Putter project help WANTED!!!!

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site so I thought I'd post about a project I'm doing and see if there's anyone who can offer up help or suggestions. So over the years I haven't been able to find a putter I truly like. So, I've decided to make my own, from scratch. Now honestly I know very little about golf club making so I figured I'd throw out my plan and maybe some of you could let me know if it's feasible or not, thanks! The plan is basically to start out by building my own "furnace" because I couldn't think of anything else I could get my hands on to melt aluminum. So I'm going to use some cynder blocks or bricks to build my own furnace. I was going to try to melt soda cans and such but am not sure if I need a basic aluminum not finished as a product so thoughts on that? I'm going to melt the aluminum in a paint can, once done I plan to pour it into a clay mold which I have molded from another putter for simplicity's sake and made a few adjustments to. Then once cooled drill a hole to play the hozel and shaft into. Keep in mind I'm very new at this so don't be too hard on me lol any help is appreciated!!!!

-Cory

Uhhh...welcome to the forum, Cory. I suggest "Safety First!"...get some Kevlar or asbestos gear to protect yourself from the flaming.

Frankly, I don't understand why, with so many excellent putters out there, why none of the ones you've tried don't work for you, and why you're "Jonesing" to make your own. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply! Def going to be safe lol to answer your question 1) I can't afford any high end putters college student problems lol 2) I'm hoping that like anything else you put hard work into it feels more like "your own" and it feels more natural to me

Remember to have some small air vents in your mold for the trapped air to escape when doing the pour.

Ah yes great suggestion, thanks!

Just an update, I have created the mold and hopefully Monday I'll fill it with melted aluminum and begin construction of my putter. I'll post step by step pics when it's all done!

Have you done any research into how heavy, or light, the head will be if made from aluminum? Depending on the size and style of the putter aluminum might be too light. Most putters are made from steel unless they are really large mallets or have some type of weight added to the head.

This seems like a dangerous endeavour. I'm honestly concerned for your well being, and would leave pouring liquid metal to professionals.

[quote name='MrFlapjack' timestamp='1421381944' post='10755415']
This seems like a dangerous endeavour. I'm honestly concerned for your well being, and would leave pouring liquid metal to professionals.
[/quote]

I agree. Melting aluminium cans in a paint can?!! Sounds really iffy to me. I've been hoping that the OP would give up on this endeavor...but like watching a train wreck, I'm intrigued. OP...Hope you have good health insurance in case something goes awry. Or BOOM!!

With what you are trying to do, aren't the costs going to add up and won't you end up paying more? What kind of design do you have in mind?

Much safer and cost efficient to use any number of free CAD programs to design what you need and then find machinist or technical school to create putter. Best of luck to you!

[quote name='player922000' timestamp='1420944483' post='10724773']
Hi everyone, I'm new to this site so I thought I'd post about a project I'm doing and see if there's anyone who can offer up help or suggestions. So over the years I haven't been able to find a putter I truly like. So, I've decided to make my own, from scratch. Now honestly I know very little about golf club making so I figured I'd throw out my plan and maybe some of you could let me know if it's feasible or not, thanks! The plan is basically to start out by building my own "furnace" because I couldn't think of anything else I could get my hands on to melt aluminum. So I'm going to use some cynder blocks or bricks to build my own furnace. I was going to try to melt soda cans and such but am not sure if I need a basic aluminum not finished as a product so thoughts on that? I'm going to melt the aluminum in a paint can, once done I plan to pour it into a clay mold which I have molded from another putter for simplicity's sake and made a few adjustments to. Then once cooled drill a hole to play the hozel and shaft into. Keep in mind I'm very new at this so don't be too hard on me lol any help is appreciated!!!!
-Cory
[/quote]

Is it just me, or is this like the most difficult, unsafe and impractical way to make your own putter? I mean if I had zero DIY skills the last thing to pop into my head would be "hey I could build a blast furnace and forge aluminum into a putter"

Seriously, don't do any of that in the OP. It's unsafe. If you really want to make your own putter, there are economical ways to do it. You can search this forum for guys who had milled their own including some with the help of online machine shops. You can PM me if you want more info.

