TPM #10 refinish

twodegreesup · March 29, 2014

Hi,

I am trying to refinish a couple TPM #10 putters to a Gun Blue finish (using Birchwood Casey super blue; see photos attached).

I managed to sand out the big dings, but there are a few surfaces scratches left. I don't have a dremel to get these out,

so before I put the gun blue on I was going to polish the heads with a buffing compound.

Was going to use Simichrome polish, but I think that is only for non-ferrous metals, and as far as I know

these TPM #10 putters are carbon steel, which is ferrous.

Can anyone recommend a metal polishing compound I can use (safe for ferrous metal) to get these putters to a

mirror finish before I add the gun blue?

Many thanks

Sporting chance · March 30, 2014

The best way is to use a polishing mop and a coarse, reducing to fine wax ( some call it soap). If you haven't got a suitable bench grinder to adapt to a polishing machine, there are numerous drill mounted polishing kits available online. Get as many dints out as possible beforehand with reducing grades of wet and dry paper (used wet it is more effective) and then use a stiff sisal wheel with a black or brown wax to smooth out the surface. Have a look at the finish after this stage as you may need a light wet and dry sanding to remove the last of the marks. Finally use a softer wheel and a blue or white wax to produce a high gloss finish. Polish with an abrasive chrome cleaner like Autosol and it should be mirror-like.

Before you gun blue, make sure any traces of wax or polish are removed from the head before applying the bluing solution.

Good luck and let's see the finished pictures!

HandsomeMatt · April 1, 2014

There is a kit I bought at Lowes for like 40 bucks that's a Dremel-type set, Blue Hawk or something, and it came with a ton of attachments. What grade sandpaper have you worked up to on that? Wet sanding with 2000 grit will get it to shine but unless you've already worked your way up to that you'll just be wasting the stuff. I go from Dremel to 80, to 250, to 400, to 800, to 2000 and then polish. Just when you think you've done enough, step away for a while and then look at it again as if for the first time, don't fear perfection because you will never attain it.

HandsomeMatt · April 1, 2014

I wanted to add that what you've done so far looks really good, I'm in the process of doing an Old Master W-802 that I plan on using the gun blue with as well. Almost finished removing the plating so I can do the finishing sanding and polishing. Sanding with the grain of the steel will give better results and save from having to go against what you've already done, be sure to post pics, that's going to look good.

smeech8000 · April 3, 2014

Autosol with a drillbit buffing/polishing pad:

Courtesy of Howard Jones:

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

Yes, that's raw carbon steel.

I also recall finchi5 doing a Studio Design resto that he ended up buffing the carbon to an unbelievable mirror finish... although I'm pretty sure he employed his bench grinder and multiple wheels & compounds to achieve that look. I'll try to find that thread as you would never believe it's carbon and not polished chrome.

Also, Handsome Matt, you mentioned W-802 and I just have to post this walkthrough done by another wrx'er:

http://thepowerfade.com/2011/12/12/club-repair-restoring-a-putter-part-1/#more-1806

Not sure if you plan on torching or blueing/blackening, but it is a nice journey nonetheless.

smeech8000 · April 3, 2014

Ha! - found it (it was a Circa #1):

http://www.golfwrx.c...-1-salvageable/

Credit to finchi5

I highly recommend checking out the thread to see what this thing looked like before he got his hands on it...

HandsomeMatt · April 3, 2014

Autosol with a drillbit buffing/polishing pad:

Courtesy of Howard Jones:
http://www.golfwrx.c...s-back-to-life/

Yes, that's raw carbon steel.

I also recall finchi5 doing a Studio Design resto that he ended up buffing the carbon to an unbelievable mirror finish... although I'm pretty sure he employed his bench grinder and multiple wheels & compounds to achieve that look. I'll try to find that thread as you would never believe it's carbon and not polished chrome.

Also, Handsome Matt, you mentioned W-802 and I just have to post this walkthrough done by another wrx'er:
http://thepowerfade....rt-1/#more-1806

Not sure if you plan on torching or blueing/blackening, but it is a nice journey nonetheless.

LOL, I've referred to that same post several times, actually it was part of the motivation to get the Old Master to begin with. It's my first carbon steel and I'm thinking maybe a torch/gun blue combo but we'll see, once I get a couple more done I'll be posting a bunch of pics and may be selling a few.

atlambert2 · April 3, 2014

What effect would a torching/gun blue combo have? Just getting into the DIY refinish world and about halfway through my first stainless (torching) and was looking to gun blue a carbon steel next

HandsomeMatt · April 3, 2014

[quote name='atlambert2' timestamp='1396532002' post='9010253']
What effect would a torching/gun blue combo have? Just getting into the DIY refinish world and about halfway through my first stainless (torching) and was looking to gun blue a carbon steel next
[/quote] I'm not sure yet, lol, just have an idea for a gun blued topline and torching the rest of it.

atlambert2 · April 3, 2014

[quote name='HandsomeMatt' timestamp='1396532490' post='9010315']
[quote name='atlambert2' timestamp='1396532002' post='9010253']
What effect would a torching/gun blue combo have? Just getting into the DIY refinish world and about halfway through my first stainless (torching) and was looking to gun blue a carbon steel next
[/quote] I'm not sure yet, lol, just have an idea for a gun blued topline and torching the rest of it.
[/quote]

ambitious. let me know how it turns out! pics or it didn't happen :lol: [size=4] [/size]

HandsomeMatt · April 3, 2014

[quote name='atlambert2' timestamp='1396532602' post='9010325']
[quote name='HandsomeMatt' timestamp='1396532490' post='9010315']
[quote name='atlambert2' timestamp='1396532002' post='9010253']
What effect would a torching/gun blue combo have? Just getting into the DIY refinish world and about halfway through my first stainless (torching) and was looking to gun blue a carbon steel next
[/quote] I'm not sure yet, lol, just have an idea for a gun blued topline and torching the rest of it.
[/quote]

ambitious. let me know how it turns out! pics or it didn't happen :lol:
[/quote]Fair enough, I like the idea of contrast on there, similar to what the Versa series does but something not so mathematical looking, black and white, lifeless. Torched finishes are really incredible looking without being too busy but I've just done 3 torched putters in the last month so I want to experiment a little more since carbon will allow for it more than stainless.

finchi5 · April 4, 2014

Ha! - found it (it was a Circa #1):

http://www.golfwrx.c...-1-salvageable/

Credit to finchi5

I highly recommend checking out the thread to see what this thing looked like before he got his hands on it...

Thanks for the compliments guys. This did take some time to polish I can tell you. Stainless is easier with the right compounds and mops, carbon seems to take a lot longer. I remember once doing a maxfli tpm and it took over 5 hours to polish. It looked awesome once it had been blackened though.