Cutting a graphite shaft.

[slickpitt]

I've read several places saying that you can use a saw and some tape to cut a graphite shaft. I just wanted to make sure no one has had any bad experiences doing this before I attempt it. I've got a standard hack saw, and I'll probably pick up a fine tooth blade from Home Depot to cut with(32 teeth per inch I think.) If I use masking tape around the area I plan to cut should I expect any problems? Is there any special kind of saw blade that I need or will what I listed above suffice? I've got a vise and plan to pick up with of those rubber golf shaft vise holder thingies as well.

 

[MIKE1218]

I use a dremel, but a hacksaw will work fine. Fine tooth blade is good, masking tape around the cut, etc.

 

[indacup]

You should be fine.......don't rush it and apply too much pressure...

Personally, if you don't hve one, I'd recommend you get a Dremel tool....they serve so many uses not just club work...but arond the house...you can use it to cut the shafts...trim...prep....clean out dry eboxy in old shafts....with a buffer wheel can clean and polish heads.....and they are around $20.

 

[slickpitt]

You should be fine.......don't rush it and apply too much pressure...

Personally, if you don't hve one, I'd recommend you get a Dremel tool....they serve so many uses not just club work...but arond the house...you can use it to cut the shafts...trim...prep....clean out dry eboxy in old shafts....with a buffer wheel can clean and polish heads.....and they are around $20.

That's it? Figured they were more than that.

So cutting with a dremmel... assume you'd use something like this? Still using tape?

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=426

 

[David Hillman]

FWIW, I have a Dremel, and a number of other cutting tools including air and electric cutoffs.... and I use a hacksaw to cut graphite. I tried the Dremel, but it's easier with the saw, as long as you have a sharp blade. My first attempt with blade that has seen better days was a failure. Definitely tape it, or it will crack on the bottom.

 

[BrandonM7]

If you don't want to spend the money on a dremel right now (although they are mighty handy for all manner of things,) and are buying a hacksaw blade anyway, you can get a grit-edge blade at Home Depot or Sears for about $3. Looks like this --> Craftsman 12 in. Carbide Grit Edge Hacksaw Blade - Model 40862 at Sears.com

A grit-edge blade like that is basically a super-duper ultra-fine toothed blade -- basically the same reasoning you had for going from a normally coarse-toothed blade to a fine-toothed blade, only much more so. It's what the golf supply places sell as the low-buck option for safely cutting graphite, but it's a couple bucks cheaper at Homey D.

 

[Pa Jayhawk]

I've only done it a couple times, but just using tape a rotozip with a 3 1/2" cutoff wheel (basically same as a dremel) worked great for me. Took about 2 seconds to cut it and sand it even at the same time.

 

[RickinMA]

if you have a wet saw for tile it will do a nice job and cut down on dangerous dust flying around

 

[Wi-Golfer]

I use an air powered cutoff saw with a 2.5" disc. Zips right thru them in about 1/2 second.

 

[mddubya]

I have a cut off saw I bought from Golfworks. But most of the time I use my dremel tool. Then I change the attachment and use it to tip prep as well. Works great for me.

 

[BrandonM7]

I have a cut off saw I bought from Golfworks. But most of the time I use my dremel tool. Then I change the attachment and use it to tip prep as well. Works great for me.

What bit do you use for tip prep in the dremel? I have the little cut off saw and belt sander (the small/cheap ones) from Golfworks that I use for cutting and prepping iron shafts, and cutting graphite, but I didn't buy the belt for prepping graphite - with the infrequency I do something with a graphite shaft I didn't figure it'd be worth changing the belt on the sander. So I still do those by hand with strips of a 3M buffing pad (same thing they sell as "graphite shaft prep strips" at Golfsmith, but you can buy a whole pad big enough to make 10 of those strips at an auto parts store for $2.)

 

[slickpitt]

Thanks for all the info folks.. good stuff!

One more thing... does anyone have a picture of a tip that's been properly cut and prep'd? I tend to process things visually

 

[mddubya]

What bit do you use for tip prep in the dremel? I have the little cut off saw and belt sander (the small/cheap ones) from Golfworks that I use for cutting and prepping iron shafts, and cutting graphite, but I didn't buy the belt for prepping graphite - with the infrequency I do something with a graphite shaft I didn't figure it'd be worth changing the belt on the sander. So I still do those by hand with strips of a 3M buffing pad (same thing they sell as "graphite shaft prep strips" at Golfsmith, but you can buy a whole pad big enough to make 10 of those strips at an auto parts store for $2.)

I literally have no idea what the bit is called. It came with the tool. It's a cylindrical head about the size of a dime. Looks to be wrapped with sand paper. I just lightly brush it against the tip as I rotate the shaft. Probably not the recommended way of doing it, but it's worked so far. I've done it with a piece of emory cloth, but I'm too lazy to spend that much time prepping it, :laugh:

 

[emde76]

I just ordered one of THESE today. Should work nicely through graphite!

 

[Rockford35]

Thanks for all the info folks.. good stuff!

One more thing... does anyone have a picture of a tip that's been properly cut and prep'd? I tend to process things visually

Tim over at Myostrich put up some vids of all of this. You'll need quicktime.

http://blog.myostrichgolf.com/video/GSP.MOV

R35