This might be your best video yet. Always watching your vids made me think I couldn't do what you do but listening to you explain how the different layers of the clubs metals work really helped me finally understand each step of your process.
Mr. Meehan, a few questions, please: how long is shelf life of solution(s) after mixed? also what mediums/grits do you use when sandblasting heads? Like many others, I'm amazed at your talent level/knowledge. so impressive.
I did a very similar process on a raw Nike 56* wedge and I really really liked the way it turned out. I was going to try it on some other clubs I had but they have the chrome and nickel layers so I didn't even bother. Since this works ridiculously well on raw finished clubs I might try and find similar 52* and 60* Nike wedges and make them into a set. Great video!
Stumbled upon your video. Love the outcome. I have a set of raw irons coming my way and am very interested in doing this. Has durability been determined with this process? Would be great to know how this holds up after multiple rounds. Thx!
I have a bag of nickel remover and I’ve never used for fear of the exact experience you had, It’s just too hard to get all the nickel off the head. On a separate note, I did buy a Multitool off your Amazon page and I love it! It makes getting the brush look much easier than sandpaper.
@@sfulmer15it’s a belt sander attachment for a bench grinder. If you google Multi-Tool Sander or something of that sort on google you should find it. They are a bit pricey though.
Do you know what the penetrating sealer actually is? The caswell stuff isn't available to me in Ireland so I'd like to get an alternative. Great video, club looks amazing.
Was thinking about whether to buy chrome v. black oxide clubs since the black wears off quickly after a number of shots out of the bunker. Could I assume the black Vokey that I have has no chrome or nickel on it so I could simply clean it up, then dip it in the black oxidizer and sealer?
Love your videos. You do some incredible work. Love your blacked out irons. Have some Wilson FG Tour M3’s with black PVD finish. The finish is getting worn. I was wondering if you have any experience removing the PVD finish so I could blacken per you process. Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.
New to your channel and love it. I’ve been doing club repair/tweaking/fiddling/adjusting/etc for over 35 years. Now trying finishing. Where do you get your Scotchbrite belts? And what grits. Thanks, Dave Pinehurst NC🏌️
I have a factory jet black vokey where the blackness has started to fade. If I want to redo it, will I have to sand to remove any sealer they may have used, or can I just clean & dunk it in the black oxide as is?
Nice. I absolutely love my wedges to be black. It puts me into a different mindset when I am approaching the green. It lets me frame the ball and slow down a bit from the previous clubs. Good work.
Hello Brad, always enjoy your videos. can I ask? Where do you purchase your replacement wheels with the plastic washers? I started this as a retirement hobby and really enjoy.
Hi Brad. I'm glad I found your channel and wonder if you know how Scotty Cameron achieved the rainbow sort of effect on his Studio Design putters. I have a 1.5 model that's in need of minor refurbishing. BTW, I used to make clubs and such 40 years ago and am revisiting that hobby again. Thanks for any insights you may have on this.
Thanks! One way you can get that finish with a torch. The metal changes color as it progresses through different temperature ranges. Check out "flame painting stainless steel" or "flame painting copper" for example to see what happens.
Another great video! Thanks Brad! If you had a few raw club heads ready to go; do you think you could use the same cup of solution to black multiple club heads out? That stuff is so expensive - would hate to think you have to go through that much chemical per club. Thanks again!
Meehan, Awesome stuff! Question…. does switching from original face to black oxide, new nickel plate, etc. change the contact with the golf ball? I understand the grooves are what’s important but it seems to me like the manufacturer chose a finish/texture that is best for ball striking. And is there a way to avoid the club face during this process?
So cool..... nakes me wonder about doing this to my 1962 macgregor fc4000s... would be the only black oxide set of those in the world...LOL that would be insane amounts of work tough, stripping chrome and ceramic face on 2-d.s. wedge? I think not...LOL
I was under the impression that chrome plating involved first a layer of nickel on bare steel, then a layer of copper on the nickel, followed up by a final layer of chrome. Am I mistaken on that? Thanks in advance.
