Re: ShopTalk: Blowing off shafts:

[tflan]

This is a subject that's near and dear to the hearts of virtually every person who mucks about with golf clubs. Its also one that's been much discussed here. As you may well assume, I have an opinion or two, or more.   Blowing grips off shafts is and always has been an "iffy" problem. Too much air pressure, soft grips, old grips, expensive grips, the list goes on. So first I will tell you that the only sure fire, guaranteed to work 100% of the time, method to remove a grip is to simply cut the damn thing off. If you're doing it for a customer you can sell him a new grip and make a couple of bucks. However if you're trying to save a grip, there's a method that works perhaps 95% of the time. Get a slim, flat, narrow metal blade, soak it in solvent, and shove it under the grip. Add more solvent and work the blade under and around the grip. The grip will come off without damage. This works for nearly every grip you try to save.   Another method is the tried and sometimes true solvent injection system. You need a hypo syringe - available from Maltby or from your favorite junkie, I suppose. With this method, you should tie a length of cord around the bottom of the grip, stick a tee in the hole at the butt, and inject solvent starting at the butt, into the grip. This works most of the time but its pretty sloppy at times.   If you insist upon using air pressure to try to pop the grip, be warned that it doesn't work most of the time, particularly on soft grips like the Tour Velvet, Callaway and others. It also doesn't work on Winns. However, knowing that, you can use air pressure to blow grips off with a few tricks tossed into the mix. I have an upholstery leather sleeve I made up a few years ago. Its about 12" square. I sewed pieces of 2" velcro on opposite ends. You could use Naugahyde as well.  I wrap the device around the grip - loosely, and insert the tip of the air nozzle into the butt end of the grip. I do not use my compressor. Rather, I have a 120v Sears tire/toy inflator which sends pulses of air into the grip. The compressor sends a steady stream of air which can, if you're careless, blow a hole in the grip. If a grip doesn't want to come loose, you can insert a little grip solvent in the hole and continue with the air pressure. But again, it can get a little sloppy.   Some guys say to use a plastic shaft tube around the grip to prevent the grip from exploding. That's a terrific idea unless you can't squeeze the tube enough to stop the explosion. If you use a tube and you have trouble squeezing it down you can cut a slot the length of the tube. That makes it a lot easier to squeeze down. If you don't have a leather or Naugahyde wrap or a plastic tube, use a towel. Anything you can wrap around the grip that will control grip expansion under pressure will work.   My recommendation? Use the flat rod. Its easier, faster, cheaper, and it works nearly every time.   TFlan      ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 11:36 AM Subject: ShopTalk: Blowing off shafts: A couple of questions: How much pressure should be used? Should you utilize some sort of clamping device over the shaft?  I sort of remember reading something about a clamp or shield on one WEB site or another. Thanks in advance. Ed