quick set is the devil

[RickinMA]

FedEx dropped off the last of my goodies and I figured I'd assemble some clubs tonight using quick set epoxy (hoping to hit them tomorrow)

holy crap this stuff sets quickly - I know it's called quick set, but I wasn't prepared for how quick. I read 5 minutes and thought I had plenty of time to stick a few clubs that I took time prepping together

the first club I did was a challenge and I needed to mix another batch after just this one club - I took a Lynx black cat tour 19* head with a .370 hosel, and shafted it with a .335 Wishon GI-335 hybrid shaft using a spring shaped shim and a 9 gram tungsten tip weight to add weight to the head. - I was a sticky mess afterwards, but I think I got it all together pretty well.

Thank god for baby wipes to clean up the mess!

hopefully I'm not doing the walk of shame downrange tomorrow

[MGP]

I'm not a big fan of quick set epoxy for use in clubmaking. About the only place I'll use it occasionally for a putter head or gluing in shaft extensions. I might be tempted to use it if I had an emergency club repair to make and it absolutely positively had to be played in a few hours.

I will sometimes use the 90 minute epoxy (full cure 6-8 hrs.) but even then I prefer the 24 hr. cure stuff. All the experienced clubmakers I've talked to say it isn't worth the hassles to use the faster cure epoxy unless it's absolutely necessary.

One thing I've found really helps to get a full cure in 24 hrs. or less with the 24 hr. epoxy is to leave the clubs overnite in a "heat box" I actually have a small clamp on utility reflector lamp that I direct towards the curing clubheads with a 60W bulb in it. I monitor the temperature with a small digital temperature meter. It raises and keeps the clubhead temperature between 85-95°F which makes sure the thermal reaction happens and accelerates a bit. My basement workshop is a bit on the cool side (generally between 65-72°F) so I do it mostly as a precaution. I leave the unused mixed epoxy in the same area and check it a few hours later to make sure it's setting up correctly as well.

Hopefully you don't have to experience the "walk of shame".

[LyleG]

Golfsmith tour set plus is the best epoxy on the market imo. 20 minute gel time, 60-90 minute cure to playing strength. I have not had a single failure with this product ever. Easy ot work with and breaks down nice and fast with heat. I have yet to try an epoxy that even comes close.

[ualtim]

I have used GS epoxy for years with no walk of shame. I use the Tour Van 10 minute set when I am working on a single club or pair of clubs or the 30/60 Epoxy when I am doing a full set of irons or more than a club or two. The key with the fast setting epoxy is to have everything layed out and ready to go. If you have any issues on a dry fit, fix them before your prep the epoxy. Like Lyle metioned, I find the Tour Van epoxy easier to work with when trying to break the bond with heat for reshafting so I also like to use it on any graphite shafted clubs I make as well.

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by LyleG

Golfsmith tour set plus is the best epoxy on the market imo. 20 minute gel time, 60-90 minute cure to playing strength. I have not had a single failure with this product ever. Easy ot work with and breaks down nice and fast with heat. I have yet to try an epoxy that even comes close.

You mean Golfworks Tour Set. Correct?

R35

[LyleG]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

You mean Golfworks Tour Set. Correct?

R35

Shit yes, Golfworks not golfsmith. This is the exact product here,
TOUR SET EPOXY PLUS

[indacup]

I use the Golfworks and Bramptons exclusively....

I had a mishap about 3 years ago...I experimented with another low cost, fast drying brand...and the problem (one of a few) with fast drying epoxies, is that they are "fair weather friends"...if the outside temperature is too low, the bond will break down...also, it doesn't take repeated impacts well.

They do "ok" with a driver...but for irons that re[eatedly receive impact to the ground, they breakdown.

That one week I experimented with a low cost cheaper, fast drying epoxy, I had my own personal Hybrid head fly off in 38° temps....and a high school girl had her 6-iron Wison head fly off into a pond.

Since then, I only use GolfWorks or Bramptons...and EVERY head goes in a hot box after assembly.

Have not had a problem in three years....