'99 Apex Project: Done!

[Swing Wait]

Hi all, some of you probably saw my previous posts on my winter project, refinishing a set of Hogan Apex clubs. I got them back from the chrome shop a couple of weeks ago, and finished assembly last week. I've had them on the driving range but I thought I should take some photos before this Saturday, when they'll get dirty and beat up for the first time. I refinished 8 clubs (3 through E) and recently picked up a 54° Apex wedge in decent shape that I just cleaned up. I put on GP Victory grips, built to midsize and with reduced taper. Ferrules are repro Hogan ferrules from Cell-Parts Manufacturing.

 

These are a little dirty from the driving range and you can see the red stripe from a Sharpie pen on some of the faces, from me checking the lie.

 

 

 

I got these as heads only, so I used Nippon Pro 950GH regular flex shafts, but also put on some original Apex shaft labels courtesy Weeicemon to complete the vintage look. I "sort of" hard stepped these, putting the #4 shaft in the 3 iron, #5 in the 4 iron, etc...but can you really say it's hard stepping when you put a #4 shaft in a club with 23° loft? I built these out as if the 23° club was really a 4 iron, the 26.5° club was a 5 iron, and so on. I wanted these 1/2" longer than normal and as it turned out I didn't trim the butt ends at all, except the E wedge that ended up a quarter inch too long.

 

Cheers!

[HoganApexBlades]

They look great! How was Cell-Parts Mfg. to work with?

[Swing Wait]

They look great! How was Cell-Parts Mfg. to work with?

 

Thank you.

Cell-Parts was fine, I just ordered on the website and received the package within 2-3 days. I received an email confirmation of the order, an email payment receipt, and an email confirming shipment with a tracking number. They shipped within 24 hours.

[defender2803]

Awesome work!

 

What type of paint did you use for the fill? Been thinking of adding back some color on some things around here. I get conflicting comments on enamel/acrylic and model paint/paint pen/nail polish.

[Fellaheen51]

Excellent resto SW. Same setup with my '99 Apex's. Nippon 950's straight in, but + 1". That shaft and club head is a real nice combination. Hopefully, you will really enjoy playing them.

 

Defender, not trying to step on your question to SW. I've been using Tamiya acrylic paint for fills. Levels nicely into stampings. However, the next time I need paint, think I may try the Testors acrylic. They seem to have more color options. The Tamiya red (one option) seems just a little off from the original Hogan red. Testors has multiple options in that color. Would expect it to perform similarly.

 

I typically apply two coats. To cover any thin areas, add depth of color. Two "thinner" coats better than trying to do it with one heavy. Then add a coat of clear (the Mrs. nail polish) to the sole. Locks down the fill in that wear area.

[Swing Wait]

Hi guys,

 

I used Testors enamel for red and Testors acrylic for the gold (just because I happened to have both already). I can testify that both are very tough, from trying to clean up the paint fill after drying. I have to re-do the black...I tested automotive touch up paint thinking it has to be durable...big fail. :nono: It flakes off at will. I'll be re-doing the black in Testors enamel (again, I happen to have some).

 

Fellaheen, I read somewhere about using clear over paintfill...maybe it was one of your posts...I put clear nail polish over the red and gold paint for extra protection. In my case, it didn't adhere to the chrome at all, but did cover the paint nicely. That is funny your build also uses Nippon shafts and longer than normal. Did you put the "correct" shaft in each head, in other words the #5 shaft in the #5 head?

[Fellaheen51]

Yes, straight in (i.e. 5 in 5). As the shafts were acquired from another set of clubs already cut to length, had to install extensions. No big deal. Use to their installation in used classic clubs. SOP. Stepped the lengths at 3/8", working off the 9 iron. My DIY version of building a MOI matched set. Plus making the long irons a bit shorter, thus slightly easier to swing affectively. But only play 5 iron up anyway. The current 5I and 6I have Apex Plus heads.

 

Yet to have the lies and lofts adjusted. Wanted to get a couple of evaluation rounds in before bending. But seeing that shots have been trended left, getting about time to adjust the lies up a couple of degrees. Plus there's a loft spread transitioning between the Apex Plus to the Apex MB (6i to 7I) that needs tightening. Prefer to maintain a 4* loft spread between clubs. Without looking at my notes on the build.

[Swing Wait]

I played with my Hogans this morning, caught a little flack for playing forged blades "meant for a scratch golfer" (I'm nowhere near that), and I shot the best score of my life. Awesome clubs.

[deejaid]

Very nice set. The 99 blades are my favorite looking Hogan's ever. And they a known to be very playable. I hope to have a set of those someday.

 

Enjoy!

[Jacktrack]

Hi Swing Wait, beautiful restoration. Lucky enough to score my 99's in excellent condition with Apex 3 shafts, used steel extenders to add 1" and fitted midsize grips. I redid the paint fills with Revell "Email Colour" enamel modelling paint, great range of colours available and easy to match Hogan original paint fill. Didn't bother with a clear coat finish as the enamel holds up very well. Added Apex 52* gap and 56* sand wedge to complete the set. My favourite Hogans!