Bending cold irons

[Sp4zRX]

I am planning on adjusting lie angles in the coming days. The irons and bending machine are in a garage without temperature control. The lows this week are down in the teens (F°). Logic is telling me that bending while cold is probably not a good idea. 
 

Thoughts?

[Nessism]

It doesn't matter to the clubs, but it may affect YOU.  

 

Enjoy!

[st1800e]

I’m not a metallurgist, however I’d shy away from bending clubs in those temperatures.  You could keep the clubs in the house and go immediately to the garage. Probably makes a difference what clubs they are, forged or cast.  
 

I’d wait for things to warm up.  
 

[Nessism]

22 minutes ago, st1800e said:

I’m not a metallurgist, however I’d shy away from bending clubs in those temperatures.  You could keep the clubs in the house and go immediately to the garage. Probably makes a difference what clubs they are, forged or cast.  
 

 

Um, no.

[st1800e]

Just now, Nessism said:

 

Um, no.

Just “no”?  I’d be interested in your explanation.  TIA.  

[Ger21]

If you wanted to heat the steel to make it softer, it would take >1000°. But 50° colder will make them too hard?

[Guest RobS]

The ductile to brittle transition temps for most metals used for irons is going to be well below freezing.  In other words, if it's a decent quality set of irons, i.e. not some sort of box set, you're probably safe to bend them in any temperature that you can physically tolerate.

[mrshinsa]

Why not warm it up with a hair dryer?

[Howard_Jones]

14 hours ago, Sp4zRX said:

I am planning on adjusting lie angles in the coming days. The irons and bending machine are in a garage without temperature control. The lows this week are down in the teens (F°). Logic is telling me that bending while cold is probably not a good idea. 
 

Thoughts?

Thats to low is the plan was to assable a set (epoxy failure), but for a bending job, its only a comfort issue for the one doing the job.

Did you use the ballmarker/sharpie pen method to judge lie angle, so you know where to adjust them? 

[brian25]

2 hours ago, Howard_Jones said:

Thats to low is the plan was to assable a set (epoxy failure), but for a bending job, its only a comfort issue for the one doing the job.

Did you use the ballmarker/sharpie pen method to judge lie angle, so you know where to adjust them? 

When doing the ball marker method, will you adjust the lie angle 4-5 degrees upright?, if that is what the mark is saying?  Do you have a limit on how much you will bend?

[Sp4zRX]

2 hours ago, Howard_Jones said:

Thats to low is the plan was to assable a set (epoxy failure), but for a bending job, its only a comfort issue for the one doing the job.

Did you use the ballmarker/sharpie pen method to judge lie angle, so you know where to adjust them? 

Ok thanks. I have a little space heater I can run while bending. 
 

I extended them to +0.5” so I’m sure I will need adjustment but haven’t done the sharpie test yet as it’s been too cold. We have a high of 40°F today so planning on getting that done today before bending. 
 

[Sp4zRX]

14 hours ago, RobS said:

The ductile to brittle transition temps for most metals used for irons is going to be well below freezing.  In other words, if it's a decent quality set of irons, i.e. not some sort of box set, you're probably safe to bend them in any temperature that you can physically tolerate.

Srixon ZX5. Looks like the consensus is they should be fine and I needn’t worry about the temps. 

[Howard_Jones]

3 hours ago, brian25 said:

When doing the ball marker method, will you adjust the lie angle 4-5 degrees upright?, if that is what the mark is saying?  Do you have a limit on how much you will bend?

Max 2*, if above, its a play length issue(or swing issue)

[Howard_Jones]

3 hours ago, Sp4zRX said:

Ok thanks. I have a little space heater I can run while bending. 
 

I extended them to +0.5” so I’m sure I will need adjustment but haven’t done the sharpie test yet as it’s been too cold. We have a high of 40°F today so planning on getting that done today before bending. 
 

Then dont bend them at all, before you have done the test

[brian25]

4 hours ago, Howard_Jones said:

Max 2*, if above, its a play length issue(or swing issue)

Thanks for the reply.   What would happen if you go above the 2 degrees?

[Howard_Jones]

8 hours ago, brian25 said:

Thanks for the reply.   What would happen if you go above the 2 degrees?

Depending on the club head, the more we are bending, the higher is the risk to damage or break the hosel. Some club heads will simply resist / not allow it.
In general forged heads is easier, and accept more bending (many up to 4*), but we are on the safe side for most of them if we limit it to 2*. If the sharpie test tells about a need to go beyond 2* (on lie) we should look at play length, or see if there is a swing flaw that causes it. More than 2* upright, consider going longer, more than 2* flat, consider going shorter. There is no rules written in stone here, so take it as a general guideline.