Mizuno does that for their "layers of feel". It's nickel strike on the bare steel, then copper, then nickel, then chrome. Most of the irons I work on don't have the copper unless it's a "copper strike" layer, which fills in imperfections and shows you where you might have missed cleaning, etc. Not required, but good practice
I have it, and It looks really good, but the black really wears off when you use the club. It's a great decorative option, but you can really see through it after a few swings.
@seanblack5274 not with batteries, but with a torch. There's a chart that shows the color changes it goes through at different temperatures. It will have to be raw to do it.
Was wondering the same with my smoke apex irons. They’re starting to fade and haven’t been able to find anything for months… hope some genius gives us an answer
Just found your channel and realised I just joined the Facebook group a couple days ago 😂. Would sand blasting not remove the nickel plating, I've a couple sets that need stripping, but the caswell stuff is not really available in the uk
Try a bit of wd40 on the surface. Then you can clean it off with acetone after the paint fill. You can even spray with matte clear coat first, then paint fill.
Every black club I've seen looks horrible after time. However, now that the club is raw, all you'd have to do is dunk it into the solution again to cover the scratches. I'd say this finish is more appropriate for a putter.
@@BradMeehanhow does this hold up against use? Does it retain the black colour or will it start to ‘red rust’ again eventually? I have some raw carbon wedges and wanted to either torch them or do something to turn them black. Which is more durable?
It was a lot of work. But, it also shows just how durable the nickel layer really is. If you take a look at some of my other videos, I re-plate them using just nickel (no chrome) so people always ask if it's durable enough for play. This shows how tough it really is.
If I don’t have what you suggested to remove the nickel stripper all I can do is sand? THANK YOU and i APPRECIATE the fuck out of you and your videos. I have BAD SEIZURES and I restore clubs now and ENJOY it golf is my PASSION. Any more advice will be MUCH appreciated. Can I blast it and get the nickel off?
@@StevenCampbell-ci8rdI appreciate you too! I've tried blasting, but it never really gets it all. Sanding would work if you don't want to use the nickel stripper. You can test to see if it's removed by soaking your club in vinegar to and see the parts that don't turn dark like I did in that video.
Love that! I love the brushed look too. I like black and also loved brushed copper look.
This might be your best video yet. Always watching your vids made me think I couldn't do what you do but listening to you explain how the different layers of the clubs metals work really helped me finally understand each step of your process.
Awesome, thank you!
Next step would be putting it to the test on the course for abrasion resistance and durability! Nice work!
absolutely amaaaaaaazing. gonna buy me a old used club and practice. if lucky enough gonna to my full set of Callaway APEX 24 TCB
Hi Brad. Great video. I loved how you explained the different layers of finishes. Would you consider more videos on putters??
Mr. Meehan, a few questions, please: how long is shelf life of solution(s) after mixed? also what mediums/grits do you use when sandblasting heads? Like many others, I'm amazed at your talent level/knowledge. so impressive.
Really liked this change from chrome to black.
I did a very similar process on a raw Nike 56* wedge and I really really liked the way it turned out. I was going to try it on some other clubs I had but they have the chrome and nickel layers so I didn't even bother. Since this works ridiculously well on raw finished clubs I might try and find similar 52* and 60* Nike wedges and make them into a set. Great video!
Great, and do a video for everyone!
That looks awesome! Wouldn’t mind trying that, just wandering if the black comes off really easy when using the clubs
Stumbled upon your video. Love the outcome. I have a set of raw irons coming my way and am very interested in doing this. Has durability been determined with this process? Would be great to know how this holds up after multiple rounds. Thx!
I have a bag of nickel remover and I’ve never used for fear of the exact experience you had, It’s just too hard to get all the nickel off the head. On a separate note, I did buy a Multitool off your Amazon page and I love it! It makes getting the brush look much easier than sandpaper.
By mult tool do you mean the dremel tool?
