DIY Club Restores/Refurbs/Refinishes

On a full refurb, you’ll want to remove the face insert before any sanding (water boil is a popular method and covered in the thread).

Proper hand/eye/breathing protection is important when you’re ready to start removing the finish. But that head is going to be a really difficult sand job with all the crevices. Caswell Plating makes some great finish stripping products as an alternative to sanding.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Thank you for the sugestion.

I'll give this one a good read.

Took a glimpse and didn't seem to find anything similar to a spider (i say this because the paintjob and removal seems different).

Let's see.

 

Thanks.

[null]

Spiders are extremely hard to refinish. Even the major refinishing companies don’t do them often

[D_Golfer]

3 hours ago, jlukes said:

Spiders are extremely hard to refinish. Even the major refinishing companies don’t do them often

Thank you for the input.

Wouldn't remove the paint, keep the insert and repaint be a valid solution?

[null]

15 minutes ago, D_Golfer said:

Thank you for the input.

Wouldn't remove the paint, keep the insert and repaint be a valid solution?

Chances are it won’t look good. I mean it’s your putter and you can try whatever you’d like, but any new paint would chip off pretty fast if the old paint wasn’t removed, the metal primed and a clean new coat applied

[hckymeyer]

For paint removal I've had good luck with Tal-Strip on drivers.  Yes you have the basics down...tape off insert, remove paint, clean really well and re-paint.  Like most projects though there is a different between doing it, doing it well and doing it right.  How deep down the rabbit hole you want to go is completely up to you.  

Taking a WAG here but based on the current condition and not having used a putter cover for some time I'm thinking just anything that looks better would be ok.  Getting repainted in all those nooks and cranny's is going to be challenging, but doable if you really take your time and try to many very light coats.  The last thing you want is a huge run in the paint.  

Just remember it's never going to look as good as when it was new.

[Buffly]

I saw online the "putterlounge" website has a refinish service but the cost seems like you could buy a mint used putter for about the same money. 

My TM putter is white and had some bag chatter like yours. I found some fingernail polish at the 99¢ store hid the bare metal from a distance at a glance. Close inspection reveals the chips are filled but it isn't a pricey putter or collectible. 

Yours is red so finding a closer color match might look to car touchup paint, mixing fingernail polish colors if you are only looking to cover up the bare metal as an easy fix. 

The right way to do it would be to take it apart, remove the paint, repaint it, repaint the white lettering and lines, reassemble.

It is very difficult to refinish like new without taking it fully apart. 

The cost to have it refinished by putterlounge is $129 plus $40 to repaint the line... Seems like about the cost of a used one. 

[fozcycle]

Have you thought about sand blasting?


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[3ironpunch]

Have you thought about sand blasting?


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.
Yup. I had a wedge that I did all of the work on by hand. I flattened the face with a file and regrooved manually etc. Afterwards I found a local shop and offered lunch or a reasonable fee to give the head a light blast after I taped it off really well. Then I started painting.


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[Tom the Golf Nut]

I would probably go the sand blast route as well. Tape off everything you dont want blasted with several layers of tape. Go easy on the blasting so it doesn't heat up the metal to much. Then get some automotive primer and paint of your color choosing. 

[DriverBreaker]

I say let the paint chip off.  Like a patina on an old truck, it has character and defines the battles you've gone through.  But........ I get wanting it all nice and shiny as well. LOL  Sand blast it then do a powder coat finish.  Might be more resistant to chips/cracks, but who knows.