Scotty Newport Refinish - Dark Black Stainless!

[wick_dawg]

I just found a way to make any type of steel or metal a dark black finish. Not just the dark gray like Caswell Stainless Steel Darkener.

 

My guinea pig was an old TPM3 which is carbon steel, but my first attempt on stainless was this Newport 2.

 

I've seen this type of finish before and have been wanting to try it for some time. I removed the weights so they would keep the stainless color and contrast with the dark black finish of the rest of the putter. I then added white paint fill to the whole putter for maximum contrast.

 

These are my first attempts using this method, so I still need to do it a few more times to perfect it, but I thought it came out alright for my first try.

 

Here is the TPM3 i tried this process with first (with a lime green paint fill):

 

 

 

 

 

And here is the Newport 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jpalermo]

Do tell

[wick_dawg]

The prep was mainly sandblasting. I was able to find the sand blast tools quite cheaply on eBay. The finish was applied via airbrush. The whole airbrush kit was only $50 at almost any art supply store. There are many finish option that can be applied using this method. This particular one is quite hardy and the coating is still very thin, so you can still see and get the full effects of the milling on the face of the putter.

I plan on experimenting and refinishing many more putters using this method. The results turned out far better than I expected especially considering that these are my first times using these tools.

[torrejuan]

Let us know how durable this finish is. It looks good.

[Wolsey]

So what is the finish? Krylon, duracoat, durabake etc

[wick_dawg]

It's surprisingly durable. The very first thing I tested it on was an small scrap steel bar. That way, I could practice the technique and not have to worry about ruining it. I banged the bar around a bit and it doesn't chip at all. You can scratch it up just like anything else if you bang it around enough on concrete or sharp edges, but it's quite durable.

I still love the look of a Caswell Darkened Stainless with black paint fill for certain things such as the Laguna I did in a previous post. But this process opens up a whole new set of options for what I'm able to do with the putters I refinish. And it couldn't notice a difference in feel at all.

[theironchique]

What product did you use for this?

[cpriceAP2]

Looks like its a secret!

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

Looks like DuraCoat.

[wick_dawg]

Sorry for a the late response. It's actually a polymer resin coating. T. I've tried DuraCoat and and similar products, but the have a tendency to chip easily. The polymer resin has seems to be a bit more durable and the coating doesn't really chip like other thermal coatings I've tested in the past. The coating is also thin so you still get the full effect and softness of the face milling. Plus the coating doesn't fill in the lettering so it allows for a more effective paint fill.

[golfluvzme]

If all of the prep and mixing of the DuraCoat is done correctly and the finish is allowed to cure before using the putter, DC is one of the most durable coatings you can use. The issue with it was always that you never knew when it was cured enough to do the paint fill. It could take ten days...........could be two weeks, or it could be more. With not knowing if it was cured, when you tried to do the paint fill and wipe away the extra, it would cloud if a white fill on black coating.
To say that it "chips easily" is a sign of improper prep or inadequate application techniques. While I was using this product, years ago, I had putters come back for color change after a year and they would have dings in the metal, where the finish was intact and the metal was dented beneath it. I have done more than my share of DC finishes and if it were more dependable on cure times, I'd still be doing it.
So many "polymer resins" on the market. Great products if you do the work on the front end, that is for sure.
Good Luck,
LaMont in AZ

[hebron1427]

Said by the pioneer of polymer. Thanks for your insight Lamont.

[theironchique]

Where does one find a supplier for a polymer resin?

[Nessism]

GUN-KOTE might be a good option. The stuff is baked in the oven at high temperature to cure and is supposed to be super tough and durable as far as paint type coatings is concern. It's really thin too so it shouldn't fill up machine marks and such (scratches will show though too). [url="http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN-KOTE-trade-OVEN-CURE-GUN-FINISH"]http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN-KOTE-trade-OVEN-CURE-GUN-FINISH[/url]

[ping rat]

If cured properly Dura coat works great, I have 30+ rounds on a laguna I did and it is still like new. I just did a newport 2.6 that turned out pretty nice but i will give it 45 days to cure before it see's the course.

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

Are you just letting it gas out for 45 days ? Did you heat the head before applying DC, or did you bake afterwards? Is there a special way you deal with the stampings and cavities to be able to do paint fill later?
Would you post a pic of the Laguna?

Thanks in advance.

[wick_dawg]

Here is a new one I just finished in the same style as before. This one is left handed and I applied the black finish to the weights as well instead of keeping them in the original stainless steel. I really love the white paint fill on the dark black finish. Also put a Pistolero grip on this one.

[attachment=1364697:SCLH1.jpeg]

[attachment=1364699:SCLH2.jpeg]

[attachment=1364703:SCLH3.jpeg]

[attachment=1364705:SCLH4.jpeg]

[attachment=1364709:SCLH5.jpeg]

[Underdog1924]

Mind sharing what the product is and where you got it?

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

Are you sandblasting these before you apply the finish? I ask because the finish looks to be a little orange peel like, but could be because of sandblasting.

[wick_dawg]

The surface must be sandblasted for it to properly adhere. Most of the roughness was removed by buffing it with a cotton cloth. It actually feels quite smooth aside from the face milling. The first time I did this, I was worried the material would fill in the milled areas of the face but the coating is thin enough that it doesn't noticeably affect it at all.

[moocherpix]

[quote name='KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE' timestamp='1348845239' post='5711197']
Are you sandblasting these before you apply the finish? I ask because the finish looks to be a little orange peel like, but could be because of sandblasting.
[/quote]
I agree that the second example's finish is not as smooth as the first. That might be a result of poor conditions at application, shooting it too dry or just inexperience at prep.
It is amazing what you can learn when you send pictures to someone with some history in this field, ;-).
Nick