gotta git a cut off wheel

[Hacker James]

trying to cut down a belly putter. Slow going,nothing penetrates that steel. (of course having a sharp hacksaw blade might help). Maybe find a nearby machine shop that will do it for me gratis. 

[colin007]

Get a pipe cutter. Looks like this.

 

[Hardspoon]

1 hour ago, Hacker James said:

trying to cut down a belly putter. Slow going,nothing penetrates that steel. (of course having a sharp hacksaw blade might help). Maybe find a nearby machine shop that will do it for me gratis. 

You can get a decent name-brand angle grinder for less than $30 at Home Depot.

They're some of the cheapest power tools since they're so simple (literally just a motor and a wheel), and incredibly useful in a lot of situations.

[Hacker James]

good suggestions, but only need it for a quick and dirty . I ended up just buying a metal sawz all blade. Done Deal in about ten secs. (I cut right through existing grip and used the grip end as a cap.).

 

came out pretty good. The Metal X belly had a 5 inch red band near the top and I used that as a guide. Looks like a standard putter now but with a 400g head. (modified Tank).

Edited November 12, 2016 by Hacker James

[Ernest Jones]

1 hour ago, colin007 said:

Get a pipe cutter. Looks like this.

 

+1 on the pipe cutter. The bee's knees. 

[Patch]

5 hours ago, colin007 said:

Get a pipe cutter. Looks like this.

 

Excellent tool for this type of job. However if the shaft is tapered, the user should guard against the cutting wheel "traveling" down the shaft. Lighter initial pressure is a must. 

[Hacker James]

3 minutes ago, Patch said:

 

 

Excellent tool for this type of job. However if the shaft is tapered, the user should guard against the cutting wheel "traveling" down the shaft. Lighter initial pressure is a must. 

dremel should work also. That is also why I simply left the grip intact and cut right through it.

[Ernest Jones]

33 minutes ago, Patch said:

 

 

Excellent tool for this type of job. However if the shaft is tapered, the user should guard against the cutting wheel "traveling" down the shaft. Lighter initial pressure is a must. 

 

Yeah, you'll want to make sure your initial score line is not spiralling down the shaft. Once you get it scored properly the cutter should just follow the score line like a train on a track.

[Hacker James]

another thing that some may wish to keep in mind is that by cutting down the shaft may affect the balance point, swing weight, and possibly the lie angle depending on what  type of putter you have, what kind of bend(s) are used. In my case, I did not really notice any appreciable difference, if anything, it feels better. Metal X#7 (Mid Belly). I took off about seven inches. 

[jkelley9]

I just throw mine on my 12-inch cutoff saw with an 80-tooth "finishing" blade and it's goes through shafts like butter :) Just did my new 3-iron today as I cut mine below standard length. 

But yea... the cutoff tool works too lol. I just like getting the opportunity to use my nice saw :)

Edited November 14, 2016 by jkelley9

[Hacker James]

13 hours ago, jkelley9 said:

I just throw mine on my 12-inch cutoff saw with an 80-tooth "finishing" blade and it's goes through shafts like butter :) Just did my new 3-iron today as I cut mine below standard length. 

But yea... the cutoff tool works too lol. I just like getting the opportunity to use my nice saw :)

I can relate. Believe it or not, I used a Makita Impact driver for the first time this year and was amazed at how easy it is to drive 3 1/2 inch and larger screws. I hardly ever use a simple drill any more although it still has its uses.

[jkelley9]

2 hours ago, Hacker James said:

I can relate. Believe it or not, I used a Makita Impact driver for the first time this year and was amazed at how easy it is to drive 3 1/2 inch and larger screws. I hardly ever use a simple drill any more although it still has its uses.

Nice, I've been working with tools for several years now (bought my first house in 2012) and I do a LOT of DIY stuff. Over the years as I pick up new tools to make jobs easier it always amazes me when I use a new tool to do something I've done before in the past and say to myself "WOW, that was a LOT EASIER THIS TIME" haha. 

For example, I built my garage storage bench out of pine 2x4s and made all the cuts with a circular saw, some time in 2013 or so. 2016 I just did a DIY (Pinterest) laundry machine/dryer pedestal out of 2x4s with my new cutoff saw and was like "WOW, that was a LOT EASIER THAT TIME" lol. Fun stuff.

The saw won't save much time for clubs unless I do a whole new set. Which will probably never happen. Maybe 3-SW only but doubtful.

BTW to the OP, I've heard of people using a dremel cutoff wheel bit with success. If you have a dremel.

[RussUK]

@Hacker Jamesyou'll have to let me know how the putter plays. I have a 44" Yes! Stephanie belly. I love the head but wasnt sure if cutting it down to about 38" would make it too heavy. Currently on a GEL Diamond putter. Its nice, just not Yes! nice.

[Hacker James]

5 hours ago, RussUK said:

@Hacker Jamesyou'll have to let me know how the putter plays. I have a 44" Yes! Stephanie belly. I love the head but wasnt sure if cutting it down to about 38" would make it too heavy. Currently on a GEL Diamond putter. Its nice, just not Yes! nice.

I can say that I really like it. I was a bit concerned about balance point and all that stuff, but it feels great! I can not say with certainty how it would affect yours, but mine worked out just fine. I made a lot of six footers, speed was right on, on most putts, sometimes a little off line, but that was me.

[RussUK]

10 hours ago, Hacker James said:

I can say that I really like it. I was a bit concerned about balance point and all that stuff, but it feels great! I can not say with certainty how it would affect yours, but mine worked out just fine. I made a lot of six footers, speed was right on, on most putts, sometimes a little off line, but that was me.

How did you find fitting the grip? With the shaft being longer and thicker higher up did you have any special considerations with grip type?

[Hacker James]

4 hours ago, RussUK said:

How did you find fitting the grip? With the shaft being longer and thicker higher up did you have any special considerations with grip type?

no, I left the original grip in place and just cut through it as well, the diameter is about the same as a standard putter grip. It is proportional.

[Piz]

Couple things.  If you buy a pipe cutter don't skimp.  The inexpensive ones are only marginally useful for thin copper.  A few turns of painters tape will help control "travel".  And you can trim as little as an eighth off a butt end, with a pipe cutter, if you jam an old shaft in first.  That will stabilize the end.

[Hacker James]

@RussUK.  I  took a look at the Yes! Stephanie and it is very similar to my Oddysee Metal-X. Depending on the head weight, It would appear you would not have any problems. If the head feels heavy, you could always put a little weight in the grip end. That is also another reason, I did not change the grip, figuring that the existing grip even cut down, would not effect balance that much. I believe that it is actually better, or at least seems that way. OTOH, I do not know the graphics on your putter grip. Mine had a red band about 7 inches down from the end that is about 5 inches wide. it made an ideal place to cut. Looks natural. If I had batteries for my camera, I could send you a photo (darn thing simply eats batteries-I should buy an I-Phone).