M43T restoration, tale of two drivers

[RobotDoctor]

I have a pair of M43T drivers that are with Dave Wood for restoration.  One is a driver I have had for a decade or more but had a loose insert after the restoration it went through back in the late 2000s when owned by Fred Clark.  Not sure why but it is what it is.  The other is one that I found last year that is in rough shape but the potential is huge. This one has no lead in the sole and a small lead skirt weight (most likely for fixturing when built).  The insert needed replacement which Dave has done.  Stain should be in the same pattern of a Greg Norman M43T color with gold paint fill for the stampings.  Not sure of the scoring lines, maybe 1 white and the other burnt umber.  I will post more pictures as these progress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor

[LeftyMac]

RoboDoc,

 

How will Dave manage the damage to the face?  Sand back a little, fill with epoxy??

[RobotDoctor]

 

1 hour ago, LeftyMac said:

RoboDoc,

 

How will Dave manage the damage to the face?  Sand back a little, fill with epoxy??

 

The driver is a wee bit closed so the face will be flared open a smidge (which will take care of the toe issue).  The heel is decent with exception of the bit of face missing off the middle part of by the insert.  I am sure a bit of epoxy will reside there.  Not sure but Dave is a magician for sure.  Here are before and after pictures of the face of a 945W he did for me last year.  The results were simply amazing, Yoda like amazing.  I am sure Dave will do something like this again.

 

Edited March 21, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[LeftyMac]

Akin to magic.  Interesting that the carbon spot in the face was not visible until it was restored.

[RobotDoctor]

It is there but faint.  I never noticed it because it was so faint.  I refer to that as the "Cindy Crawford" beauty mark.  I would say that 945W has become my favorite wood of my collection.

[hammergolf]

On 3/21/2021 at 6:24 PM, RobotDoctor said:

 

 

The driver is a wee bit closed so the face will be flared open a smidge (which will take care of the toe issue).  The heel is decent with exception of the bit of face missing off the middle part of by the insert.  I am sure a bit of epoxy will reside there.  Not sure but Dave is a magician for sure.  Here are before and after pictures of the face of a 945W he did for me last year.  The results were simply amazing, Yoda like amazing.  I am sure Dave will do something like this again.

 

That is amazing craftsmanship.

[RobotDoctor]

4 hours ago, hammergolf said:

That is amazing craftsmanship.

 

This is no knock on anyone who restores persimmon woods but Dave Wood is simply the best there is.  His attention to detail is amazing and his knowledge of the classic MacGregors is unparalleled.  His brand (Wood Brothers) was an incredible creation, in the same vein as the classic MacGregors but more artisan.  I am fortunate Dave restores the woods of my collection.

[LeftyMac]

Dave was incredibly generous in putting up his guide to restoring clubs.  Hopefully one day he'll allow someone to video him restoring a club so that we have something for future generations to learn from.  As good as his guide is there is a big difference between seeing someone do something and reading about it.

[RobotDoctor]

Here are a few more restoration pictures. The first three of my M43T that had a loose insert.  The second set of three is of the "reclamation" M43T, the one with face damage. Dave wasn't happy with the replacement insert so he said he will redo it.  
 

These will be refinished in the classic M43T stain, like Greg Norman's old driver.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor

[Thayneil]

What is the costof a full refinish by.Mr Woods?

[RobotDoctor]

5 hours ago, Thayneil said:

What is the costof a full refinish by.Mr Woods?

What do you think a fair price would be for a high quality, total restoration of a persimmon wood?  
 

I feel the cost Dave charges is a fair price for what he puts into each wood he restores.  He's limited his clientele at this time as his schedule Is full.  I am fortunate to be a returning client and one he will restore woods for.  Sorry not to answer the question I'm a direct manner but out of respect for Dave I won't discuss prices.  I hope the forum understands. 

Edited March 25, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[Foozle]

47 minutes ago, RobotDoctor said:

What do you think a fair price would be for a high quality, total restoration of a persimmon wood?  
 

I feel the cost Dave charges is a fair price for what he puts into each wood he restores.  He's limited his clientele at this time as his schedule Is full.  I am fortunate to be a returning client and one he will restore woods for.  Sorry not to answer the question I'm a direct manner but out of respect for Dave I won't discuss prices.  I hope the forum understands. 

Fully understand and respect that RobotDoctor.

I have been privileged to see many before and after examples of Dave Woods work on this forum, many of them from your own outstanding collection.

The man goes beyond "skilled" or "talented" in to the realms of genius! Not sure you can put a price on that.

[RobotDoctor]

57 minutes ago, Foozle said:

Fully understand and respect that RobotDoctor.

I have been privileged to see many before and after examples of Dave Woods work on this forum, many of them from your own outstanding collection.

The man goes beyond "skilled" or "talented" in to the realms of genius! Not sure you can put a price on that.

