Cleaning clubs... again

[Alohaed]

I've read many of you soak them in a bucket of soapy water just above the heads. I usually soak them in a few inches, yet above the ferrules. Will this do any long term harm to the ferrules: loosen them, etc?

[Club Rat]

Ferrules are usually slipped onto the shaft at the height of the club head.

When the club head is epoxied, a small amount is forced out between the ferrule and club head.

The excess is then wiped clean and a small amount secures the bottom of the ferrule.

If you I can twist the ferrule, then it did not secure properly.

They are plastic and usually very snug when sized properly and may slide upward if not epoxied.

If your concerned about water penetrating into the club head and causing the head to become loose,

normally it cannot.

Never use boiling water or very hot water to soak the clubs when cleaning.

Hot water will break down the epoxy and the head will fall off.

Club Rat

[dkolo]

  Alohaed said:

I've read many of you soak them in a bucket of soapy water just above the heads. I usually soak them in a few inches, yet above the ferrules. Will this do any long term harm to the ferrules: loosen them, etc?

Why are you soaking your clubs? If you use warm water, a nylon brush, and some dish soap to clean them, you just need enough water to get the soap going and eventually rinse the soap and dirt off. I do my club cleaning in a sink, though a bucket would also work. I wouldn't submerge the clubs under water for any extended period of time, especially woods.

[Fourputt]

  Club Rat said:

Ferrules are usually slipped onto the shaft at the height of the club head.

When the club head is epoxied, a small amount is forced out between the ferrule and club head.

The excess is then wiped clean and a small amount secures the bottom of the ferrule.

If you I can twist the ferrule, then it did not secure properly.

They are plastic and usually very snug when sized properly and may slide upward if not epoxied.

If your concerned about water penetrating into the club head and causing the head to become loose,

normally it cannot.

Never use boiling water or very hot water to soak the clubs when cleaning.

Hot water will break down the epoxy and the head will fall off.

Club Rat

The epoxy I used when I made clubs wouldn't break down in hot, or even in boiling water.  As I recall it took about 350° to break down the bond.

By the way, the ferrule only has a cosmetic function on the club.  If it's loose, it won't affect how the club works.

[colin007]

Why are people not cleaning off their clubs after every shot? In other words, How are they getting so gunked up that they need to be soaked in hot water?

[joekelly]

When i'm at the  practice range the cheap balls really gunk up the face of the irons.  No time then to clean the sticky stuff from the face of the irons.  So i take the clubs home and give them a good shower. This sticky plastic from the cheap balls is like glue so needs hot water and stiff brush, usually brass bristles.

[Patch]

  colin007 said:

Why are people not cleaning off their clubs after every shot? In other words, How are they getting so gunked up that they need to be soaked in hot water?

Exactly. I have always thought that when on the rage that if you did not clean your clubs after every shot, the dirt which might have small stones/grit in it will cause premature damage (scratches/dents)  to the club face when the ball is impacted by the club face. I still clean my clubs with soap, and water every so often, but I don't let the club face stay dirty after a shot. When I do give my clubs a good cleaning, I also clean the grips. This seems to help them stay a little tacky for when I use them next time.

The green stuff that comes of the mats I have been told is melted synthetic fibers, and that it takes more than just a quick towel rub to get off.

There is an argument that letting your club faces get some scratches on it, will also give the ball more spin off the club face because of the extra roughness. This may or may not be true. I don't know. However, I have seen golfers at demos with smooth faced irons still put back spin on the ball, enough for the ball to stop and spin backwards on a green. This tells me it's more technique than club face roughness that spins the ball back.

[trickyputt]

  Fourputt said:

[QUOTE name="Club Rat" url="/t/80760/cleaning-clubs-again#post_1115482"]   Ferrules are usually slipped onto the shaft at the height of the club head. When the club head is epoxied, a small amount is forced out between the ferrule and club head. The excess is then wiped clean and a small amount secures the bottom of the ferrule.  If you I can twist the ferrule, then it did not secure properly.  They are plastic and usually very snug when sized properly and may slide upward if not epoxied. If your concerned about water penetrating into the club head and causing the head to become loose, normally it cannot. Never use boiling water or very hot water to soak the clubs when cleaning. Hot water will break down the epoxy and the head will fall off. Club Rat [/QUOTE] The epoxy I used when I made clubs wouldn't break down in hot, or even in boiling water.  As I recall it took about 350° to break down the bond.   By the way, the ferrule only has a cosmetic function on the club.  If it's loose, it won't affect how the club works.

