can you get this at home?

sandtrap · January 31, 2012

or do you have to settle for this

Since this what I really want

But this is what I usually get

is there a way to get the dark black at home? or is it, it is, what it is?

oneaugusta · January 31, 2012

I have had success with steel wool the entire head clean with a little acetone using soft rag, apply another coat of Caswells. Keep repeating (usually 3 to 4 times) until nice and dark then heat the head up just a bit but not to much with a torch and then spray WD-40 on the head an let sit or a day or so then wipe. I get a nice dark black with shiny finish thats really smooth.

melo · January 31, 2012

you can definitely get a darker black. check out my thread on the tei3 i refinished. part of the problem is that your putter is stainless, it will never get as dark. Carbon steel will get much darker. Secondly, you will have to sand it much more and use several different grits to get it to really shine, then do the caswells.

oneaugusta is actually correct also, i usually do 5 or 6 caswells treatments, using fine steel wool every single time i take it out. ive never taken heat to it, but i suppose it could work. The sealer really helps also.

memphishorn · January 31, 2012

Both of those putters look like carbon steel

oneaugusta · January 31, 2012

The AOP Laguna is Carbon not stainless. You will not get it to look as deep a shine as the one you have pictured first but for sure you can get it much better than you have it. PM me if you need more help. I am in ther middle of doing a Cameron Millspec for a customer as we speak and am using Caswell's carbon blackener.

golfluvzme · January 31, 2012

I think that one of the factors that is sometimes overlooked is the prep of the metal. If you look at the "goal" putter, you see how perfect the surface is on the sole? Most of the surfaces of the putter look to be the same, smooth as glass surface, from polishing with the right wheels. Your Laguna looks decent, but see how pitted the sole still is? Just more elbow grease with the fine grits, then ultra fine, then micro fine, the emery compound on a stitched wheel, then some white rouge on a lighter stitched wheel, then some green polishing rouge on a loose buff? It takes more tools than most guys have on-hand, to get the results that you see on the first putter.
Keep at it and you will be rewarded in the end.
Best of luck,
LaMont in AZ

oneaugusta · February 1, 2012

[quote name='golfluvzme' timestamp='1328072271' post='4189825']
I think that one of the factors that is sometimes overlooked is the prep of the metal. If you look at the "goal" putter, you see how perfect the surface is on the sole? Most of the surfaces of the putter look to be the same, smooth as glass surface, from polishing with the right wheels. Your Laguna looks decent, but see how pitted the sole still is? Just more elbow grease with the fine grits, then ultra fine, then micro fine, the emery compound on a stitched wheel, then some white rouge on a lighter stitched wheel, then some green polishing rouge on a loose buff? It takes more tools than most guys have on-hand, to get the results that you see on the first putter.
Keep at it and you will be rewarded in the end.
Best of luck,
LaMont in AZ
[/quote]
C'mon Lamont are you saying there's more to refinishing than duct tape and wd-40? LOL
Seriously, Lamont has forgotten more about putter finishing than I will ever know but I'm listening and learning.

RookieBlue7 · February 2, 2012

The higher the polish before you start the blackening process, the higher polish the finish will be, it's that simple.

sandtrap · February 2, 2012

I'm not really talking about the shine as much as the deep black,
The laguna still has mill marks on the face and in the "valley" and I like to leave the face alone "usually".
Sure the sole needs more work and you are right about the devil being in the detail. I've tried to degrease with , dish soap, windex and acetone. Ace works the best but eats through the rubber gloves.
So , can you ever get that dark black at home?
I've been using a paste that I like better that the liquid and 6-8 applications is OK but then you find an area where its not really sticking and it's re sand that area and start again.
Not complaining it's just a learning process

Solutions Etcetera · February 2, 2012

Lamont has the answer. While I never refinished a putter, years ago I did rifles and shotguns. Metal prep work is key to a deep consistent finish. Lots of elbow grease, and a certain amount of skill/experience to get it perfectly even without removing too much material.

Edit: try degreasing with lacquer thinner or a good metal prep used in automotive finishing.

RookieBlue7 · February 2, 2012

The Paste type blackeners don't usually do it for me, neither do the gels. IMO the best ones out there are Caswell's liquid and Shooters Solutions liquid. Dip, rub, dip, rub repeat until desired finish is achieved.