Starting a small Shop

[jleffell]

What to buy

I am in the process of trying to refinish some of my irons and have come to the conclusion that I will buy a bench buffer/sander to do the job.

I also need to bend my clubs so I am considering investing in a loft/lie bending machine.

I found a good buffer at Caswell's (thanks to Texan's recommendation) and found a loft/lie bender at Golfsmith for $175 with their sale (usually 259.99). I could then get some regripping equipment and have myself a little shop.

Does anyone have any better suggestions than this lie bender and do you know if this machine is good enough for a beginner to use and not break my hosels?

Finally, I live in Boston so there are no Golfsmiths close to me. Does anyone know any good places to learn clubmaking skills in the area and how much of a time commtment is it to get certified.

Sorry for the long post, but I will be very grateful to anyone who can help me out in any of these areas.


Josh

[kiwidave]

I thinking about doing something along the same lines. There are no 'true' clubfitters within 600km around here so I thought I have a go myself. I expect much but a lot fun.

[TGS]

I am in the Boston area and I don't know of any place that offers classes to teach that sort of thing. I own a small shop and I went entirely with Mitchell. It might be more money but it's good quality. They are #1 for a reason!

[jleffell]

Where in Boston?

 

I need some lies bent before I go away in two weeks

[Dyno]

I am in the process of trying to refinish some of my irons and have come to the conclusion that I will buy a bench buffer/sander to do the job.

 

I also need to bend my clubs so I am considering investing in a loft/lie bending machine.

 

I found a good buffer at Caswell's (thanks to Texan's recommendation) and found a loft/lie bender at Golfsmith for $175 with their sale (usually 259.99). I could then get some regripping equipment and have myself a little shop.

 

Does anyone have any better suggestions than this lie bender and do you know if this machine is good enough for a beginner to use and not break my hosels?

 

Finally, I live in Boston so there are no Golfsmiths close to me. Does anyone know any good places to learn clubmaking skills in the area and how much of a time commtment is it to get certified.

 

Sorry for the long post, but I will be very grateful to anyone who can help me out in any of these areas.

 

 

Josh

 

With loft lie machines, I was told by a very wise clubmaker to get something good and forget the rest. The GS Pro would be ok but not entirely accurate. The hobbiest model from GS does not look capable at all. If you realize that a machine needs to be within 0.5* after reefing on a head with a leverage bar....it takes something fairly substantial to do that on a consistent basis.

 

For regripping, if you have a vise, a quick clamp from any of big distributors http://www.myostrichgolf.com/clubmakers/pr...products_id=801.

 

I use this one

http://www.silvestrienterprises.com/SC.htm

 

As far as practical skills go, you'd need to travel to Golfworks/Golfsmith/Dynacraft and take one of their courses.

 

The only certification worth anything is thru the PCS www.proclubmakers.org Unlike the Golfsmith program, you actually have to build clubs to freq/swingweight/length/loft/lie specs and have all the tools to accomplish such. It's fairly straight forward if you have experience building clubs to spec but I can see someone less experienced failing it pretty easily.

 

I completely taught myself the craft and completed PCS Class A so it's certainly do-able. With the internet, all the information you need is at your fingertips. Good luck.

[slicefixer]

Congratulations......I've been tinkering with clubs since I was 12 years old.......over 30 years now......its a great hobby OR profession IMOP.....

 

Belt Sander.......1" will do......2" even better......I've got both.....

Drill Press......doesn't have to be an expensive one either

2 Grinders.......one with 2 different grinding wheels and the other with polishing wheels

a VERY good vise!......I have a heavy one and a light duty one......

Plastic Gas dump vat.......allows you to recycle the gas/fluid you use when gripping......they are cheap......

Get a GOOD quality loft/lie machine.......I have two......one manual and one is electric for cast clubs.......

 

I can't think of anything more off of the top of my head right now........

 

Good Luck!

 

:)

[shook23]

Where in Boston?

 

I need some lies bent before I go away in two weeks

 

TGS is out in Waltham. He did some bending for me earlier in the year and his work is great, highly recommended over the superstores

[jleffell]

Thanks for all the info...

 

I just received my Grizzly Buffer and all the accessoried I think I'll need to do the job.

 

Is it hard to get a consistent finish? Im gonna practice on some old clubs first.

 

Is there a way to polish the cavity of an iron head like the 704cb and get to all of it (i purchased a few mushroom heads)

 

and also, when I am polishing the face, what should I use to cover up the hitting area (would masking tape work?) because I don't want to give the whole face a mirror finish and I don't havea sandblaster.

 

Anyone selling a decent used loft/lie machine? Or know someone who might?

[playing18]

I am in the process of trying to refinish some of my irons and have come to the conclusion that I will buy a bench buffer/sander to do the job.

 

I also need to bend my clubs so I am considering investing in a loft/lie bending machine.

 

I found a good buffer at Caswell's (thanks to Texan's recommendation) and found a loft/lie bender at Golfsmith for $175 with their sale (usually 259.99). I could then get some regripping equipment and have myself a little shop.

 

Does anyone have any better suggestions than this lie bender and do you know if this machine is good enough for a beginner to use and not break my hosels?

 

Finally, I live in Boston so there are no Golfsmiths close to me. Does anyone know any good places to learn clubmaking skills in the area and how much of a time commtment is it to get certified.

 

Sorry for the long post, but I will be very grateful to anyone who can help me out in any of these areas.

 

 

Josh

 

With loft lie machines, I was told by a very wise clubmaker to get something good and forget the rest. The GS Pro would be ok but not entirely accurate. The hobbiest model from GS does not look capable at all. If you realize that a machine needs to be within 0.5* after reefing on a head with a leverage bar....it takes something fairly substantial to do that on a consistent basis.

 

For regripping, if you have a vise, a quick clamp from any of big distributors http://www.myostrichgolf.com/clubmakers/pr...products_id=801.

 

I use this one

http://www.silvestrienterprises.com/SC.htm

 

 

 

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH SILVESTRI UNDER ANY CURCUMSTANCES... HE IS A THIEF! HE WILL TAKE YOU MONEY AND NEVER FINISH YOUR PRODUCT!!!