[tcpip95]

Hello,

I've done a search of the forums regarding re-finishing golf clubs and while I understand most of it, I've got a couple of questions that I don't understand.

The golf clubs that I'm working on will all be carbon steel. They will all be at least 25 years old, and will have dings, gouges, and chrome missing. I will be taking these clubs in, grinding them on a 100-grit belt, then a Trizact belt, followed by a convolute wheel and then polishing to either a satin chrome finish or a mirror chrome finish using Emory cake and/or white rouge. In some cases welding may be involved to correct major gouges. I understand that I need to completely remove the chrome before I re-plate them or I'll have some peeling problems with the chrome. I'll be doing all of this work in my garage, and while it's well ventilated, I still would like to use the most environmentally friendly chemicals possible. I will be doing this mainly in Fla. and Penn.

The questions that I'm not clear on are:

1. During the course of grinding, I'll probably get "most" of the chrome off. However, I know that there will be chrome down beneath the lettering, numbering, in the grooves, etc. that I won't be able to grind out. Someone recommended that I use a wand to get to those hard to reach places, while another person suggested that a bath in 2:1 muriatic acid would also strip the chrome. Which method would be best?

2. Similar to Question #1, I suspect there will be nickel and copper underneath the chrome. Again, I'll probably get most of it with the grinding process, but will I need to get all of it off as well (as I do with the chrome), or can I merely grind and polish this? If I do need to get the copper and nickel completely removed, what is the appropriate method of doing this?

3. Now that I've got the club to a point where I'm ready to refinish it, the question comes up what should I finish it with? I've read great things about Copy Chrome, and in discussions with people it should hold up as well as regular chrome. Can anyone comment on the durability of Copy Chrome vs. regular chrome, especially on golf clubs?

4. If the CopyChrome will hold up, would it be appropriate to state that these clubs have been "re-chromed" (i.e. using the 3-plate process), or am I mis-representing myself by using Copy Chrome and calling them "chromed"?

I greatly appreciate any help that anyone can give me. Thanks.