Full Restoration of a Titleist Vokey

[@wallys3558]

Bruh! That’s reincarnation not restoration

[@BradMeehan]

What a great comment. I'm pinning this one to the top! Thanks, man.

[@johnnyhunter]

Not going to lie; I would have been happy with the restoration halfway thru the video haha. But you just kept going and going. Amazing work, though. Incredible work!

[@BradMeehan]

Thanks for the compliment!

[@blakebarrilleaux8073]

Dude, you do incredible work.

[@BradMeehan]

Love it. Thanks for the nice comment!

[@danielmalcomson1629]

@@BradMeehan honestly. that is better than new I'd say!

[@nikessa1411]

Nice and shiny, easier to find after I toss it in the bush after a shank 👌🏼

[@BradMeehan]

One guy here said he got his club from his dad as a reward for climbing up a tree to get it down.

[@BradMeehan]

If you like this video, please do me a HUGE favor and please SHARE! More full restoration videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLVbTa7zZttmCdaSENYpN6Tj2Vvrp23AdN

[@christianwreiole5810]

What grits are you referring to when you say medium and fine? Thank you for all your help.

[@BradMeehan]

@@christianwreiole5810 The Scotch Brite belts have those gradings.

[@christianwreiole5810]

@@BradMeehan thank you! Amazing work.

[@themuscovyducks]

@BradMeehan do you do orders from people?

[@plaw9999]

That’s not restoration, that’s art.

[@PVCGolf]

This is the exact wedge I still play with. I’ve tried replacing it a few times. But I always go back to it. Great video.

[@J.C.LeatherCo.]

Made me say “WOW!” out loud in awe and amazement! Great job!

[@BradMeehan]

@@J.C.LeatherCo. thank you!

[@tylersmithgall]

Bro, this was one of the most satisfying videos I’ve ever seen. Amazing work!!

[@BradMeehan]

Honestly, comments like this are the reason I keep making these. I really appreciate that you took the time to write this to me.

[@manuelgarza969]

Really nice work . Keep those videos coming . Awesome work.

[@BradMeehan]

Thanks, Manuel. Always appreciate your nice comments.

[@byronhester3956]

Your vision and ability to find the treasure and beauty buried beneath the rust, dirt and scratches continues to amazing me! Incredible work sir!

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you, my friend! I'm glad you liked it.

[@MichaelShinosky]

These are the best wedges Vokey made. He needs to bring them back with the conforming grooves. The SM line finally got the look and feel bank with the 9 series(for the most part).

[@alienlifeform7490]

Amazing work there, Brad. Would there be much loss in the way of swingweight after such a restoration and, if so, would you add weight down the hosel when epoxying or add lead tape? Thank you for the video. : )

[@BradMeehan]

I have the perfect video for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f322pniGdtmaqsk

[@alienlifeform7490]

@@BradMeehan Thank you! ⛳😊

[@MrSig-ye8hq]

Do you take orders?

[@enthusia86]

Now hit one off the cart path! Just joking. Beautiful job.

[@BradMeehan]

These are the comments I love. 😂

[@youngkwangkim24]

Awesome video..!!! One question, If I want to make matte finish like the original finish (instead of glossy polished finish), would sandblasting the whole club head do the work? It would be awesome if you make a video on matte finishes like the original vokey wedge!

[@BradMeehan]

Yes! Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHubkIt5naineLc

[@youngkwangkim24]

@@BradMeehan thanks :) It always helps a lot!!

[@zenki96]

Outstanding work! It looks better than new!

[@BradMeehan]

Thanks! The guy I bought it from said "want to sell it?" lol.

[@PkGam]

This turned out way better than expected! Almost like brand new actually. One gripe is that I think groove sharpeners make the grooves non-conforming. So I guess if you care about that you can skip the sharpening. But other than that you took care of everything! Like, usually when a plated club that isn't supposed to rust gets like that, it's surfaces are pretty wore down and the rust can be pretty deep. But it all polished right off. Then after you re-plated it I imagine it'll be unrustable again for a very long play time.

