I have a very plain Cameron that I'd like to refinish. I'll probably try the home made oil can deal I've read about here. Before I do though, I'd like to add a line on the flange, and maybe a dot on the topline. Currently, it has nothing at all. Anyone done this without a drill press? Thanks for any suggestions.

Find a professional and have it done. It may cost a little bit for what seems like a very simple job, but it is worth every penny to have it done right, the first time.
This is spoken from experience. You have the chance to learn from someone else's mistakes, that is always a good deal.
Just my 2-cents,
LaMont in AZ

Tom Slighter cut one and paint filled for me and it was cheap. The shipping to and from was more than the work. Now this was on a putter I purchased from him, so maybe he gave me a good price. I would not take the chance on DIY. It's not like a finish gone bad that can be stripped and started over.

I ended up using a set of tiny files I bought at Harbor feight. Put the putter in a miter box for stability of both the head and the file. Buffed it with white then rouge compound. Almost looks stamped. Better looking than the factory line on my Purestroke.

The buffing wheel would not do a thing to small dings, so a guy at my club is using a more aggresive wheel on it. I'll get it back this weekend, put it over the flame of my crawfish boiler, then dip it in a can of 5w30 mixed with TCw3 and watch the explosion!

From there it will get a golfsmith hosel plug or 2 just above the neck, and 2 to 3 plugs in the butt end when I figure out how to house them. First time I've been excited about a putter.

You'll retain more value if you have Scotty do it.

Gotta let us see your work, otherwise it is just ramblings of a crazed putter guy, LOL.

Thanks,
LaMont in AZ

A quick & easy way to add a sight line is to go to a auto part parts store & get a roll of pin stripping tape.
You can get it in different colors & widths.
Make sure you clean the area first before you apply the tape.
A great way to add a sight line without effecting the value of your putter if you ever decide to resale it.
Good luck

at least you used a miter box ive seen so many that dont. you could have used a hack saw slowly and cut a nice line

So as to only reply once to some of the thoughts above,


1. I have no concerns with resale-this putter will never be sold.

2. I wanted a "channel" not just a line.

3. I tried the hacksaw, but I think my blade was not fine enough. It would not stick, and wanted to bounce. I was lucky to be able to buff those nicks out.

4. I'll do pics soon. It's at my club getting a more aggressive grind to help with dings from before me. My cloth wheel did nothing for that. I may get it back tonight. Remember, it's been totally stripped using naval jelly, then buffed with white and rouge. By tonight, it will have been hit with some sort of wheel or asst. pro has on a bench grinder, so it will look pretty raw.

Hope it's not a rare one.

A 4 flute carbide endmill, slow speed, a few thousandths at a time.

And hope the asst pro really isn't using a bench grinder.

Oh he is. I watched him take out some of the dings on my topline. Works great. I cannot even begin to imagine why you would have that sort of hope. You don't even know what type of wheel he is using.

Honestly, if you are "never" going to sell this putter, I would do it "right" and send it to Scotty to be re-finished/lined, etc.

Cool. I wish you the best when you send yours. Mine has already been cut and by now, ground.

BTW, your logic is backwards to me. I'd feel much better about selling a putter that had been done "right" than one I DIY'd. To each his own I suppose.

Ah, you mean something like an open end Baldor buffer. Where you can change flapwheels. Bench Grinder...I always think stone wheels.

Right, this is a soft wheel, but more bite to it than plain cloth. Definitely not stone, but otherwise, the same type grinder. The kind you see at Sears or Harbor Freight. He told me what kind of wheel it was. I think he got it from Golfsmith and just put it where the original stone wheel was.

Bad news. Although our asst. pro did a great job removing most of the dings, and the head looks really nice, what was once my neat, uniform, smooth and small sightline is now a huge irregular valley. I don't even remember saying anything to him about it. I should have stressed to him to not even get close to it.

I took it home and got my micro files out again. I was able to salvage it a bit, but now the line is about double its original size. Maybe once I paint it I won't be so bothered. No great loss, as this putter was never going to be used by anyone anyway. I just can't deal with the look of a plain anser/newport with no dot or line.