Refinishing Nickent 3DX DCs

[lastmanbak]

Help with a job in progress?

I bought four 3DX DC hybrids in the BST that were in need of some serious TLC. After reading a few other topics on here about refinishing, I decided to give it a try. I've now done one in matte and one in glossy black (although the matte I have doesn't look as matte as I've seen done by others here).

Anyway, I've run into a few problems that I was hoping people here could help me with. The pictures tell the story, but basically I'm having trouble with all the edges. I've been using a combination of blue masking and electrical tape to tape the heads, but that's not been working all that well with all the contours on these heads. They just are not coming out sharp, especially on the back where the inserts are. The way I did the backs this time around was to paint the whole thing and then use acetone+q-tip to clean off the insert.

Oh yea, I've basically followed the prescription here:

-- Stripped all the paint off the head
-- Cleaned the head with soap and water
-- Sanded the head with 600 grit paper
-- 3 coats of sandable primer
-- Wet sand with 600 grit paper
-- 2 coats of flat black paint
-- Wet sand with 1000 grit paper
-- 3 coats of flat black paint

I'm fully expecting to redo these. I want to get it right because I have two more with PF V2 stiff shafts that I want to really make perfect (and then maybe sell because the V2s are a bit boardy for me). Thanks for any help!

Both at address (Matte on bottom, gloss on top):


Matte crown & back (2/17*):





Glossy crown & back (3/20*):

[Golferpimp1]

The tops look great, I think the only area that needs to be addressed are where the weight plugs are. Couple options I believe. Best thing to do would be to remove them, continue the refinish, then epoxy them back in. If you cant remove them, you may want to tape over them, and then use a razor blade to outline the weights, then pull the excess tape away, just leaving the weights covered. The taping part is so very important, I would really take your time doing that, it can really make or break the entire refinish. Looking good though!

[lastmanbak]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure about taking out removing the plugs, so I'll just tape over them for now. Did you just use the (blue) paint masking tape on your TEE (which looks awesome by the way)? Also, did you razor-blade all your edges? Or were you able to get the tape around the contours accurately?

[Golferpimp1]

I used the blue painters tape, and I just did it by hand (very very slowly). However the counters on the TEE were not as tough as the ones your dealing with, So on the harder areas you may want to use the razor blade. Let me know how it turns out! Keep us posted with pics

[lilhellmaker17]

They look great. I just stripped the black paint off of mine than sanded them down all the way and put nail polish clearcoat on them and they look perfect. Reminds me of an old Titleist 5 wood we have in the garage. I'll post pics if anyone wants them.

 

Jaden

[lastmanbak]

However the counters on the TEE were not as tough as the ones your dealing with, So on the harder areas you may want to use the razor blade. Let me know how it turns out! Keep us posted with pics

 

Sounds like a plan. I probably won't have a chance to work on them again for a couple of days, but I'll post more pics when I have a chance.

 

They look great. I just stripped the black paint off of mine than sanded them down all the way and put nail polish clearcoat on them and they look perfect. Reminds me of an old Titleist 5 wood we have in the garage. I'll post pics if anyone wants them.

 

Jaden

 

Thanks, Jaden. When you say "mine," do you mean the 3DX DC in your sig? If you don't mind putting up some pics, especially of the area around the plugs that'd be awesome.

 

I also haven't tried clearcoat yet, mainly because Golferpimp1 has said in other threads that it came out poorly and didn't seem to be necessary for durability.

[highergr0und]

I'd probably look at filling the weight plugs with something like cardboard. Taping over empty space is tough to do. Even if the cardboard sticks out a bit, it would allow you to spray at angles to get everything covered while keeping a rigid, straight edge.

[lilhellmaker17]

When I get home, I'll take some pictures. Don't have the club with me.

 

Jaden

[lilhellmaker17]

HEres the pics.

 

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=c...p=inline&zw

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=c...p=inline&zw

 

 

I'll take better pics tomorrow when its light out.

[Pinehurst1999]

Oh the humanity :(

[lastmanbak]

HEres the pics.

 

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=c...p=inline&zw

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=c...p=inline&zw

 

 

I'll take better pics tomorrow when its light out.

 

Actually, can't see those, man. Can you upload here? Or maybe a public site like photobucket, etc.? Thanks for your help by the way.

 

Oh the humanity :(

 

Ouch.... I know it's bad in back, but I thought the crowns were looking good..

Any constructive criticism?

[Pinehurst1999]

Nothing constructive from me because I have never done this kind of thing to a club. I am amazed at how the top of the club looks and I do like the idea of some yellow paint fill on the bottom though.