[@kramerdesignco]

is it non conforming if you return grooves to their previous sharpness? That seems silly

[@PkGam]

@@kramerdesignco Oh it's not the sharpness persay (Although there's a rule for that too: "5. Club Face". So it's possible to make them sharper than is conforming because they need to have a certain roundness ratio to the corner angle.), it's the width of grooves. They can only be 0.9mm wide because they channel debris away from the face and the wider they are, the more they channel. Golfwrx reported that Titleist Wedgeworks won't resharpen grooves because the margin is razor-thin between their conforming grooves to nonconforming. So a sharpener would likely remove too much material. I bet your next thought is that wear and tear would widen the grooves and you would be right. But there's actually a rule for that: "4.1a(1)/1 - Wear Through Normal Use Does Not Change Conformity". I swear there's a rule for everything at this point, lol! But this at least works in the player's favor because you wouldn't need to get new clubs all the time which would be very costly and of course make the game less accessible. My guess besides that as to why they are still conforming is likely because they checked grooves under a variety of wear and debris then found that the grooves widening are losing their sharpness (because it's primarily surface wear) and thus are either equal in usefulness because the wideness compensates or is detrimental because there's less groove edge able to grip the ball. I never looked into the studies though. (I only have looked up rules on stuff out of curiosity, not necessarily the science behind them.)

[@MichaelShinosky]

They now make wedges that are meant to rust. You can use a sharpener on grooves. You just have to use a sharpener that won't make the grooves wider than what's legal. Grooves actually tend to get thinner and shallower as they wear.

[@PkGam]

​@@MichaelShinosky But how would you know if you aren't accidentally making them wider? If you get a sharpener that is the exact width you need for instance, getting it at a slight angle would widen it.

[@MichaelShinosky]

@@PkGam With a machine tool sure. With a hand tool - not very likely.

[@kevinmcguire1049]

Thank you for showing the restoration process, the end result is stunning. So beautiful, it would be a shame to use.

[@CaliBillsTalk]

Looks better than a brand new wedge! Great work brother.

[@BradMeehan]

I appreciate it!

[@Taylor-yi6vi]

Live these. Great work!! I’m curious if you ever weigh the before and afters? I’m amazed that you can get rid of so much of that chatter and makes me wonder how much material you generally need to take off. Very cool!!

[@BradMeehan]

Thanks, Taylor. Just for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f322pniGdtmaqsk Before you watch, leave a comment here with a guess at how much is lost (or gained).

[@Taylor-yi6vi]

@@BradMeehan whoa! Even down to the steps! Very cool

[@SABjork]

What type of blast media did you use on the face? I have the Black Aluminum Oxide, but is that aggressive enough?

[@dw1028000]

Amazing work and I have a couple of sets of 1961-62 vintage irons similar to yours...and some mp-32's that are my daily clubs. Question, how do I know whether the irons were nickel plated or chrome plated? And what do you do about grooves? Ever resharpen them?

[@leosotelo5119]

what’s the proper way to dispose of the chemical after you’re done?? i wish i could do all this. great job !

[@dorse72]

can you do Callaway Jaws wedges? they have that black/smoke finish

[@MD-ww4bh]

Excellent! What is the metal sheet stuff you are putting on the club at 1.55 mins? Where do you get it and what does it do?

[@dawid8502]

Hey! How does nickiel activator works? And where can I get electrcleaner? Im from europe annd its hard to find something like this here...

[@jasonellis6274]

I just purchased a vokey wedge from thrift store.....any chance I could send to you to have restored?

[@josephbruno3804]

That was inspiring to watch... Do you restore wedges as a business? If so I would love to know a price.

[@PNWLiving1725]

What does electro cleaning do? After you polish, and recondition with sand. I end up just stopping.

[@parmley72]

Can you do a video just on groove refurbishment? I bought one of those groove sharpeners and it didn't work. Just cleans the grooves.

[@genioocampo8275]

Is the nickel plating the 2nd to last step? Do OEM have an additional chrome plating on top of the nickel?

[@charlierivera5725]

Where are you located please... I need my irons done PLEASE...

[@CodyDealejandro]

Great work! Very impressive. Could I send my wedges to get done?

