Putter making advice needed

simple36 · September 5, 2012

I agree with golfluvzme on this one. For the experience I want to get out of this I am getting a manual mill. A CNC machine was never really a viable option to me. If I absolutely need to use on I can use my schools.

drumdude96 · September 5, 2012

THe machine I mentioned IS a manual mill AND a CNC. It's the best of both worlds. Trust me, it would be an invaluable tool for what you're wanting to do. You can find a good used one for a very reasonable price. It takes YEARS to learn how to run a mill and be totally proficient at it doing everything manually. Not to mention the number of different setups you would have to use and workholding devices you would need to purchase or make in order to make a putter from start to finish. Having a CNC simplifies everything and takes a lot of the time and guesswork out of the process.

drumdude96 · September 5, 2012

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-SurRNydyU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-SurRNydyU[/url]

hebron1427 · September 5, 2012

fyi, golfluvzme is lamont mann, one of the most proficient and well-respected putter makers in the game right now. short of bettinardi and byron morgan--maybe tom slighter--lamont is one of the kings of this world. you'd do well to ask him any questions you have about this process.

simple36 · September 5, 2012

I am already proficient on a mill. I am no expert but I am better than any other 15 year old I have met. I have been working with power tools as long as I can remember and just recently discovered I am also pretty good on a mill. I am not worried about having to buy the swivel/tilt vices and others I may need, that is something I knew I was going to need to buy.

golfluvzme · September 6, 2012

I have to say that I am humbled by the comments of Hebron, but also have to add that I passed up a mill very similar to the one in DrumDude's video a few years back and am kicking myself, now.
The manual mill is a solid way to make putters, but having access to running it on a CNC level and program would be unbelievably handy.
If I had the budget, I'd be looking into one like in DD's video, but I do not. Lucky for me, I work morning shift at Karas Kustoms, the CNC shop that made my first run of putters and all of SSB's heads for the past few years until the Ocean Isle models were contracted to a shop in Texas.
Simple, it sounds like you have the "confidence" part nailed down. No harm in that, just let the walk match the talk and you'll have a great time.
I know that all of the responses here were very positive about your first design, but don't let that give you a false sense of security. There are very few members of any of the sites that will give negative feedback, as it always sounds mean and when you say something negative, you often-times get hammered.
Keep working on the refinement of the design and good luck when/if you do move forward with the prototypes. I was told by one of my closest mentors in the putter world, "If you want to make putters so you can play a lot of golf, quit now and sell insurance." Smart words and they have proven to be 100% true. So, I will pass them on to you. If you love the work of making putters, go for it. If you want to play a lot of good golf and enjoy the game, make two putters, then find a good paying job and play golf on weekends.
Just one Mann's thoughts and thanks to DrumDude for that video. That mill is gorgeous and would have been a dream come true, had I been able to see where I was heading at the time the one was offered to me.
Have an amazing weekend!
LaMont in AZ