Help! Need New Face Inserts for Persimmons...

[TimV]

This morning our neighbor who works condo security at an upscale place in Ft Lauderdale knocked on our door and gave me a set of Spalding Registered Top Flite Stainless Tournament Irons 3 thru 8 and non-matching MacGregor Tommy Armour Black Scott 9 iron and RMP1 MT Tourney PW. He also gave me the matching persimmons 1, 2, 3, & 4 Spalding Top Flite Tournaments woods. The inserts were cracking and a tap with a hammer proved they were all shot. I have removed the inserts and started stripping the woods and straightening soleplates. I went on Duh Bay thinking I could buy face inserts... wrong. Or perhaps I'm searching wrong, or perhaps I need to buy material to make the inserts, or perhaps I have no idea what I've gotten myself into here!

Help!!!

I tried looking these up in my identification guide and came up empty so these may well be a store model and not worth the effort anyway.

So, Can anyone identify these by my description? (I can post pictures if needed.)

Are the woods worth my effort? They seem like pretty solid pieces of persimmon and the wood itself appears in good condition.

If they're worth some work where can I buy the face inserts or the material to make them?

Any and all help and advice is greatly appreciated. I've done countless 'players restorations' on persimmons and laminates over the years but have never encountered unplayable, unusable, face inserts before.

Thanks!

[rex235]

Tim-

 

Need photos to assist.

 

Last I checked, Golfworks (Maltby) was still selling replacement inserts.

[farmer]

DaveWoodArts might be a help. If you find an insert, you will need a roll and bulge gauge. PM me and I will send you mine (if I can find it).

[Chris122]

Tim,I had a face insert replaced by a pro friend,albeit a laminated fairway,he made a resin mix and filled the space which was blanked off by tape and card to form a reservoir.

Excess was then cleaned off and it was perfect,surely easier than fitting a ready made insert?

[mocokid]

seal the dam with silly putty, add the epoxy, let it harden, then sand and recut the grooves.

[mocokid]

you may want to lay the epoxy down in a couple of layers, 1/8 inch or so, so it hardens easily.

[robert horneman]

This is not a job for an amateur. First you need the proper tools. The correct epoxy ,if the insert is poured ,or if a pre made insert is used you need to shape it to fit correctly. You need a bulge and roll gauge and the knowledge to use it. You will need the proper saw to cut the groves (flat teeth) . Also the correct bastxxx files.

Replacing an insert is a fairly major job even for a pro.

 

Good luck

[TimV]

Here are the pictures as requested. I am leaning toward buying a sheet or 2 of ABS plastic, making a template, then cutting and stacking it to fit using shafting epoxy. I will then attempt to do some shaping with my rotary tool. Given to me for free so nothing to lose but the cost of the plastic. If nothing else it will be a learning experience. I forgot to mention earlier that these also came with 2 putters including a Spalding Cash-In which gives me a playing option for my 67/68 Set I've been playing.

Pics...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chris122]

Love the ferrules!

 

Aren't face inserts dovetailed?

[hnryclay]

Nice putter!!!!

[russad]

The 'Cash-In' putters are good to use and in my opinion collectable too. As above comment, love the wood grain or tortoise shell look on that ferrule.