^^^^^^ couldn't agree more with Etiger83 on this one.
as someone who wanted to built their own putter, but had no equipment, you'd be surprised what you can accomplish with a little networking. There are several really great guys on this forum that would be more than happy to help out a struggling college student.

However, if your dead set ( no pun intended ) on building a blast furnace and melting aluminum, hear is a good # to keep on speed dial........911

good luck and feel free to PM me if I can help in any way!
Jrich

I agree that this is not the safest way of building a putter. If you want to melt aluminum, you need a crucible. Serve ytube for homemade crucible. I have seen the videos, simple and effective. You need to use something stronger than a paint can. The guy that posted the video also shows how to melt it. He uses a cut off fire extinguisher for the pot. Simple charcoal and a hair dryer to provide air to get it hot enough. Welding gloves and a pair of tongsis a must. Always think about safety.

Please be sure to document the entire process, including the start of the furnace build all the way to the ambulance ride

Thanks for the advice I'll post pics when I'm done for those interested

[quote name='HandsomeMatt' timestamp='1421417444' post='10756701']
Please be sure to document the entire process, including the start of the furnace build all the way to the ambulance ride
[/quote]
nearly spit my coffee out when i read this:)

OP,
please , do be safe. I'm a volunteer FF/EMT , Nasty things can happen to the human body when it gets burned.
please be VERY careful
Jrich

Geez.... I'm not really sure how to reply to the OP !! Oh wait I have an idea!!

Buy a case of your favorite beer consume all off them save the cans then pound them together with a forge and make a alum Damascus billet . Drill a hole in it and call it a putter.

No offense!! Is this a joke?

Just curious as to how many putters you have tried over the years? There are some very good older putters worth trying. I just picked up an old Wilson Counter Torque and an old Daiwa Pro Balance that are working pretty good for me on the putting green. Not as sexy as today's putters, but not an issue for me. The Wilson head weighed over 350 grams, so I put a heavy 200g shaft on it and made it into a heavy putter.

You know, Guys, this is starting to feel like a JonesScott troll thread. I think we're being had here. Anyone else have similar suspicions?

[quote name='wooleeboolee' timestamp='1421533817' post='10765849']
You know, Guys, this is starting to feel like a JonesScott troll thread. I think we're being had here. Anyone else have similar suspicions?
[/quote]
yeah next thing you know op will be like, So I'm thinking I can build a small nuclear reactor to help melt this aluminum in a paint cam, so i can build this mythical putter forged my the Gods themselves. Should be pretty easy, all i need is a little plutonium, and a some cooling rods, small holding pool. this has got to be cheaper than going out and buying one, right? I'm a poor college student.....

Need some help guys: gonna try and forge some Damascus in my microwave

I am a volunteer firefighter and EMT so rest assured I'm well aware of how to be safe. No offense to those of you actually trying to be helpful but to the rest who are just being @$$holes about it keep your opinion to yourself I asked for helpful advice. I sure hope if you ever ask for advice you don't get these sort of responses. consider who you think you're making fun of also, I may have saved one of your family member's lives in my VOLUNTEER job and all you're doing is criticizing me for being more creative than you. Thanks but no thanks if you have ACTUAL advice feel free to comment if not save it

again I am only referring to those who's only purpose of commenting was to criticize and make fun of me, to those who actually said something in the interest of helping me thank you

Cory,
just some fun nature razing going on my friend, hope I didn't offend. I was in your shoes not to long ago and caught some heat from others because i wanted to design and build my own putter. I wish you nothing but the best of luck! I would however do A LOT of research on this B4 you start, i think you'll find the $ needed to do this the way you are wanting to do it, will make the putter not cost effective.
GOOD LUCK
Jrich