[lastmanbak]

Nothing constructive from me because I have never done this kind of thing to a club. I am amazed at how the top of the club looks and I do like the idea of some yellow paint fill on the bottom though.

 

Ok, thanks. So you were just reacting to the craptacular job on the back, I guess. Yea, I put in yellow and black on the bottom. I can post some pics of the bottom when I have a chance to start over. Might add some white next time if I can get it right. I was having trouble with the colors bleeding into one another on my first attempts.

 

I actually thought I could just put these clubs in play in the condition I bought them, but found the chips in the paint on the crown too distracting, sharpie just wasn't doing the trick in the sunlight. I tried to have them warrantied first because there were no sky marks, just paint chipping off, but the reps said no. They gave me the option of having them re-headed at $40/head, which isn't bad, but I don't have that kind of money (grad student), especially for a back up set. So I figured I'd just give this a try since so many guys on here were saying they'd had success with other woods. I'm actually having a lot of fun with it. Besides, if it goes really awry I can still save up and eventually have them re-headed...

[Golferpimp1]

send me one if you want, I dont mind taking a rip at it! PM if your interested

[lastmanbak]

I'd probably look at filling the weight plugs with something like cardboard. Taping over empty space is tough to do. Even if the cardboard sticks out a bit, it would allow you to spray at angles to get everything covered while keeping a rigid, straight edge.

 

I'm actually not sure how to get the plugs out at all. So for now, I'm gonna try just taping over them and getting the outline right... If that's no good then maybe I'll give Nickent a call about removing the plugs and give your idea a try. Thanks!

 

 

send me one if you want, I dont mind taking a rip at it! PM if your interested

 

Oh, I'm still hoping to get these things looking good on my own! Like I said, I'm having some fun in the off-season. Hope to find some time for refinishing this weekend. Will post new pics when I got 'em.

[lilhellmaker17]

Here they are:

 

 

[ingster1]

I really like my 3DX DC ironwoods but hated the way the paint extended to over the crown and slightly over onto the face. So I removed the paint altogether with the intent of repainting them and not having the paint extend to the face. However, I liked the brushed chrome look of the unpainted heads so I've left them that way.

 

One thought on your painting project - have you considered not painting the rear portion of the head and leaving it the brushed chrome around the weights? You would have that nice matte paint job on the crown, but not have the blotchy paint in the rear. Just a thought.

 

Good luck on finishing your project.

 

Dana

[lastmanbak]

Thanks for posting those pics, Jaden. Looks like you have a compatriot in the stripped head department. How's that clearcoat holding up?

 

The clubs I have used have had black crowns so I've sort of gotten used to that look, but I think if all else fails I may just take one out on the course stripped and see if I like it.

 

I really like my 3DX DC ironwoods but hated the way the paint extended to over the crown and slightly over onto the face. So I removed the paint altogether with the intent of repainting them and not having the paint extend to the face. However, I liked the brushed chrome look of the unpainted heads so I've left them that way.

 

One thought on your painting project - have you considered not painting the rear portion of the head and leaving it the brushed chrome around the weights? You would have that nice matte paint job on the crown, but not have the blotchy paint in the rear. Just a thought.

 

Good luck on finishing your project.

 

Dana

 

Actually yea, you know I agree about the paint extending slightly over the face. Even on 3DXs in nice condition I often just see that part chipped up. Also, I just re-stripped the head of the 2 and I was thinking I might just tape a line across the back covering the weights and see how it comes out. I'll try to do that this weekend and post some pics.

 

I also actually kind of like the brushed chrome look as well. Only thing is that some of the dings on the heads from the previous owner have turned out to be a bit (not much) more than just paint flaking off. I was thinking that this time I'll take a series of photos throughout the process. Stay tuned!

 

Thanks everyone so far for the input! Keep it coming! And check back in a few days when I'll hopefully have some new pics up.

 

P.S. Love the pic, Dana. I spent four formative years in Boston for my undergrad at BU. Go Sox!

[lastmanbak]

UPDATE!

 

Take 2 on the 2/17*. Used the Dupli-Color gloss black. Went with taping the tungsten plugs and carefully razoring them. Still had a tough time with the edges, but I would game this as is right now.

 

Will try to get better daylight pics whenever it stops raining!

 

P.S. All the little flecks are just lint from the towel I dried it with.

 

Prepped:

 

 

 

Painted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, should I leave it raw or do the paintfill? I kinda like the raw to be honest. I have previously did Black, yellow, white. Yellow on the numbers, the "3D", and on the back where it says DC. White "Nickent," and black "X" and "ironwood".

[lastmanbak]

No more feedback, guys?

[andre112]

it's a lot cleaner this time

but i'd prefer shinier black..

 

good job anyways!!