@@sfulmer15it’s a belt sander attachment for a bench grinder. If you google Multi-Tool Sander or something of that sort on google you should find it. They are a bit pricey though.
Do you know what the penetrating sealer actually is? The caswell stuff isn't available to me in Ireland so I'd like to get an alternative. Great video, club looks amazing.
I don't know the ingredients, but it smells like brake fluid, almost. Very petroleum-y.
This is perfect! Just looks like so much work, especially for a full set 4-PW!
It was a lot of work, for sure. I wanted to capture an honest attempt at what it really takes and not sugar coat it. It's cool, though!
Yeah, wouldn’t mind it but it would take all day, if not most of the weekend
This video is next level. Much appreciated
Was thinking about whether to buy chrome v. black oxide clubs since the black wears off quickly after a number of shots out of the bunker. Could I assume the black Vokey that I have has no chrome or nickel on it so I could simply clean it up, then dip it in the black oxidizer and sealer?
Great question. Please post if you get a good answer.
Hey there, Old Friend! Stumbled onto your video. So happy to hear your voice again. I hope you are well. I'd love to catch up again. Good video!
Yo! Let me know if you're in town and we grab a #1 spicy from Carrollos and catch up!
@@BradMeehanI would love that. Likewise, if you are in Springfield, please hit me up. Take care!
Brad, have you ever thought about electrolytic chrome, nickel and copper stripping? Its the process that professional platers will use.
@@MrLukealbanese is that just a reverse of plating? Does the club become the 'anode' at that point? I'd like to try it.
@@BradMeehan yes, that's right. I think you need to use something like dilute sulphuric acid (car battery acid) as the electrolyte
I'll send you a link to a professional platers video
@@BradMeehan th-cam.com/video/p3FMp14JiZw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BkMF88cHxtGh9PTN
@@MrLukealbanese that would be helpful. Thank you.
YES! Been waiting for this one
Great reco on that BEAT, BP.
That Vokey is non conforming! But it’s pretty to look at 🖤🖤🖤⛳️
Love your videos. You do some incredible work. Love your blacked out irons. Have some Wilson FG Tour M3’s with black PVD finish. The finish is getting worn. I was wondering if you have any experience removing the PVD finish so I could blacken per you process. Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.
Nice job there. I need to get one of those multi tooo belt grinders. Makes like easier it seems.
It's a life/time saver. There's a link on my product page to compare prices, etc. Thanks for watching!
New to your channel and love it. I’ve been doing club repair/tweaking/fiddling/adjusting/etc for over 35 years. Now trying finishing. Where do you get your Scotchbrite belts? And what grits. Thanks, Dave
Pinehurst NC🏌️
Hello Brad can you direct me to someone who can remove initials stamped on the back of a clubs face . From a set I purchased. Your videos are awsome!
I have a factory jet black vokey where the blackness has started to fade. If I want to redo it, will I have to sand to remove any sealer they may have used, or can I just clean & dunk it in the black oxide as is?
Nice. I absolutely love my wedges to be black. It puts me into a different mindset when I am approaching the green. It lets me frame the ball and slow down a bit from the previous clubs. Good work.
Well, any shade on a wedge works, but I love black.
Thanks, Matt. The black looks really cool.
Very informative video! Question: what is the brown colored solution after the black oxide process? Thanks!
It's called Penetrating Sealer.
Great content Brad
Brilliant video. Do you think the raw vokey wedges are fine to do this with without the nickel removal stage?
If they're already raw, there's nothing to remove. Just a good cleaning first.
Hello Brad, always enjoy your videos. can I ask? Where do you purchase your replacement wheels with the plastic washers? I started this as a retirement hobby and really enjoy.
Hi Brad. I'm glad I found your channel and wonder if you know how Scotty Cameron achieved the rainbow sort of effect on his Studio Design putters. I have a 1.5 model that's in need of minor refurbishing. BTW, I used to make clubs and such 40 years ago and am revisiting that hobby again. Thanks for any insights you may have on this.
