Bending Machine

[Hstead]

Loft & Lie - I Want One

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get a good used Bending machine, or an economical new one? I looked on the bay and there is one Mitchell that is going to go for over 3 bills. I found a GolfSmith for $299 and GolfWorks has a economy unit that is $149.

Any experiences with these models?

http://www.golfsmith.com/pr/products/24097...ll-_-pr-_-0-_-2

http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_VAM_A_cn_E_46

This would be used for personal use. Unfortunately, I do not have anyone local anymore that works on clubs that I know of that has a bending machine. I would like to bend my own clubs, check them periodically, and be able to bend my putters too.

I do not want to sink a ton in a machine, but the $100 to $150 I might buy one. I wasn't sure how good the GolfWorks machine is, and I did not see a measuring scale for it.

[TKing]

I bought an old Scotland, which works as good as any although maybe not as fast by a few seconds as the newer models, on Craigslist for $150. It's a very beneficial thing to have to fine tune with as well as just check lofts and lies.

like this: [url="http://flint.craigslist.org/spo/1492697318.html"]http://flint.craigslist.org/spo/1492697318.html[/url] That's the swingweight scale I also bought on craigslist and is considered the standard although I'm not too crazy about the machine that's just the first link that popped up on a Google search for "craigslist golf club building equipment".

[judoguy888]

OP
if i can be perfectly honest with you, i dont think a bending machine at the pricepoint it going to be beneficial at all. the thing with bending your own irons is that you want a machine that gives consistent results. in my personal experience i have tried the gw and sw machines and you can bend to a said loft or lie, take it off the machine, put it right back on and you have a different number than what you just had. If you are strictly looking to bend an iron or wedge or putter, any will work to physically bend it, but you wont know what specs you are at unless you use a good floor mounted machine. i like MR3 and especially the mitchell machines. your best bet is to spend about 450 to 700 on a used floor mounted early model mitchell machine. if thats out of your spending limit for a bending machine, im not sure i can give you any other advice if you dont have a professional to do it for you. i hate spending that much, but i just got my mitchell and the piece of mind of being able to do the more important clubwork like bending was well worth it for me. any other questions feel free to pm me.
kenny

[mat562]

I'm with you on not wanting to spend a kings ransom on a machine, but the truth is that with loft and lie machines and bending bars you get what you pay for. 150 dollars is not going to open the doors to anything of high quality and, to be frank, a decent adjustable bending bar alone will swallow up a good portion of that sort of budget.

I'm also a casual tinkerer with clubs, doing basic builds and adjustment for myself and for friends. I use a Mitchell machine that I picked up a few years ago, second hand from a local professional. I've used cheaper machines in my time and, albeit some are better than others, as alluded to above the difference between a quality floor mounted machine and a budget table-top set-up is like night and day; particularly when you start bending more stubborn irons.

[gqjeff]

I have been looking at the 699.99 ones recently myself. I want one that does not leave the bending markes on the hosel and sole and seems you have to get up to these quality of units before they do not mare that bad or at all. I was reading on golfsmith reviews and a guy reports the 499 pro model still leaves dimples. I sent an email into golfsmith about the ultimate to see if it does also. The maltby one is not supposed to reading on it.

[url="http://golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_MA2017"]http://golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_MA2017[/url]
[url="http://www.golfsmith.com/products/250639/Golfsmith/Ultimate_Loft/Lie_Bending_Machine"]http://www.golfsmith.com/products/250639/G...Bending_Machine[/url]
[url="http://www.golfmechanix.com/default.asp?Pdts=15&CatDescription=Lie%20&%20loft%20altering%20tools"]http://www.golfmechanix.com/default.asp?Pd...ltering%20tools[/url]
the pro tour version on that page.

The local golf learning center here does free loft and lie service and I use them currently. I just want to be able to check and do it myself as it is an hr round trip to have it done. Also there machine leaves markes and I am not sure it gives 100% accurate readings either.

[Mike]

How about a Mitchell Hobby.
Here is a link.

[url="https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/dynamicIndex.asp"]https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/dynamicIndex.asp[/url]

[TKing]

Here's what I was talking about. I did a specific Google search for Scotland Loft Lie

[url="http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/spo/1496605476.html"]http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/spo/1496605476.html[/url]

These are as accurate as any and I'm sure a fair number are still in use in professional shops. Repeatability is not an issue. For personal use, I don't see any sense in spending more. Once I checked the calibration of mine by a known club on one of the newer, fancier machines I was satisfied.