[@CodyDealejandro]

Great work! Very impressive. Could I send my wedges to get done?

[@ynkybomber]

I got into club restoration as a hobby a couple years ago. I love turning rusty bangers into jewels but you are FAR more skilled then I am. But I still love doing it as a hobby.

[@BradMeehan]

I'd love to see some before and after pics if you'd like to share them with the channel?

[@CodyDealejandro]

Great work! Very impressive. Could I send my wedges to get done?

[@joesephguido]

What is your wear a tear like on the wheels and belts you used in this video like? Also are you able to reuse any of the chemicals you used in the video again later to do more clubs? Just wondering how realistic making a small side business out of something like this is. Thanks

[@zmatilsky901]

Hey Brad, amazing work and great video. I've got a couple of old Vokey wedges that I'd love to get restored to their former glory. While I'd love to do it myself, I don't trust myself to have the skill to do such a great job as you. Do you by chance offer restoration services? Thanks and will keep watching these videos regardless!

[@anthonyacosta9709]

Does he offer service

[@hidrichify]

Your a f@(k1ng MAGICIAN Bradie

[@matthewdelaney9861]

In your opinion and experience, do you think those simple groove sharpeners work?

[@oceanroad1584]

Golf porn at its highest level,lovely wedge,your tutorials, got me into refurbishing clubs very good but not at your level,do.i have a lot of clubs,you bet.i have,its a grezt hobby and some processes, are really relaxing

[@BradMeehan]

@oceanroad1584 very relaxing. Please consider joining my Facebook group if you have questions!

[@JonnyMcD]

How long in total did the process take?

[@BradMeehan]

It's about an afternoon from.stsdt to finish, but I'm also messing around with cameras and lights when I do it. I'm also removing every hint of a scratch because I'm OCD as hell about the final outcome. Total, maybe 2 hours if you're not filming and not OCD. Most of that time is waiting for the plating to finish, which involves drinking a beer and watching golf on TV.

[@JonnyMcD]

@BradMeehan Wow thats much quicker than I thought! Totally worth the process then. Would love to see the club being used in the future 👍

[@christianwreiole5810]

Does anyone know what grit he’s using when he refers to medium and fine? Thank you

[@BradMeehan]

The belts are labeled that. There's a coarse, medium, and fine belt.

[@balma13baby]

I’m in shock at how good it looks.

[@danb2709]

Why use chemical strippers if you hit it with the abrassive belts?

[@michaeltaylor8204]

just out of interest what was the cost money not the issue work of art just wondering.

[@yeboha]

can any1 help me i have a set of vega alcor black wedges and i want to take them back to a raw finish ? how is best to do that ?

[@Dannymulhollen]

Was that a bead blast/sand blast for the face? That’s kinda crazy lol

[@itsxerx6921]

It’s aluminum oxide sand blast

[@Mizman76]

Do you restore sets? I have a set of Mizuno mp32's that id love brought back to new again! They are in very good original shape as it is with no browning of the face,light down in the grooves and no finish loss. Just normal bag chatter and the like. 3-pw. Could i get an estimated cost somehow? Thank you!

[@BradMeehan]

The channel has tutorials to teach you how to do it at home on the cheap. It's very easy to do and I made the equipment myself (except a belt sander, which you don't need).

[@bend8969]

If a guy took a chrome plated club, muratic acid bath and then polished. Would a oil quench or birchwood caseys bluing work? Like a set of cleveland ta3 then give blue finish afyer stripping chrome?

[@BradMeehan]

Not if there's still nickel on the club. The bluing only affects the bare steel. But, if you wanted to, you could put the bluing on, see what turns black, then sand away the shiny parts until it's all black. Then you'll know it's bare steel. And it's just a thin layer. It won't take long.

[@drewr729]

Restoration??? More like resto-mod. Still pretty cool, nonetheless! A couple questions - What is the difference in weight before and after? Are these clubs still legal afterwards? Regardless, it’s awesome.

[@BradMeehan]

Thanks. Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f322pniGdtmaqsk

[@dustindelancy7900]

What system do you use for electro cleaning.