Thanks! One way you can get that finish with a torch. The metal changes color as it progresses through different temperature ranges. Check out "flame painting stainless steel" or "flame painting copper" for example to see what happens.
Really appreciate the explanation of dofferent layers. Not all clubs are carbon steel right? How do you tell what is carbon vs stainless etc?
magnet
I have a set of T-MB 714s, they are partially black at the bottom. The black is fading, but not sure how to go about restoring them.
Another great video! Thanks Brad! If you had a few raw club heads ready to go; do you think you could use the same cup of solution to black multiple club heads out? That stuff is so expensive - would hate to think you have to go through that much chemical per club. Thanks again!
For sure. You can even brush it on. That will last for a long, long time. I just dunked for the effect
👍@@BradMeehan
Meehan, Awesome stuff! Question…. does switching from original face to black oxide, new nickel plate, etc. change the contact with the golf ball? I understand the grooves are what’s important but it seems to me like the manufacturer chose a finish/texture that is best for ball striking.
And is there a way to avoid the club face during this process?
I’m sure tape or some wax would work. Just making sure
This came out so sexy!!! All that work would be worth it IMO.
By chance is there a way to add nickel back to the club or turn the nickel black?
So cool..... nakes me wonder about doing this to my 1962 macgregor fc4000s... would be the only black oxide set of those in the world...LOL that would be insane amounts of work tough, stripping chrome and ceramic face on 2-d.s. wedge? I think not...LOL
I tried to cerakote an FC4000 face a while back: th-cam.com/video/SofKp3lJndk/w-d-xo.html
@@BradMeehan heres a crazy question... would this black oxide process work on a set of cast titelist dci 981?
I was under the impression that chrome plating involved first a layer of nickel on bare steel, then a layer of copper on the nickel, followed up by a final layer of chrome. Am I mistaken on that? Thanks in advance.
Mizuno does that for their "layers of feel". It's nickel strike on the bare steel, then copper, then nickel, then chrome. Most of the irons I work on don't have the copper unless it's a "copper strike" layer, which fills in imperfections and shows you where you might have missed cleaning, etc. Not required, but good practice
How many bodies have you gotten rid of??☠️
Have you ever tried the caswell “black nickel” solution that they sell? Would that be an alternative to getting a black finish?
I have it, and It looks really good, but the black really wears off when you use the club. It's a great decorative option, but you can really see through it after a few swings.
And this black oxide has lasted formyou? I already purchased the kit. Yet to dive in head first
Can I do this with my Nike VR Combo irons?.. I believe they are carbon steel?
@@adammontgomery4839 Yessir!
What sealer is that??
Hi there, iam curious about the protection after you turned it black. Do you spray an anti corrosian layer or how?
No. The sealer is what is supposed to protect it. It (should) generate into the pores of the steel to prevent (or slow) the corrosion.
@@BradMeehanThanks for the reply, great work with the clubs man 👍🏻
@@31-christopherfelixnandadj49 Any time!
Can you make this blue like your driver video??
@seanblack5274 not with batteries, but with a torch. There's a chart that shows the color changes it goes through at different temperatures. It will have to be raw to do it.
Do you do this for people? I have a full set of Titleist t200 I just bought new. I wanted them black but weren’t available. You interested.
@BULLishBEAR690 I don't do it as a service, but check out my Facebook group and I'm sure someone there will do it
How much do you charge to refurbish clubs? To black
I played with the Haig Ultra in HS
My dad mailed me this set to Korea when I was in the Air Force. I restored one here: th-cam.com/video/EEOdmb96Zyo/w-d-xo.html
I bought a set of Ping g710s and although they haven’t started to fade away yet, I was wondering what to do if they did. Any comments?
Was wondering the same with my smoke apex irons. They’re starting to fade and haven’t been able to find anything for months… hope some genius gives us an answer
Just found your channel and realised I just joined the Facebook group a couple days ago 😂.
Would sand blasting not remove the nickel plating, I've a couple sets that need stripping, but the caswell stuff is not really available in the uk
Hi Ben, do you mind sharing the name of the Facebook group? I searched for it but couldn't find it. Thanks!
