Rechroming process enquiry

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

The full package of refacing, regrooving, rechroming irons is no longer available in the UK. Shipping overseas is an unaffordable extravagance.

Individual elements are available but in what order should they be done?

Do you strip the old chrome and whatever first before the machining, or do you machine first and then strip the old finish and then rechrome?

 

Any advices?

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Here’s a basic question that anyone more experienced than me reading this may be able to answer.

 

We can rechrome irons?

Does this mean some of the rather beat up cheap old sets I see on eBay can be restored to previous glory days?

[raggal62]

https://www.theironfactory.com

[James the Hogan Fan]

On 9/12/2020 at 8:10 PM, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

The full package of refacing, regrooving, rechroming irons is no longer available in the UK. Shipping overseas is an unaffordable extravagance.

Individual elements are available but in what order should they be done?

Do you strip the old chrome and whatever first before the machining, or do you machine first and then strip the old finish and then rechrome?

 

Any advices?

I would strip first. I don't see why you wouldn't strip and media blast first, to have a uniform material to machine. But Im just guessing.

 

On 9/19/2020 at 3:09 PM, oldpinggolfer said:

Here’s a basic question that anyone more experienced than me reading this may be able to answer.

 

We can rechrome irons?

Does this mean some of the rather beat up cheap old sets I see on eBay can be restored to previous glory days?

 

Hell yeah!

 

....Buuut. You yourself can't. (Without a ton of investment) The industrial process is too complex and expensive for a single job, not to mention the chemicals are particularly noxious. 

 

$30-40 or so per head. You send them off looking like garbage, they come back looking concours. I've done it, we're talking see your reflection in it chrome. 

 

Ebay search "hogan apex refinish" you'll see the end results. It's iron porn at that point.

 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

On 9/20/2020 at 12:42 PM, raggal62 said:

https://www.theironfactory.com

 Thank you for your observation. As you will see from the post ''I'm in the UK, shipping overseas is an unaffordable extravagance''

 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

On 9/19/2020 at 1:09 PM, oldpinggolfer said:

Here’s a basic question that anyone more experienced than me reading this may be able to answer.

 

We can rechrome irons?

Does this mean some of the rather beat up cheap old sets I see on eBay can be restored to previous glory days?

 

Sorry, I don't understand your reply.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

On 9/21/2020 at 9:29 PM, James the Hogan Fan said:

I would strip first. I don't see why you wouldn't strip and media blast first, to have a uniform material to machine. But Im just guessing.

 

 

Hell yeah!

 

....Buuut. You yourself can't. (Without a ton of investment) The industrial process is too complex and expensive for a single job, not to mention the chemicals are particularly noxious. 

 

$30-40 or so per head. You send them off looking like garbage, they come back looking concours. I've done it, we're talking see your reflection in it chrome. 

 

Ebay search "hogan apex refinish" you'll see the end results. It's iron porn at that point.

 

 The reason you wouldn't strip first if avoidable is that if you do not have the total package available then you have to do it in discrete processes. Your suggestion is quite correct but involves double/ triple handling the shipping. If avoidable then machining first.

[raggal62]

Yes I've used a belt sander first to smooth out any nicks or chatter. Basically left the faces alone. Grooves were already decent. Took the heads to a plating business that chromed auto parts (bumpers, bezels, etc.) and had them strip the remaining chrome. They offered to replate the heads but I chose to keep them raw. When I got them back I did some hand sanding and scotch bright detail. Shafted them back up. I had to add some weight back to the heads that was lost in the process.

 

So yes I would say the machining could be done first to avoid handling steps.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

12 hours ago, raggal62 said:

Yes I've used a belt sander first to smooth out any nicks or chatter. Basically left the faces alone. Grooves were already decent. Took the heads to a plating business that chromed auto parts (bumpers, bezels, etc.) and had them strip the remaining chrome. They offered to replate the heads but I chose to keep them raw. When I got them back I did some hand sanding and scotch bright detail. Shafted them back up. I had to add some weight back to the heads that was lost in the process.

 

So yes I would say the machining could be done first to avoid handling steps.

Thanks, that's really useful. So you were happy to keep your players unchromed? I've often wondered, the old hickory blades were commonly raw and just got a polish up after each round (by the caddie).

[raggal62]

Yes I was happy with the results. I live in a dry, low humidity zone which helps slow the rusting process. A wipe with a little WD-40 on occasion. The lack of chrome plating will tend to wear down the grooves however.

[Thayneil]

Diamond golf offer full rechroming in the uk.

They are trade only so maybe need to go though your pro

[Swingingk]

I haven't had any irons rechromed but I am a machinist and I can say that you'd have to strip the chrome before you could remachine those tiny little grooves with normal tooling.  