[@pedromariaromero3785]

Todo lo pulido que quieras pero las estrías mañana no sujetaran la bola

[@Bigfarmffs]

Nice work Sir! What sand paper do you recommend using for removing the worst scratches from the bottom sole by hand? 🎉

[@BradMeehan]

At least 220. It will take a while but thats how you get the best results. Then SLOWLY progress to higher and higher grits. you can get a mirror finish from just sand paper if you go high enough.

[@bradsutherland_writer]

From one Brad to another: I take my hat off to your skills. I have two university degrees and they seem devalued now against your knowledge.

[@BradMeehan]

Hi, Other Brad. Thanks for the nice compliment. I hope you give this a try. It's really easy to do, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have along the way.

[@citadelpilot]

I have this club. It’s my favorite wedge ever. Much better than my modern SM8. Would you restore mine?

[@BradMeehan]

Thanks. There are tutorials on the channel on how to do all of the steps. it's really easy stuff if you want to give it a try.

[@sunnycloud4361]

On average what do you charge per club

[@cmalc8]

Looks fantastic, but how long will the face last, before wearing through it to a rust spot, compared to a new club. Is the chrome as thick? Do new clubs have a copper layer under the chrome?

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you. Some manufacturers use a copper layer under over the bare steel to fill in imperfections (or get more 'feel', like Mizunos), but I didn't see any under this Vokey. I'm doing a pretty thin layer for the sake of the video, but the longer you plate, the thicker it will get. Nickel is pretty tough. You'll see if you sand clubs with paper, it's pretty difficult to remove with even 120 grit and a lot of time. There are copy-chrome options with harder materials, but I'm cheap and lazy and haven't tried it yet.

[@Arhamkhanshark]

Hey Brad.... superb job... by the way which paint you used to highlight the name and stuff?

[@BradMeehan]

Any enamel paint will work. You can even use nail polish.

[@Breetai17]

If u don't get the nickel plating the club get rusty again?

[@BradMeehan]

Yes. It's there for rust and corrosion protection.

[@Breetai17]

@@BradMeehan tnx!!

[@davidgent188]

That was a pleasure to watch! Amazing work….. 👍

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you. I'd love it if you shared a video with your golf mates.

[@1958gibsonxplorer1]

Fantastic stuff my man! Being born in 1996, I’ve never seen a 258 look like that ever. What a gorgeous club… truthfully much better looking than the new SM series.

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you. That's what fun about the channel is we get to see what clubs look like when they were sitting on the shelf - something most of us weren't alive to see or didn't care about then.

[@trippvogel1781]

Very impressive. Excellent work

[@michaelallen6770]

Is there a way to chrome these after the nickel plating?

[@jamesthomson9039]

Should be a favorite weapon

[@konradb2568]

How do you dispose of the acids and stuff after?

[@dangaspari]

Can you do this to my clubs for cash?

[@firsttimedad7233]

Hey Brad, what made you choose to use the surface activator as opposed to Wood's nickel strike?

[@BradMeehan]

I learned a lot of the plating tips from the Gold Plating Services channel, who makes a version of both products. My understanding is Wood's is used when you have bare steel (or other metal) to lay a thin layer of nickel for the rest to bond to. But, when there is already nickel there, it's in an inactive state and won't give good adherence for new nickel. So, since the clubs I work on already have nickel, I use the activator. There may be overlap in the product's capabilities and the potential to consolidate and use only one, but I haven't gotten a clear answer to this question. I may reach out to ask them directly.

[@ScottTufts-e8g]

Great work. Is that water already in the cup to dilute the muriatic acid.

[@BradMeehan]

@ScottTufts-e8g yes. The rule is, pour acid into water versus water into acid. Also, muriatic acid is already diluted to 30%fish.

[@jonathanfuchs4306]

Hi Brad - thanks for the vids! And awesome of you to set up an amzn shop, makes it quick and easy. How long do you submerge the head in the acid mixture? I was expecting a couple minutes, but it took about 6-8 minutes to see some reaction around the clubhead (same wedge as your video). I left in in for a few more minutes after that, then rinsed. The surface was 'patchy' (like yours in the video), hard to tell if there was plated still or not, or what I was looking at. Curious if you could elaborate a bit on this step?