@@jeremyyoder33 DIY Golf Club Restoration - the logo of the group I a black square with DIY BY BRAD MEEHAN in white
@@benjamthegreat found it! Thank you! Waiting for the pending to let me join!
Hey Brad! Wondering what belt you have on the sander. Great vid👌🏼
Struggling with the paint on these raw heads. The paint gets imbedded in the oxide and clouds up the finish. Any thoughts?
Try a bit of wd40 on the surface. Then you can clean it off with acetone after the paint fill. You can even spray with matte clear coat first, then paint fill.
have you ever tried simply doing it over the nickel? is there any results?
This particular one won't oxidize nickel, but I do have a black nickel solution I've tried that gives a similar result. It gives it a smokey look.
Does this work on the shaft? I’d like to completely chrome delete my clubs
@myles747 yes. Just have to get down to steel. The layers still apply, just on a thinner scale. You could even sand it off
@@BradMeehan ok sweet thank you I like my steel shafts but I want them black
@@BradMeehan do you have any other suggestions for just doing the shaft?
What sealer was used ?
@kenogden5175 hi Ken. it's the penetrating sealer from Caswell. The sku and name is "PENETRATING SEALER 1 PINT PSEAL1P"
Do you sell any of these clubs or do commissions?
Good job, but from where did I get this chemical in UAE?
What did you use to seal it
It's the sealer shown in the beginning of the video. There's a link in the description to see what it looks like.
how long does a finish like that last?
I can't imagine it would take much of a beating. It's like rubbing it with sandpaper over and over. But you can just re-dip it.
How durable is that black finish?
Every black club I've seen looks horrible after time. However, now that the club is raw, all you'd have to do is dunk it into the solution again to cover the scratches. I'd say this finish is more appropriate for a putter.
I guess buying a raw wedge or raw set is the way to start. Thanks!
Absolutely
Or if you’re going to buy them than just buy black ones, and voila you’re done!
Will it rust?
Black oxide is "rust", per se. The sealer is what keeps it from forming red rust. Hope that makes sense.
@@BradMeehanhow does this hold up against use? Does it retain the black colour or will it start to ‘red rust’ again eventually?
I have some raw carbon wedges and wanted to either torch them or do something to turn them black. Which is more durable?
COOOOOOLLLL
Love it Brad. More chemicals to buy 😂
Thank you! I should just ask them for sponsorship at this point! I keep seeing stuff on their site that I want to try on clubs.
@@BradMeehan I think you should.
love it
Fantastic job! Jesus, way too much work though. I think I’ll rough it up, and hit it with Rustolium Flat Black….NO? LOL!
It was a lot of work. But, it also shows just how durable the nickel layer really is. If you take a look at some of my other videos, I re-plate them using just nickel (no chrome) so people always ask if it's durable enough for play. This shows how tough it really is.
If this makes my clubs perform better, I’d be all about it
You went in all raw dog... and it came out full black. Nice job!
Lol 🤣 !
If I don’t have what you suggested to remove the nickel stripper all I can do is sand? THANK YOU and i APPRECIATE the fuck out of you and your videos. I have BAD SEIZURES and I restore clubs now and ENJOY it golf is my PASSION. Any more advice will be MUCH appreciated. Can I blast it and get the nickel off?
@@StevenCampbell-ci8rdI appreciate you too! I've tried blasting, but it never really gets it all. Sanding would work if you don't want to use the nickel stripper. You can test to see if it's removed by soaking your club in vinegar to and see the parts that don't turn dark like I did in that video.
Thank you very much i appreciate you and your work VERY MUCH
Raspec for da homies
Time consuming for sure!
Just buy a black one it's way easier 🤷
Then I'd have to change the name of my channel from DIY to DIBuy. I'm too lazy for that.
@@BradMeehan Fair point
Yeah sounds like a lot of work I'll just buy a black Club😅😅😅😅😅 they do sell v o a k e y s in Black