 

Absolutely true.  Dave is incredibly talented and I am fortunate he does work on my woods.  More importantly he has become a friend who I have come to appreciate our conversations on a variety of topics.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 3/22/2021 at 8:24 AM, RobotDoctor said:

 

 

The driver is a wee bit closed so the face will be flared open a smidge (which will take care of the toe issue).  The heel is decent with exception of the bit of face missing off the middle part of by the insert.  I am sure a bit of epoxy will reside there.  Not sure but Dave is a magician for sure.  Here are before and after pictures of the face of a 945W he did for me last year.  The results were simply amazing, Yoda like amazing.  I am sure Dave will do something like this again.

 

 

Impressed I am.

When 70 years old I reach, look as good I will not, hmmm.

[seis]

A shout out here for Jason @ Powered by Persimmon who recently did a great job semi restoring a Ping Zing driver for me. His work is very good and the price was reasonable.

[deejaid]

2 hours ago, seis said:

A shout out here for Jason @ Powered by Persimmon who recently did a great job semi restoring a Ping Zing driver for me. His work is very good and the price was reasonable.

Thanks Seis, I appreciate it.  Although I’m the first to admit I am not in the league of Dave Wood, although I aspire to get there.  I have learned a lot from his online resources and am very grateful he has shared them with all of us.

[deejaid]

@RobotDoctor

 

The lines of the shape of the face of this club are so elegant.   What a beauty this is going to be.

 

 

[RobotDoctor]

15 minutes ago, deejaid said:

@RobotDoctor

 

The lines of the shape of the face of this club are so elegant.   What a beauty this is going to be.

 

 

 

I agree. Dave said this driver is reminiscent of Greg Norman's M43T he played on tour.  He should know as he rebuilt it for Norman.  

[RobotDoctor]

A couple more pictures of the reclamation M43T that will be referred to as "Jr" going forward.  Dave Wood said that this M43T has a "strong face with reduced progression is similar" to Greg Norman's, "If not for the small lead back weight ...".  Jr. will be refinished in the same stain as Greg Norman's M43T with gold stamp paint fill and probably white scoring lines.  Not sure as they could be filled in burnt umber as well.  Dave's discretion.  Jr has it's new insert (second replacement) and it is flawless.  The grain is incredible on this one as well.  I can't wait to see the progression the next couple weeks as stain, poly and paint fill will be done.  I am glad I sourced a pristine sole plate for this one.  It makes this one top tier (as Dave refers to Jr.)  Sole pic is of the donor M43T that had bad face damage on the toe (epoxy repaired nicely by someone).

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor

[RobotDoctor]

Here are the latest pictures of the reclamation M43T.  I will add a couple of the driver in its original state. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor

[RobotDoctor]

Here is the M43T that was in decent condition with loose insert.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor

[Brewski_golfs]

amazing restoration!

[RobotDoctor]

1 hour ago, Brewski_golfs said:

amazing restoration!

 

Dave Wood is simply the best there is restoring persimmon woods.  The steps he takes is very meticulous.  He's been working on the classic MacGregors since the 70s and have restored some of the woods that PGA Tour professionals used when persimmon woods were used, including Greg Norman's M43 he used in the 80s and into the 90s.  The M43T with white scoring lines was done in the likeness of Norman's M43 as it is very similar to the profile of Norman's (per Dave).  I cannot say how pleased I am with Dave's work and the pieces in my collection he's restored.

[LeftyMac]

RoboDoc,

 

Do you know how he fixed that chip in the heel side of the face next to the insert?  The easiest answer would be sanding the face back but I'd guess that would take too much off but then again the toe has been cleaned up so well and you can see grain where the chip was so perhaps it was sanded back. 

[RobotDoctor]

On 4/10/2021 at 2:35 AM, LeftyMac said:

RoboDoc,

 

Do you know how he fixed that chip in the heel side of the face next to the insert?  The easiest answer would be sanding the face back but I'd guess that would take too much off but then again the toe has been cleaned up so well and you can see grain where the chip was so perhaps it was sanded back. 

The original face progression was a bit strong so Dave had some room to work with.  He did a 9x9 bulge and roll, classic MacGregor spec. There is still a small bit of chipped wood which is now filled with the epoxy from setting the new fiber insert.  The 9x9 B&R took care of most of the chip. 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor

[Thayneil]

On 3/24/2021 at 4:16 AM, hammergolf said:

That is amazing craftsmanship.

Hands down best refinishes i have seen.

 

You can see the difference between sprayed and dipped poly for.sure

[RobotDoctor]

Here are three side by side images of the two M43Ts for easier comparison.  The one on the left is the reclamation M43T.  I love the richer finish on that one.  Of course the other M43T has a lighter, Pecan finish.  I love that one, too.  One thing to note is the is how deep and crisp the crown and sole stampings are.  Perfection!!!

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor

[Stephen8802]

Its all CGI.

 

It has to be CGI. They can't possibly be as perfect as they look, can they?

[RobotDoctor]

41 minutes ago, Stephen8802 said:

Its all CGI.

 

It has to be CGI. They can't possibly be as perfect as they look, can they?

 

There will come a day when you will see these with your own eyes!  😉

[RobotDoctor]

The M43Ts have made it home to Colorado and I have to say they're even better in person.  Pictures just don't do either of them justice.  Here is the reclamation M43T.  I will take some outdoor pictures soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by RobotDoctor