[@BradMeehan]

You'd be safe to leave it in there for 15 minutes or more to ensure it's gone. You'll see the color of the solution change as it's working. The surface won't look shiny when it's gone. It will leave the layer of nickel (or bare steel) under it. It will also start to corrode pretty quickly, so be ready to go to the next step or just re-dip again before you start working on it.

[@jonathanfuchs4306]

@@BradMeehan Ah yes, I learned slowly that the nickel plating is still present...which I could see by where rust did not develop after letting it sit. So, I have my Caswell B9 nickel remover I am trying. I know in a few of your videos you don't remove it since you are just nickel plating again, but, have you used that product before?? I have no idea how long to submerge them. I have done two hours in a solution per the instructions, but not sure if the nickel is removed. My plan was to remove plating, buff and polish and then send the out for re-chroming. Or applying black oxide or heat treatment, I have a handful of wedges.

[@BradMeehan]

@@jonathanfuchs4306 I haven't tried it. I've seen a video on KZbin of someone using it, but I've never used it myself. Please let me know how it goes.

[@ToraxReborn]

Hey Brad, would it be an issue if i got to the stage just before the nickel plating? Would it rust again?

[@BradMeehan]

It *will* rust if it's down to bare steel. If there is remaining nickel, you'll be okay. There are brush plating kits you can use that you essentially wipe on. It takes a while to build up enough protection, but it works to halt the rust. Anything is better than nothing. Here's a link from my Amazon store if you want to see it. Just compare prices. I'm not sure this is the cheapest: amzn.to/3Y9SDbQ You can also make your own. I made a video about it called "make your own power supply" or something weird like that. Then, I used it to copper plate the face of an old macgregor. It's a total hack, but it worked. Hit me up with any questions and I'd be happy to help.

[@larrysorenson4789]

Was that rust on the club bottom. If so what prevents the polished metal from rusting again?

[@BradMeehan]

Yes, it was rust. I nickel plated in the video it to prevent corrosion again.

[@grahamliggat7193]

Oh and sorry how long did you leave it in the “mild acid bath” for? V best

[@BradMeehan]

15 minutes is good.

[@blainecrosson3489]

@BradMeehan Do you do work for the general public?

[@BradMeehan]

No sir. Just showing you how to do it at home. Check out the tutorial videos. You don't need all of the tools i have to make a huge difference in the appearance of your club. Most can be done with sandpaper.

[@glenrolls5679]

hi, great videos. could you send more info on the sand belts or scotch brite belts you use? like grit etc. thanks

[@BradMeehan]

Here are the belts I use. I mostly use the medium and the fine. I hardly use the coarse 'grit'. www.golfworks.com/3m-scotchbrite-finishing-belts/p/mt0004/

[@sayhoman]

3:42 what exactly is that spray that you're using to recondition the golf club face?

[@BradMeehan]

It's a small, handheld sandblaster.

[@paulhart7922]

@bradmeehan what did you use eve. You sprayed the e face outside for reconditioning?

[@BradMeehan]

It's a cheap handheld sandblaster I got from harbor freight if you have that store near you.

[@vladimirlopez7840]

Electrolysis would be far mor effective and easier at removing everything off the iron.

[@BradMeehan]

I'll try that on a video soon. What's the recommended voltage/current you use?

[@alexcatalano1241]

That's awesome! What'd you do to the face? Was that sand blasting or some sort of coating?

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you. It's sandblasting

[@Qrisys]

what would you do in a spin milled wedge situation?

[@anilvirginia]

Unbelievable. What a talent. Thanks for sharing!

[@BradMeehan]

Thanks for the nice compliment. You guys keep me going. I'd love it if you shared one with your golf mates.

[@anilvirginia]

@@BradMeehan I did. Just told a bunch of them at golf league tonight about your channel and how relaxing it is to watch.

[@Zapisocki]

wonderful work, did you cover the face when you re-plated?

[@BradMeehan]

No, I plate there, too. I texture the hitting area with the sand blaster and plate over that.