[mat562]

To be fair, the amount (or lack of) marring is largely a function of the bar that's used and how much effort the operator puts into avoiding leaving marks on the irons by using some sort of protection on the clubhead. With someone fastidious on the machine and oodles of gaffer tape and lead tape, most clubs can be bent normal amounts with little or no cosmetic flaws.

[gqjeff]

[quote name='mat562' post='2129457' date='Dec 16 2009, 06:55 PM']To be fair, the amount (or lack of) marring is largely a function of the bar that's used and how much effort the operator puts into avoiding leaving marks on the irons by using some sort of protection on the clubhead. With someone fastidious on the machine and oodles of gaffer tape and lead tape, most clubs can be bent normal amounts with little or no cosmetic flaws.[/quote]

That's good to know maybe the $100 bending bars are well worth it then. Seems the more expensive units come with them also.

[mat562]

I'd never claim to be anything special as a clubmaker but I can honestly say that the combination of a decent bending bar (in my case a longer length Mitchell adjustable with the edges smoothed off) and a lot of time and effort spent adequately protecting the clubs with gaffer tape and lead tape means that the vast majority of irons and wedges that I've worked on in my time have emerged unscathed as far as marring of the hosels and soles is concerned.

It's a lot of faffing about, but as my old nan used to say: there's doing a job and there's doing a job [i]right.[/i]

[hogan64]

Go to the Mitchell website and drop the menu down under catalog, you should see a pre-owned option, select that to see what they have in stock. Last winter I bought a Steelclub with the stand and adjustable bending bar for just shy of $700.00. It was mint. They don't have anything listed today, but you need to keep checking. Don't waste your money on a cheap unit, you will be disappointed. I've got an old Golfsmith unit that you can have if you want to drive to Iowa! I personally wouldn't drive around the block for it myself.

[Hstead]

This is one of the reasons why I love this site. Absolutely the exact info I was looking for. Thanks fellas. You have most likely saved me money. I am going to steer away from the cheaper models.

Of course, this site also costs me money since all I seem to do is find deals on shafts, read reviews in new products etc and it appeals to the HO in me.

I am going to find a good used machine. Thanks for the input and keep them coming.

[PorkChopExpress]

Use the bending bars from Mitchell the big brass ended one.
The golfsmith ones are known to dimple, crinkle etc..
Golfsmith sells club protectors to go along with the bar to protect the club.

The Golfsmith, Dicks, and GG by me use the 499 Golfsmith pro model. I cant remember who OEM it, but someone does
Golfsmith had a 20% off tools coupon, so it would made it 400 bux, good deal

Scotland is a good brand to look at. Check craigslist or ebay.
And as always, Mitchell but they will cost more

But to be honest, unless you're going to tinker with loft\lie a lot or build lots of clubs, its not really worth it
Plus when bent, you want to hit it immediately to see results.
So if you're lucky like me, there are two places where I can bend then hit

[drpino]

Great machine but pricey:

 

https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1334

 

 

As mentioned, a quality bending bar is a necessity so don't skimp there either. I suggest this one:

 

https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1088

 

 

And the short hosel version if needed:

 

https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1090

 

 

Coupled with a brass hosel protection sleeve:

 

http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_BHP

 

 

And even some lead tape on the topline and sole if you really want to be thorough.

 

[Jack aMMo]

Great machine but pricey:

 

https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1334

 

 

As mentioned, a quality bending bar is a necessity so don't skimp there either. I suggest this one:

 

https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1088

 

 

And the short hosel version if needed:

 

https://mitchellgolf.com/mg/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1090

 

 

Coupled with a brass hosel protection sleeve:

 

http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_BHP

 

 

And even some lead tape on the topline and sole if you really want to be thorough.

 

 

C

 

I've been looking for those brass hosel protector over here but no joy so far.

 

Would the aluminium from canned drinks serve the same purpose?

 

cheers

 

g

[mat562]

Yes it would.

A friend uses a cut-out square of drinks can backed with a couple of layers of gaffer tape as a hosel guard and it works well.

[drpino]

Agreed, should work fine. The ability to improvise is one of the key traits of a decent club maker