how to refinish?

[soulciccia]

Hi, found this 8802 style mizuno putter from my garage, it was maybe my first putter..

first, do you know something about this putter?

since it is heavily scratched and chrome was mostly gone away, I'm looking to restore it, so I soaked it in HCL, and that's the result..

a golden material, do you know what could it be?

I already restored some wedges and old putters too, but never seen such a golden material...much more shiny than nickel...is it the raw material or just a layer over carbon steel?

I'd like to make it raw before removing schatches, and then decide which finish apply...

thank you

[smeech8000]

Hi, found this 8802 style mizuno putter from my garage, it was maybe my first putter..

first, do you know something about this putter?

since it is heavily scratched and chrome was mostly gone away, I'm looking to restore it, so I soaked it in HCL, and that's the result..

a golden material, do you know what could it be?

I already restored some wedges and old putters too, but never seen such a golden material...much more shiny than nickel...is it the raw material or just a layer over carbon steel?

I'd like to make it raw before removing schatches, and then decide which finish apply...

thank you

 

While I can't say for certain, this is likely plated carbon (either nickel or chrome) and it will need to be stripped before going to work removing the dings and scratches. You have three options to remove (in order of efficiency, but not necessarily availability):

1) chemical stripping - either via electrolysis or caswell's product (e.g. MetalX B-9)

2) media blasting

3) hand sanding

 

Since you're working with a blade head, option 3 is not unrealistic, however it may require a fair share of elbow grease.

 

What is nice is that this headshape does not have any cavities or other nooks and crannies where the plating would be nearly impossible to remove (besides the engraved lettering). I typically recommend trying to source a local plating/machine shop that has the ability to media blast the head (glass bead or walnut shells should handle this plating), and will accept a walk-in order for a reasonable price.

 

From there, simply shine the head as highly as desired by progressive grit sanding, then finish with a bluing or torching.

 

I'm posting a link to a similar refinish (scroll down to the point where the author starts the Old Master W 802 project) which also deals with a vintage plated blade putter, and IMO it turned out awesome for a first-time DIY.

 

Credit to (I believe) WRX user hebron1427 who was the refinisher of this project:

https://thepowerfade.com/2011/12/12/club-repair-restoring-a-putter-part-1/

[soulciccia]

thank you...

great jobs on those putters..love that tp mills shape.

 

just did the first step, and here are the results...the gold finish was plated, came away really easily chemically, then with the dremel I removed all dings, so I'm pretty sure I got to the raw finish...but it's still goldish..tried to torch, after 10 minutes it gets just a touch darker, when at the same time carbon steel gets up to blue.

soaked in water, will later check if it starts getting rusty, but I doubt...

can't figure which material it could be, only certain thing is colour and that it's really soft, compared to 8820 carbon steel dings came smooth in 5 minutes.

the picture of the vokey is how I want the putter to look, it's a dark grey satin sanded, after heavy torching.

any guess?

[smeech8000]

Possibly a brass head? I believe Mizuno did make a number of brass models... here's one that recently sold on the 'bay:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Men-right-handed-steel-shaft-Mizuno-9107-brass-putter/162691408120?hash=item25e129e0f8:g:AigAAOSwcUFZpvCV

 

It has a 4-digit model number, just like yours. I love the last line of the description "It has the look of experience that can intimidate an opponent." Now that's salesmanship!

 

Anyways, not sure what your range of finish options would include, but apparently torching at short duration is not effective. Blackening is probably also out because brass is copper-zinc alloy and there is no iron to oxidize... however it may be receptive to any "accelerated patina" methods I have seen posted here, including but not limited to sealing the head in a bag with freshly cracked hardboiled eggs.

 

JAT.

[soulciccia]

GOAL

that's definitely brass...as I don't like natural brass finish, I'm soaking it in bleach to get a darker colour...see what happens

[soulciccia]

bleach definitely didn't work, so I'll let time do the job...so, I just polished the clubhead but just a little for not making it too shiny.

paintfill is ugly, just didn't attach to brass, will try other methods.

final headweight is 323 grams.

here's the result:

[smeech8000]

Still, a fine looking putter in its simplicity and a fine resto in its own right!

 

FWIW, there are specific brass aging/antiquing solutions available out there... though I'm not sure how effective they are. As I mentioned before, you can also try the egg method which uses sulfuric fumes. Ammonia fumes will achieve similar results as well, but white vinegar application may be a safer route to attempt before going there.

[gioguy21]

nice putter!

[soulciccia]

nice putter!

 

thanks

 

anyway it was just for fun because that head shape doesn't fit my stroke, unfortunately

[soulciccia]

Still, a fine looking putter in its simplicity and a fine resto in its own right!

 

FWIW, there are specific brass aging/antiquing solutions available out there... though I'm not sure how effective they are. As I mentioned before, you can also try the egg method which uses sulfuric fumes. Ammonia fumes will achieve similar results as well, but white vinegar application may be a safer route to attempt before going there.

 

seen those antiquing products, but to be honest I just wanted to try with something I already had at home...bleach made it darker, but not enough...until I can reach a bronze/brown colour, I still prefer this goldish silver