Bar Keepers Friend for cleaning/brightening irons

Received my recent ebay Ping i5 irons purchase yesterday and while the clubs are low mileage, the heads had a dingy looking patina that wasn't befitting their true condition. To clean them up I carefully masked off the emblem in the back cavity and proceeded to scrub them down with Bar Keepers Friend and an old toothbrush. BKF has oxalic acid in it which eats off any surface oxidation, including rust, but doesn't harm chrome or paint fill. The sauce was mixed up into a paste like consistency so it wouldn't spatter all over the place while scrubbing, and dwell time used was one minute.

I knew the cleaned irons would look better but frankly, I was amazed at the results. I can post some photos later but suffice it to say these things look great now. The dingy finish is completely gone.

Oxalic acid is great to remove rust on carbon steel so this tip should work great on forged clubs with some chrome wear resulting in rust. Good stuff.

Good to know, does it make them easier to rust in the future though? Does anyone have long-term results/info for this?

The oxalic acid eats off the oxidation but doesn't put down a protective layer afterwards. Stainless steel will self-passivate itself after cleaning like this, which is the formation of a passive oxide layer, which acts as a protective layer so to speak. Carbon steel on the other hand will be left raw, so it will oxidize again if exposed to the elements. It won't corrode any faster than before, but oxalic acid won't do anything to stop it either.

I have almost used of 3 cans of this stuff over the past 5+ years. It makes a set of stainless clubs look really nice. I may have even used it on some BeCu eye2's in the past. I would like to rename it "Iron-Owners Friend". It's also really good for taking heat marks off stainless hosel from re-shaft heat jobs (you really have to heat those pings up to get them shafs out from the factory). Sometimes it takes 2-3 treatments of the paste to accomplish however. BTW, I've never had any issues with not taping the i5 emblem either. Just dont scrub real hard around it.

I too have used Bar Keepers Friend for years. Great on brushed or satin fiinish stainless steel.

So, no go on my polished chrome MP-68's?

[quote name='NormG' timestamp='1310501542' post='3385795']
So, no go on my polished chrome MP-68's?
[/quote]


I have never tried it on chrome but the canister says it [b][u]can[/u][/b] be used on chrome bathroom fixtures or automobile chrome.

+1 on the "ok on chrome".

Bar Keeper's Friend is one of those best kept secrets that should be known by everyone. Great stuff.

[quote name='Nessism' timestamp='1310486467' post='3384879']
Received my recent ebay Ping i5 irons purchase yesterday and while the clubs are low mileage, the heads had a dingy looking patina that wasn't befitting their true condition. To clean them up I carefully masked off the emblem in the back cavity and proceeded to scrub them down with Bar Keepers Friend and an old toothbrush. BKF has oxalic acid in it which eats off any surface oxidation, including rust, but doesn't harm chrome or paint fill. The sauce was mixed up into a paste like consistency so it wouldn't spatter all over the place while scrubbing, and dwell time used was one minute.

I knew the cleaned irons would look better but frankly, I was amazed at the results. I can post some photos later but suffice it to say these things look great now. The dingy finish is completely gone.

Oxalic acid is great to remove rust on carbon steel so this tip should work great on forged clubs with some chrome wear resulting in rust. Good stuff.
[/quote]

I'd love to see some pictures. You probably didn't get any before photos to compare with, but still..

I use it all the time to freshen up my own clubs, clubs that I work on for others or clubs I am selling. Always had outstanding results.

I use the stuff that is allready in the liquid form and then I sqirt some onto one of the blue scotch bright pads that doesn't scratch metal.

Here is my best tip for using BKF when cleaning your clubs in the kitchen sink (if your wife is like mine). Keep some stainless steel silverwear close by if she come around. When she raises a stink that the clubs are in the house, tell her you are finished with them and are now shining up the silverwear for her.

Sorry, no before photos...

Sorry, no before photos...

 

 

 

 

apart from the ball strikes on the 6 iron they look brand new,about to buy a second hand set of these irons so thanks for the tips will give it a try out

forgot to ask Nessism is it just a case of using the tooth brush till you think they are done then just clean it of cheers

looks great nessism, too bad u didnt have any b4 pics

This stuff is fantastic if you get excess white mineral spirit stains on your irons shafts when you grip.

I just tried Weiman Stainless Cleaner and Polish on my G10 irons. Made 'em look great.

Is the powder or liquid better for golf clubs?

Bought another set of i5's (stupidly sold the clubs shown above) and this time took some before and after cleaning photos.

After Photos***************

AWESOME!

As the person who sold them to him, this makes me a little sad .

Nonetheless, hope you enjoy them, they should be really good sticks for you.

Where can BKF be bought from?

[quote name='Raidersgolf99' timestamp='1327717694' post='4164889']
Where can BKF be bought from?
[/quote]

this thread prompted me to go to amazon.com and pick some up. im a prime member and 2 day shipping is free. it cost 5 bucks.

Check your grocery store in the cleaning aisle. It's a couple of bucks. The OP should also copy this to another thread I saw about "buying the same equipment twice". We've all been there, it's just hard to admit it!

Check your grocery store in the cleaning aisle. It's a couple of bucks. The OP should also copy this to another thread I saw about "buying the same equipment twice". We've all been there, it's just hard to admit it!

Already posted in that other thread.

This set is blue dot (fits me better) and in better condition. Yea...that's the reason. See, I know what I'm doing!

BKF is awesome stuff, like someone said it's a "best kept secret..." It will even remove minor torch marks from chrome if your out of blue-away...

My grocery sells it for $1 per 9.5 oz. squeeze bottle.

Thanks guys, jut what i was looking for, have a few rust spots on my Epon's and like to clean them up. This will be tonight's project.

http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/golf-clubs

I figured I’d add a before and after from my results.... This thread definitely inspired me to use BKF!! I should’ve taken more pics.

Keep it off Raw Black Vokeys tho