Shop Basics

[n8rsgonnan8]

I'm hoping to start up a little shop at home. For club building purposes I'd like to be able to regrip clubs, then check and adjust loft/lie. For regripping I'm thinking of getting just a general vice, then can use a paint tray, or I'll get a specific catch tray for gripping. Right now I don't see the need to get a dedicated station, as I won't be doing a lot and would be nice to have multipurpose tools.

For bending I'm thinking of getting this: https://www.golfworks.com/economy-iron-bending-machine/p/gw0053/ and a brass bending bar.

 

Besides supplies is there anything else that's recommend? Tools that have been found to be very useful?

[Nessism]

Swingweight scale

Club length ruler

Bench grinder w/cut-off wheel for cutting shafts. Rough cut with the wheel and then dress to final length with the grinding wheel on the other side.

Shaft puller for graphite shaft removal

Torch (no heat gun)

Nice shaft holder (not elcheapo all rubber type)

Roll of 220 grit sandpaper strip (for prepping shafts and dressing ferrules)

Acetone (for dressing ferrules)

High quality epoxy. I like 3M DP420 or 460, or Loctite Hysol E-60HP

[n8rsgonnan8]

> @Nessism said:

> Swingweight scale

> Club length ruler

> Bench grinder w/cut-off wheel for cutting shafts. Rough cut with the wheel and then dress to final length with the grinding wheel on the other side.

> Shaft puller for graphite shaft removal

> Torch (no heat gun)

> Nice shaft holder (not elcheapo all rubber type)

> Roll of 220 grit sandpaper strip (for prepping shafts and dressing ferrules)

> Acetone (for dressing ferrules)

> High quality epoxy. I like 3M DP420 or 460, or Loctite Hysol E-60HP

 

Thanks for the list! I'm going to hold off on most of that for now. Not looking to do any reshafting yet.

[Howard_Jones]

> @Nessism said:

> Swingweight scale

> Club length ruler

> Bench grinder w/cut-off wheel for cutting shafts. Rough cut with the wheel and then dress to final length with the grinding wheel on the other side.

> Shaft puller for graphite shaft removal

> Torch (no heat gun)

> Nice shaft holder (not elcheapo all rubber type)

> Roll of 220 grit sandpaper strip (for prepping shafts and dressing ferrules)

> Acetone (for dressing ferrules)

> High quality epoxy. I like 3M DP420 or 460, or Loctite Hysol E-60HP

 

Your forgot a GOOD Gram scale, we cant do much without, and some hosel cleaning tools for prep and removal of old epoxy is very handy too....a knife with a hook blade to cut off old grips, a good "tape system",(what ever type), and a caliper to measure shaft butts, tip OD and insert dept, a old hair dryer to soften old grip tape before we scrape or peel it off, heat protective gloves, eye protection, a fire proof trash bin..... It all belongs to the basics...a good refrigerator for beer should not be needed to mention but you forgot that one too :-)

 

To the OP, do a search using the function on top of this page, use "work shop" or similar, there is many good ideas to find for how things can be done for next to no money at all if you have just a little handyman skills,

[third-times-a-charm]

Vise, torch, graphite shaft puller, ruler, and mini chop saw.

[Rory4Pres]

....Beer Fridge.

[n8rsgonnan8]

> @"Howard Jones" said:

> > @Nessism said:

> >

> To the OP, do a search using the function on top of this page, use "work shop" or similar, there is many good ideas to find for how things can be done for next to no money at all if you have just a little handyman skills,

I've looked a bit, have some good ideas, thanks!

 

[James the Hogan Fan]

Pie tins are great multipurpose catchtrays for solvent in the regripping process.

If you use an old bottle filled with solvent, you can simply dip the shaft in the bottle to instantly wet the whole length of tape.

[EddieEdwards]

Loft/lie adjustment is $$$.

[JRS]

digital caliper is compulsory. and everyone starting simple measurement question threads in here because they don't have one should be banned :p

[Quasimoto]

For cutting shafts I just place painters tape around the shaft at the correct length and the cut with a Dremel cut-off wheel. Nice fine cut, never splinters.

[Nessism]

I use Bramptons grip solvent in a spray bottle. No messing with catch trays and the like. Just a few pumps inside the grip and mist some over the tape. I used to use mineral spirits with catch tray but the Bramptons is just plain better.

[n8rsgonnan8]

> @Nessism said:

> I use Bramptons grip solvent in a spray bottle. No messing with catch trays and the like. Just a few pumps inside the grip and mist some over the tape. I used to use mineral spirits with catch tray but the Bramptons is just plain better.

 

I like that idea!

[n8rsgonnan8]

> @EddieEdwards said:

> Loft/lie adjustment is $$$.

 

This is will the most expensive purchase, but this is top on list of capabilities. Hit a lot of balls on mats, so would like to be able to check/adjust fairly frequently. And in my opinion this is an overlooked thing to routinely check, I am VERY guilty of it.

[Howard_Jones]

> @n8rsgonnan8 said:

> > @EddieEdwards said:

> > Loft/lie adjustment is $$$.

>

> This is will the most expensive purchase, but this is top on list of capabilities. Hit a lot of balls on mats, so would like to be able to check/adjust fairly frequently. And in my opinion this is an overlooked thing to routinely check, I am VERY guilty of it.

