Milling machine for making putters

[Tom Smith 4Participant @tomsmith4]

Hello Everyone,

I am currently looking to buy a small manual milling machine for making a putter (golf). Unfortunately a CNC model is currently out of my price range, but I may look to upgrade a manual machine at a later date. I am completely new to milling and have been looking at the Clarke range. Can anyone advise me if the CMD10 would be suitable? I am going to start off working with aluminium to get the correct shapes, eventually the final putters would be made from stainless or carbon steel.

[Tom Smith 4Participant @tomsmith4]

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Hi Tom

I have no idea what Clarke are like for after sales service,but if you have been looking at their machines in machine mart, i think they are a bit expensive. The one you mentioned is, i think known as a seig X1, and is sold by just about all the traders mentioned on this site, all of them are known to give fairly good after sales service. I have a X1 bought from Axminster tools many years ago, and for small jobs it has been fine. I know nothing about golf, so i have no idea what material you would be using, but if it will be brass or ally you should have no problems. With steel ,things could take quite a while, as you would have to take very light cuts. There are many more guys on here that are much more knowledgeable than me, who will no doubt give you better advise, but please shop around, as you will also need to spend about half as much again on tooling.

Cheers Derek

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

A putter is rather an awkward shape for a manual mill which is mostly best for square angles. I would suggest a hacksaw and file would be far more effective in getting a prototype made. If you are thinking of mass production after that you would be better off going to a subcontractor with CNC.

Also as precision to a thou is probably not necessary some sort of copying system might do from a wood or plastic larger master.

[Tom Smith 4Participant @tomsmith4]

Thanks for the replies. I've had a look in machine mart at the CMD 10 and it's a bit on the small side. The material im looking to work with is stainless or carbon steel. I am not looking to mass produce, I want to start off making handmades with a mill. There are a few putter makers who use manual mills on golf websites. I'm having trouble finding out what kit they are using though. I understand it is a slow process but im told that once you have a basic shape in mind the head itself is easy to make. the putter kneck is later welded on. Trouble is i'm trying to find a powerful enough machine with a £500 budget, not easy!!

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Stainless is a bu**er to work. It work hardens very easily and HSS just bounces off it, carbide is better but can be expensive

There are welding issues with stainless too.

Do your homework, it aint going to be as easy as it looks

I would start with easier materials, machineable EN grade steel, brass etc Get some trigger time in

Then try out the tuff stuff

[Tom Smith 4Participant @tomsmith4]

That was my plan, I was going to start off with aluminium and eventually move on brass, machine steel etc. I just need a suitable machine. I was looking at the Sieg x2???

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

the putter kneck is later welded on

It may be screwed or pressed home into a hole and welded in, which would be much stronger IMO

edit:

You will get more machine for your money if you buy an older machine but until you buy one and use it you will have no experience to figure out what to look for

Edited By Ady1 on 04/07/2012 09:31:18

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