Another putter refinishing thread

I’ve posted way too many putter refinishing threads lately (a few of without results as I am still working on them an embarrassingly long time later) but I’m seeking some inspiration again.

A buddy of mine runs a small nonprofit that hosts a golf tournament each year and I want to donate a refinished putter as some sort of closest to the pin or long putt prize this year. I finally found a used Coronado 2 on eBay that is coming this week and I need some refinishing ideas.

Overall it looks pretty darn good for the price and the face milling in particular seems to be in good shape, which I’m excited about. I would normally never do this to a classic Scotty but I’m thinking of going with a University of Tennessee themed refinish since we are in Knoxville and should have mostly Tennessee fans participating in the scramble. My definite plans include sanding and smoothing, followed by a shiny black oxide finish. What makes me hesitant is what I’m thinking in terms of paint fill and one other alteration. It’s not really my style but I think the orange and white paintfill would get a little more attention/money if raffled, as well as putting snow on the flange in a checkerboard orange and white pattern like the UT end zones.

My only other alternate plan at the time is to go more traditional (even though I don’t think the Coronado 2 was done in black ox) with the classic white and gold Cameron paintfill with no snow on the top.

What suggestions do my fellow golfwrxers have in terms of a finished product here? The organization is full of good people and I want this to come out as well as possible. I believe I can avoid sanding the face completely and keep the milling since it’s in pretty solid shape. I’ve had success refinishing some old carbon steel putters in black oxide so I’m more concerned with vision than anything. My biggest concern with this one is the pitting on the sole. This probably won’t be a gamer for anyone so I don’t think removing more weight than usual will be a huge concern, but I definitely don’t want it to be 200 grams or sanded to the point where I can’t paintfill. Any/all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

That thing should clean up well. Are you planning on doing the black yourself? Sanding those us super easy because there is no cavity or difficult area.

That thing should clean up well. Are you planning on doing the black yourself? Sanding those us super easy because there is no cavity or difficult area.

I had a local metal shop don a TEI3 in black ox for me last summer and it came out looking perfect. Finish held up all season as well. I’m planning on contracting that out to them for this putter as well.

A couple years ago I cut my putter refinishing teeth on an old TP Mills blade with a similar shape. Everything else has been way more difficult courtesy of tight angles and cavities, so I’m hoping this will be smoother sailing. Hopefully it will be more polishing than removing dings this time around.

Just know that we will never respect you if you don't post some pics of the finished product :no2: Just kidding... sort of

This thing should be a breeze. It is in WAY better shape than I was thinking. This is just after a CLR bath and a little scrubbing with scotchbrite and barkeeper’s friend. I am stoked.

Amazing what good ole elbow grease can do

Excellent, most the millwork on the face as preserved, did you sand the face with the lines or just straight back and forth ?

Excellent, most the millwork on the face as preserved, did you sand the face with the lines or just straight back and forth ?

I haven’t done any sanding yet. Just soaked in CLR and then scrubbed with a scotchbrite pad to get the finish off. I am going to avoid sanding the face completely.

I would hammer that toe ding back a bit before you sand it out. I think you could save some metal that way. That thing should sand out easy and i doubt you will lose much material.

Here is one I have coming back from coating(I think it is similar but slightly better starting condition). I did the cleanup and polish and sent it off for DLC coating. I just need to figure out paintfill

I would hammer that toe ding back a bit before you sand it out. I think you could save some metal that way. That thing should sand out easy and i doubt you will lose much material.

 

Here is one I have coming back from coating(I think it is similar but slightly better starting condition). I did the cleanup and polish and sent it off for DLC coating. I just need to figure out paintfill

That looks very good, nice job. Where did you have the coating done? I have a local metal shop that can do black ox but that might be a better option on this putter.

Also, I was contemplating how to handle that ding. When you say hammer out do you literally mean some light taps with a hammer? That’s going to be my biggest challenge on this I think, especially since it’s so close to the milling.

I would hammer that toe ding back a bit before you sand it out. I think you could save some metal that way. That thing should sand out easy and i doubt you will lose much material.

 

Here is one I have coming back from coating(I think it is similar but slightly better starting condition). I did the cleanup and polish and sent it off for DLC coating. I just need to figure out paintfill

 

That looks very good, nice job. Where did you have the coating done? I have a local metal shop that can do black ox but that might be a better option on this putter.

 

Also, I was contemplating how to handle that ding. When you say hammer out do you literally mean some light taps with a hammer? That’s going to be my biggest challenge on this I think, especially since it’s so close to the milling.

yep, Just slowly working the ding back in place with a normal hammer. There is a thread on here where cold smithing is discussed and I have done it with much success on a few wedges.

example here

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/392064-renovating-old-and-rusty-wedges-back-to-life/

The coating was done thru a group deal. One of the members had a guy who does DLC on watches and he did it for us as a one time thing. I will dm you details on what I have found out with DLC.

Much appreciated - I have refinished a few sticks but have never started with a hammer. This would have been really helpful on the last putter I worked on, but I'm glad to have learned this before working on this one.

Which direction would you point the hammer in this scenario? Am I hitting it back towards the opposite direction it protrudes or just straight back into the putter itself?

Not much of an update here, as I am going slow on this one and just doing a little bit of sanding each night. It is still proving to be a cooperative project fortunately. I’m sure this has been mentioned somewhere else, but my favorite trick is to use a sanding sponge. They aren’t really cost effective but seem to speed things up and reduce some strain on the hands. My main concern at the moment is the small mark on the face/heel near the milling. I’m going to attack it and a few smaller spots with some sandpaper glued on a popsicle stick at some point.

can you circle the spot and take a really good picture of it. I don't see anything that is to bad.

can you circle the spot and take a really good picture of it. I don't see anything that is to bad.

It’s just these smaller areas near the toe and head. I think I’m just going to leave them as they are now and hope the black oxide hides them.

All in all I am pretty pleased with how things are shaping up though. I bit the bullet and added the snow (will try the checkerboard pattern). It isn’t perfect but as good as I could have reasonably hoped for. I’m sure I’ll do a little more polishing and tinkering, but will probably send it for the black oxide looking similar to this.

I think it would a bit but you could sand any edges a little bit more

It’s back from the black oxide treatment. Not perfect but should look a bit better after paintfill.

Finished product

Why on earth would you do all that work and then ruin it with that orange/white crap on the flange? If it suits your eye more power to you, but is too "busy" for my eye.

Great work though, and thanks for providing detailed pics from start to finish - love the black finish and everything came out looking very professional.

^ Just leave that first paragraph out man, jeez.

> @kmay__ said:

> ^ Just leave that first paragraph out man, jeez.

concur...looks great @CF_Frost ! i actually like the dots