That was 3500 hundred PSI epoxy, also known as the slow dry stuff, black or clear, not 350°F. They come 1500, 2500, 3500 commonly in the stores. I use the 1500 5 minute stuff mainly. And soaking a club is no big deal until you realize they are steel, and if water gets inside they will rust more than they already do because of the oxygen in the water. Try windex, or a degreaser like the ammonia in windex. GoJo hand cleaner is amazing, I like the pumice variety on the groove area and then windex. The pumice will get into tight places like the weave in some grips, but it is the mildest abrasive pumice or rottenstone so just use fingers or gentle cloth action to not unintentionally sand a finish that is refined. The epoxy plastics fail at 200°F so thats why no boiling water.

[DrvFrShow]

My irons get gunked up at the driving range. I use hot water, all purpose cleaner and a brass bristled brush. On my FWs I use a nylon brush.

[colin007]

Seriously, a green scrubbie and a little warm water. That's all you need.

[dkolo]

  colin007 said:

Seriously, a green scrubbie and a little warm water. That's all you need.

Yeah, I use the scrubby side of a sponge if there's something like red paint from a driving range ball stripe, but otherwise, yeah, most everything comes off pretty easy.

I'm pathological about cleaning clubs. I'll always wind up cleaning whoever else's is in the house as well because a) I can't stand seeing people with dirty clubs and b) it's a relaxing, almost Zen thing.

[trickyputt]

  dkolo said:

[QUOTE name="colin007" url="/t/80760/cleaning-clubs-again#post_1115647"] Seriously, a green scrubbie and a little warm water. That's all you need.[/QUOTE] Yeah, I use the scrubby side of a sponge if there's something like red paint from a driving range ball stripe, but otherwise, yeah, most everything comes off pretty easy. I'm pathological about cleaning clubs. I'll always wind up cleaning whoever else's is in the house as well because a) I can't stand seeing people with dirty clubs and b) it's a relaxing, almost Zen thing.

LoL..Never touch my clubs!

[onthehunt526]

Why the hell do you need to soak your clubs?

[Shorty]

  Club Rat said:

Hot water will break down the epoxy and the head will fall off.

The word "will" is not interchangeable with the term "may in exceptional and extreme circumstances".

[Club Rat]

  Shorty said:

The word "will" is not interchangeable with the term "may in exceptional and extreme circumstances".

Add 2 & 2 together and the club heads "will" fall off at some point in time.

If clubs are placed into a bucket filled with extremely hot boiling water, they "may in exceptional and extreme circumstances"

breakdown the bond of the epoxy.

Granted, most people will probably use cold or warm water. But, at some point, someone will use hot water.

Maybe even "boil" their water due to some unbeknownst reasons.

I think everyone is getting my general assumption that it is only cautionary remark.

[Alohaed]

  dkolo said:

Why are you soaking your clubs? If you use warm water, a nylon brush, and some dish soap to clean them, you just need enough water to get the soap going and eventually rinse the soap and dirt off. I do my club cleaning in a sink, though a bucket would also work. I wouldn't submerge the clubs under water for any extended period of time, especially woods.

Makes sense. I will just run them under warm water, clean with soap then rinse. While playing, I usually only wipe my clubs(irons), with a towel(dry) to get any grass or dirt off. And as others asked, my clubs are not gunked up when I soak them. I never let them get to that point.

[Patch]

I keep a Magic Eraser in a zip lock bag to clean my clubs, when on the course. This critter works quite well. Even takes the green, synthetic stuff off pretty easily, when ever I have to use mats. http://www.mrclean.com/en_US/magic-eraser

When I do give them a good scrubbing, it's a sponge, and a bucket of fresh water with a little Borax powdered soap mixed in. Once wiped down with the sponge/borax mix, I give them a good rinsing with clean fresh water, and towel them off. I leave them out of my bag for a while to allow the grips to dry out.

Now if you do not use club head covers, have a pick up truck, and are accustom to having a brain fart every now and then, then just lay your bag of clubs in the bed of your pick up. While on your way to the golf course, just forget your clubs are in your truck bed, and decide to use the drive/ride through car wash. Everything get reasonably cleaned. I know this because I have done this. Shot a round in the 70s for my misdeed. I don't recommend this tactic for better scores.

[trickyputt]

I AM YE GOD OF POLYMER, AND I SAY UNTO YE THAT YE SHALL NOT SUFFER UNLESS LEAVE YE BAGS UNTIL 169.OO °F, AFTER WHICH YE PLASTIC CRAP WILL BEGIN TO SAG. GOP OUT.