Garage made putters and golf accessories

[davidcushman]

Hey everyone first post here, long time lurker. I've been golfing for about 8 years, done metal work as a hobby for longer than that, sheetmetal used to be my trade until I became a software developer.

 

This is purely a project of passion and enjoyment. I am by no means a trained machinist, all my knowledge comes from youtube and common sense about tools and machinery.

 

I am making all these parts on 2 different manual mills and a small manual lathe I have acquired. The machines are much, much older than me, are worn out and tired, but still want to make parts. I know I cannot compete with 5-axis CNC machines putting out in an hour 100 of what I might do 1 of in a that same hour. The parts I make have tool marks, imperfections, a soul....or something like that.

 

I'm looking for any feedback, criticism, death threats, purchase orders, off-colour jokes etc. Truly I'd love to sell hand-made putters and tools like these but I know I am far from making a finished product that someone would shell out custom shop money for.

 

To follow are some pictures of what I've been working on, you can also see more on Instagram if you're interested. All the putters are carbon steel so far, haven't had the heart to shell out that 303SS money yet while I'm learning, so some rust will occur. I intend on trying to really rust some of them out, also going to try black oxide. I know nothing about finishing steel like this currently other than sanding/polishing.

 

This is the first completed putter I made. "The Doink" ~430 grams, 1018 steel

I retired my SeeMore for this, and have used it exclusively for the last 6 rounds.

 

Before face-milling, should have milled first then welded the neck, live and learn.

 

First try at stamping a somewhat finished piece

 

 

This is the second one, twisty neck was not a success, but learned some stuff in the process. Just too much vibration through the hosel.

 

 

 

 

Hand sanded sole to 600 grit, a slow process to remove most of the tool marks.

 

 

Finally the latest stuff I've been working on

 

 

Some divot tools from 303 stainless and 6061 aluminum

[Tad]

awesome beginning! enjoy your journey!

[sdandrea]

SWEEEEET!!!!

[Opinder]

Congratulations. Look great putters.

 

More smooth curve. Not edge sharply.

[3puttchamp]

Awesome. Subscribed.

[TsarBomba]

This is is very nice work.

[Golfer4Life]

Those welds look better than some I have seen from “established” makers. Very nice! I’m going to watch this one closely.

[Jagpilotohio]

Hahaha! That one ball mark tool looks quite familiar to another one I’ve seen from someone else that’s pretty well known.

 

Fine with me. Do your own spin off.

[FlyOver]

Awesome start! Keep it up, never know where your passion will take you.

[FlyOver]

BTW, are you located in SoCal, since your a Ducks fan?

[FlyOver]

Hahaha! That one ball mark tool looks quite familiar to another one I’ve seen from someone else that’s pretty well known.

 

Fine with me. Do your own spin off.

 

Did Tyson Lamb start making putters by manual machines or was it always CNC machined?