 

Golfworks has a low prices loft and lie machine, (Value line is the name) but you need to combine it with a external Loft and Lie Gauge, but Golf mechanics has a few nice ones, not too expensive either. I cant link to Golfworks, they block everything from Europe, but here is GolfMechanics and their gauges

https://www.golfmechanix.com/Items.asp?Pdts=01

 

 

 

Its this gauge im thinking of, only 65 USD, im not sure what Golfworks charges for this Budget bending machine, but it should be in the area of 150 USD, so maybe 200 total? (maybe its no bending bar with it, i cant tell since i cant access their web page.

 

[Howard_Jones]

Mitchell is top notch, and this was their top of the line model, but this one is rusty, Easy to fix) but it seems misused, so i dont think he get what he ask for, (no bids). Bookmark and find the owner and give him a lower offer when the time is out.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mitchell-Golf-Signature-Loft-Lie-Bending-Machine-w-Bar/133175041316?hash=item1f01d9dd24:g:i8oAAOSwH5tdcT15

 

[n8rsgonnan8]

> @"Howard Jones" said:

 

> Golfworks has a low prices loft and lie machine, (Value line is the name) but you need to combine it with a external Loft and Lie Gauge, but Golf mechanics has a few nice ones, not too expensive either. I cant link to Golfworks, they block everything from Europe, but here is GolfMechanics and their gauges

> https://www.golfmechanix.com/Items.asp?Pdts=01

>

>

>

>

> Its this gauge im thinking of, only 65 USD, im not sure what Golfworks charges for this Budget bending machine, but it should be in the area of 150 USD, so maybe 200 total? (maybe its no bending bar with it, i cant tell since i cant access their web page.

>

Something like this could be perfect. My dad has the very simple fixture the just holds the iron head and a bar from golfsmith that he doesn't use, but no good way to measure. It'll be a little slower by having to mount and unmount to bend then measure, but will save at least $200. Will be a great start.

 

[Howard_Jones]

> @n8rsgonnan8 said:

> > @"Howard Jones" said:

>

> > Golfworks has a low prices loft and lie machine, (Value line is the name) but you need to combine it with a external Loft and Lie Gauge, but Golf mechanics has a few nice ones, not too expensive either. I cant link to Golfworks, they block everything from Europe, but here is GolfMechanics and their gauges

> > https://www.golfmechanix.com/Items.asp?Pdts=01

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Its this gauge im thinking of, only 65 USD, im not sure what Golfworks charges for this Budget bending machine, but it should be in the area of 150 USD, so maybe 200 total? (maybe its no bending bar with it, i cant tell since i cant access their web page.

> >

> Something like this could be perfect. My dad has the very simple fixture the just holds the iron head and a bar from golfsmith that he doesn't use, but no good way to measure. It'll be a little slower by having to mount and unmount to bend then measure, but will save at least $200. Will be a great start.

>

 

No reason to spend more than needed as a hobbyist, i never planned to be a club maker myself, the plan was only to be able to build my own clubs since nobody else could, but ended up as one, and a place like this, with the complete Mitchell catalog and then some, so just be careful, its very addictive stuff.....

 

 

 

[5hort5tuff]

Howard! Looks like a high end science lab. Good stuff man.

[Stuart_G]

I got the low priced golfworks "Value Line Golf Club Guage". It works ok for loft and face angle, but really not very good for measuring lie angle. So generally I wouldn't recommend it - but it depends on your needs.

https://www.golfworks.com/value-line-golf-club-measuring-gauge/p/hgcg/

 

I can fine tune the lie angles dynamically instead of using the gauge so I can still get by with, just might take a few more iterations between hitting to test and going back for more bending.

 

If I had the need and were to get another one I would probably stick to a more mid-range guage like:

https://www.golfworks.com/maltby-golf-club-gauge/p/gw1040/

[Rk5]

I second Howard's comment on a hook knife. I used to use a blade or stanley knife which was awkward and risked damaging a shaft.

 

Cutting a grip off with the hook blade is soooo satisfying and takes 2 seconds.

[Howard_Jones]

> @Rk5 said:

> I second Howard's comment on a hook knife. I used to use a blade or stanley knife which was awkward and risked damaging a shaft.

>

> Cutting a grip off with the hook blade is soooo satisfying and takes 2 seconds.

 

We both forgot to tell how to use it, many dont know how.....

Hold the club right below the grip with your left hand, get the hooked blade under the tip of the grip so the blade is almost flat against the shaft (not 90* on), then just pull in opposite directions with both hands.

That way you cant make damage to the shaft, and you cant cut yourself with the knife, so its both safe, fast and very easy.

 

 

 

 

 

[RyanBarathWRX]

I wrote this piece for the site a few years ago and its just as relevant now as it was then.

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/399094/building-golf-clubs-at-home-the-essential-tips-tricks-and-tools/

[Howard_Jones]

> @RyanBarathWRX said:

> I wrote this piece for the site a few years ago and its just as relevant now as it was then.

>

> http://www.golfwrx.com/399094/building-golf-clubs-at-home-the-essential-tips-tricks-and-tools/

 

Good write up, and funny you mention IKEA...many have asked where i good the furniture from, and its actually a IKEA Kitchen with stainless steel fronts, but reinforced and modified. All "small stuff" in the top drawer so the place was easy to clean and hold dust free. Carbon fiber dust is no joke, its really bad stuff, so its important to prevent it from flying around in the room so i strongly advocate some sort of dust collection for the shaft cutter and belt grinder.

 

I build my own vacuum system with dust collectors, it does not have to be that advanced, but its no good if we just let the dust fly around and breath in that stuff. If we want to "make it right", we shall always cut "on the long side" of the cut mark, and grind down to target, and that means there will be graphite dust....Ideal is a vacuum cleaner of some sort, placed outdoor, NOT in the room you work.