[@therealbeedubbs35]

What did you paint the face with?!?! Dying to know! Thank you!!

[@BradMeehan]

It's a cheap handheld sand blaster gun 🔫 it just hooks up to any air compressor and it sand blasts the face. Check out the equipment links to see one.

[@Zack.G23]

Is there a way to remove spots off a black oxide putter? It’s not rust it’s like little white spots

[@BradMeehan]

It sounds like corrosion. Have you tried using Wd40 or something that you can apply with something mild, like a cotton ball?

[@BinnieB81]

Way to much polish for me, but amazing work.

[@shobizzle5480]

Cool. I just buy a new one.

[@jpet1112]

What paint did you use for the face recondition? Getting ready to try this for the first time?

[@BradMeehan]

It's not paint. It's a handheld sandblaster gun. Check out the equipment link in the description to see one.

[@questtech2698]

ebay $xx used now $xxx brand new

[@martinkarya75]

Hello I love your videos I bought a bBeryllium Copper Edge and was wondering if I can restore it like in this video? I would like to bring it to a mirror finish. is there anything I should keep in mind when I'm doing this? thanks for your time

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you. Yes, you can just polish that without plating. Check out my polishing tutorials in the How To section of the channel to get the mirror finish. Also, wear a mask and gloves.

[@martinkarya75]

Thanks for your fast answer. So just sand all scratches down then polish it up again? Thanks for your advice@@BradMeehan

[@NM-pl1iv]

Wow! That came out great! I’m curious why the acid bath before doing the paint fill removal? Kinda surprised the acid bath doesn’t remove the paint.

[@HugeLag1]

Brad I have a bench grinder which has a top rotary speed of 2950RPM - will i achieve same results as you with the multitool grinder kit? or shall i buy another bench grinder with higher speed?

[@BradMeehan]

It's more of a horsepower limit than speed. My little orange grinder wasn't powerful enough, so I bought that big one because I had a gift card. I think there's min requirements in the product listing for the multi tool.

[@HugeLag1]

@@BradMeehan If i MAY kindly ask do you have an e-mail i can contact you on for some things i would like to talk about regarding golf club refurbishing?

[@terrysimmons7334]

Wish this was a service!!!

[@bloatedsodium7301]

That’ll be $20,000. Thank you very much and enjoy the flop shots.

[@stogiedude]

How many hours total? Beautiful!!

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you. About an hour for each club unless you're ocd like me.

[@andrewschuerlein5716]

This is incredible! What did you put on the face of the club?

[@BradMeehan]

Thank you! It's a little handheld sandblaster gun. Check out the equipment links in the description to see it.

[@gwscot2]

Amazing video. Looking to restore a Vokey SM5 in the Tour Chrome finish. Any advice how to get that type finish?

[@BradMeehan]

Just looking at the pictures, it looks like there is a brushed finish (you can do that with sand paper or a scouring pad), shiny (polisher) and matte (spray the shiny part with the cheap-y handheld sandblaster gun. You'll just have to mask off the parts you want to protect when you spray it or sand it.

[@gwscot2]

@@BradMeehan thanks!

[@stevetilk4926]

Brad, how did you sand clubs before you bought the multi tool? Specifically when you scotch brite the clubs.

[@BradMeehan]

I used the deburring wheel and sandpaper. You can do 100% with just sandpaper so don't feel like you need expensive tools. They just save time.

[@stevetilk4926]

@@BradMeehan sorry to bug you again Brad. But.. what grit deburring wheel do you advise. I have 3 sanders already. I don’t want to buy yet another sander. If I can get by with a cheap deburring wheel, that’s a plus.

[@jessesharza6102]

How much do you charge?

[@azizamjoojoo3054]

Price for restoring a set of irons?

[@grahamliggat7193]

What is the muriatic acid concentration that you used there? In a later video you described it as a “mild acid bath” but I could not read the concentration from the quick view of the container. Thank you and kind regards

[@BradMeehan]

It's already 30% diluted. I mix with water to dilute it further, but others use it full strength (30%)

[@grahamliggat7193]

@@BradMeehan Thank you on both counts. V best