 

I've read several rechroming discussions here over the years and the bottom line is that it's expensive.  Unless you have something extremely rare or your doing it for sentimental reasons it's probably not worth the expense and hassle.  Just buy a replacement set from ePay or the like that is in better condition.  Just my opinion of course.

[Bruceapex]

The iron factory ruined a set of otherwise perfect hogan apex redlines that I sent him to refinish...sloppy work on the faces, didn’t cut new groves and re griped them with the wrong grip even though I stapled a cut sheet of the lambkin grip I wanted to EACH club. Not only was the workmanship lacking, the guy was a total ....what’s the word I’m looking for, I wonder?....hmmmm

not only did he do poor work and used the wrong grips, and neglected to re- groove them, when I called him to discuss what I should do now, he told me I was “one of the impossible to please hogan guys”. Never even got the correct grips from him to correct his mistake in re-gripping.

I wouldn’t send anyone his way if hell froze over....and I’m being way to polite about it.

[fergytheprop]

On 9/26/2020 at 11:09 AM, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

 Thank you for your observation. As you will see from the post ''I'm in the UK, shipping overseas is an unaffordable extravagance''

 

Check these guys out, for UK refurbs.

 

https://www.golfironsuk.co.uk/forged-irons

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Thanks,G. I looked before and found they only did cerakote finishing. Not keen to refinish my Spalding Tour Editons with other than chrome. btw the chrome finish on them is very thin compared to my old Dynas.

[ALIF]

Flanigan Bilt in Ohio does awesome work.  Look at his website.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

13 hours ago, ALIF said:

Flanigan Bilt in Ohio does awesome work.  Look at his website.

Best to read the thread. The enquiry is from the UK

[ALIF]

12 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Best to read the thread. The enquiry is from the UK

Yes, I did read the thread. Yes I knew the inquiry was from the UK. Thank you for your diligence.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

11 hours ago, ALIF said:

Yes, I did read the thread. Yes I knew the inquiry was from the UK. Thank you for your diligence.

Thank you for your erudition. You don't explain how this is relevent to the original poster or thread.

[ALIF]

12 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Thank you for your erudition. You don't explain how this is relevent to the original poster or thread.

I mentioned the place in Ohio because you could simply send the heads to him and he would do everything for you without having to try to send them to multiple places. Hopefully that would be slightly more cost-effective. I know shipping to the United States would be fairly expensive. Hope that you were able to find someplace more locally to do this. He is doing some stuff for me and does excellent work. I thought you might enjoy the quality of workmanship even though it would cost more due to shipping. However, it might be well worth it in the long run. Good day.

Edited January 25, 2021 by ALIF

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Ken Flanigan posts regularly on PGS so we get to see his fine art in creating putters, attention to detail is astonishing. Does Ken post on these pages? Are you connected with Ken in some way or have you had work done by him?

 

[Thayneil]

Phone Diamond golf see if they help.

 

They are trade only but there may be ways.

 

Tell.them Ca73 suggested you call them.

 

 

[Thayneil]

Just now, Thayneil said:

Phone Diamond golf see if they help.

 

They are trade only but there may be ways.

 

Tell.them Ca73 suggested you call them.

 

 

Also company called Marque in Coventry who do first class work.they have a 12 minute video on youtube which shows the process.

 

 

[ALIF]

On 1/26/2021 at 3:54 AM, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Ken Flanigan posts regularly on PGS so we get to see his fine art in creating putters, attention to detail is astonishing. Does Ken post on these pages? Are you connected with Ken in some way or have you had work done by him?

 

Bought some putters from him. They are wonderful! He is sole grinding and re-chroming a set of old Wilson irons for me now and also a couple of old Tommy Armor McGregor sand wedges.  I agree. His attention to detail is amazing. His stuff looks so awesome. If price was no concern, paying the shipping to the United States to have him do it would be money well spent. Of course I know money doesn’t grow on trees. LOL.

[Golfrnut]

Providing you are sending heads only to the US, the cost shouldn't be that extravagant.  I have purchased stuff through Diamond Golf (have an account with them), and not only does it only take 2-3 days to get from spot to spot across the pond, but shipping wasn't more than what it would take me to ship across the US. $15-20 USD if I recall correctly.

[Thayneil]

6 hours ago, Golfrnut said:

Providing you are sending heads only to the US, the cost shouldn't be that extravagant.  I have purchased stuff through Diamond Golf (have an account with them), and not only does it only take 2-3 days to get from spot to spot across the pond, but shipping wasn't more than what it would take me to ship across the US. $15-20 USD if I recall correctly.

Diamond do rechroming through a 3rd party.perhaps you can use your account to assist?

 

Marque golf deal with the public and fo a great job.Price is 35 pounds per club