20 replies to this topic

[Bogey's Belly]

Hello all:

I am looking for some tips and tricks for blowing grips off w/ an air compressor.  I have been practicing and I am getting better, but every so often I run into the dreaded giant air bubble, usually right in the middle of the grip.  I think part of the problem is that most of the grips that I have been practicing with are GP New Decade Multicompound, they seem to be more prone to the problem than others.  Is there an alternative to the long plastic tube attachment that Golfworks sells for $40? I have tried using paper towel rolls as a substitute, however those do not work very well.

I am open to any and all ideas.  Thanks in advance for your time.

[ladahl]

You can use a paint roller....

[3GWrX09]

metal pipe or some sort of conduit tubing? Should be pretty inexpensive...

[hojomoriah]

try the plastic tubes you can buy to put in your golf bag for your clubs, cut it about 14" and slide it over the grip and your set to go.

[Bogey's Belly]

Thank you all for the fast replies... Great ideas and I have most of those items laying around the basement.  I assume the tubing acts to prevent the bubbles from expanding too far and eventually popping.

[Bogey's Belly]

Hmmm... Just tried a paint roller... blowout.

[gboldman23]

Get PVC piping with about an inside diameter of about 4 inches. Cut it to about 14 inches or so. Club should slide in and out fairly easy, but when the air is going it is narrow enough to prevent blowouts. Plus, PVC piping is a heck of a lot stronger than paper towel rolls or whatever.

[prestiege]

not sure 4" is the right size, you probably want 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pvc pipe, inside diameter should be 7/8 - 1 1/4, somewhere in there

[Nessism]

I use a combination of air and solvent.  First thing is work a long piece of stiff wire under the edge of the grip as far as possible and then shoot some mineral spirits alongside. Twist the grip and push the wire farther.  The farther down under the grip you can get the wire, and solvent, the better chance you will have with the air.

[gboldman23]

prestiege, on 17 August 2012 - 07:57 PM, said:

not sure 4" is the right size, you probably want 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pvc pipe, inside diameter should be 7/8 - 1 1/4, somewhere in there

Yeah, you're definitely right. I think I did circumference - obviously I am not a math major.

[iH83Putting]

I've seen it done with a paper towel roll too.

[ladahl]

Bogey, on 17 August 2012 - 05:18 PM, said:

Hmmm... Just tried a paint roller... blowout.

Hopefully no injuries...    Be sure to get some solvent in between there and loosen it up best you can prior, as well....  coat hanger can kinda work, but this works perfectly as step one and then finish with air compressor ($15 tool that will save you $ on grips):

http://www.golfworks...asp_Q_pn_E_VGGR

Edited by ladahl, 17 August 2012 - 08:57 PM.

[spires1020]

No tube is going to prevent the air bubbles, if you're trying to save the grips then you have to use solvent and a grip remover tool to work around the grip to loosen it up. If you're just trying to remove the grips then it would be safer and easier to just use a utility knife with a hook blade and cut it off. The air gun method was never meant to be used to remove grips installed traditionally with grip tape and solvent. I do not think the old club tubes would be strong or small enough for what you want to do. PVC pipe is the cheapest option that is also strong enough for what you want to do.

[FairwaySheriff]

This tubing has worked with great results. Thanks to RookieBlue7 for the idea. Bought from Lowes for about $2.25 a foot.  The size is a perfect fit for the gun & fits tight at the butt end.
Tubing is somewhat rigid. Soak em in hot water prior to using. A little liquid soap on the butt end helps if the tubing is too tight to slide over the grip. A short burst of air will separate grip from tape. Twist tubing slightly to right & add another burst of air. Twist tubing slightly to the left & another burst of air & that’s usually enough to remove the grip.  If you’re getting swelling during the process, release the trigger & let the air in the swell go down. Short bursts of air work better than long continuous ones.

[Bogey's Belly]

No injuries & the paint roller actually muffled the "bang" so my ears aren't ringing either. I figured it would take adding some solvent to loosen it up.  I also like the above suggestion. I'll try that out tomorrow. I appreciate all the helpful thoughts & ideas from everyone.

[aliikane]

FairwaySheriff, on 17 August 2012 - 10:44 PM, said:

This tubing has worked with great results. Thanks to RookieBlue7 for the idea. Bought from Lowes for about $2.25 a foot.  The size is a perfect fit for the gun & fits tight at the butt end.
Tubing is somewhat rigid. Soak em in hot water prior to using. A little liquid soap on the butt end helps if the tubing is too tight to slide over the grip. A short burst of air will separate grip from tape. Twist tubing slightly to right & add another burst of air. Twist tubing slightly to the left & another burst of air & that’s usually enough to remove the grip.  If you’re getting swelling during the process, release the trigger & let the air in the swell go down. Short bursts of air work better than long continuous ones.

Fairest sheriff, this may be a stupid question but I don't quite get how you are using the tubing. I'm a newbie at grip removal with compressed air.

Are you using it to prevent the grip from expanding when you are putting compressed air in it so grip doesn't explode? Or are you using as a transition piece to make a tight seal with the grip and the air compressor nozzle?

Edited by aliikane, 18 August 2012 - 08:59 AM.

[FairwaySheriff]

aliikane, on 18 August 2012 - 08:58 AM, said:

Fairest sheriff, this may be a stupid question but I don't quite get how you are using the tubing. I'm a newbie at grip removal with compressed air.

Are you using it to prevent the grip from expanding when you are putting compressed air in it so grip doesn't explode? Or are you using as a transition piece to make a tight seal with the grip and the air compressor nozzle?

The answer is both. Since I’ve been using the tubing, I have removed over 100 grips & only 1 has exploded. That was my fault, too much air at once. Here’s what I do. My gun is the standard with a long needle & 2-piece cup. Epoxyed the 2 pieces of cup together & epoxyed the cup to the nozzle because of the loose fit. Use 4 pieces of 14” tubing if I’m doing a set.
1) 5 gallon bucket with hot water with tubes soaking. Tubes are rigid (hard) & the hot
water keeps em soft.
2) Insert grip into tubing leaving about 1” hanging off butt end. If needed will put small
amount liquid soap on butt end to make it go on easier. Soap is a must for mid-size &
larger.
3) Place club in shaft vise. Compressor ready & set @ 30 psi
4) Insert needle in grip hole & seat cup into tubing
5) Hold tubing around the taper end of grip
6) Apply small bursts of air. Can see & hear the air working under the grip, raising it.
The top is where the grip usually breaks from the tape 1^st. You’ll see this thru the
tubing. If it starts to swell, let off on the air. Remove the needle from the grip & the air
will bleed off.
7) Start over @ # 4
8) Once the air completely raises the grip across the “top” line, it will blow out the tip
end of grip. You’ll know this by the squealing sound. Let off on the air
9) Hold tubing near the butt end of grip. Reinsert the gun. Twist the tubing to the right
(you can see the grip twisting, don’t break it) & apply air. Twist tubing to the left &
apply air. Work the hand that’s holding the tubing down the grip left & right while
applying air.
10) Grip will pop off
11) I use a 24” - 3/8-ratchet extension & 5/8 socket to remove blown grip from the tubing

This has worked for me with great results. Never had to use any solvent.

Hope this helps

[Bogey's Belly]

Sheriff: thank you for the very detailed step by step list- that is EXACTLY what I was looking for! If you get a chance could you possibly post a pic of the described setup? Thank you again. It's great how helpful everyone is around here.

[Shambles]

Bogey, on 17 August 2012 - 04:26 PM, said:

Hello all:

I am looking for some tips and tricks for blowing grips off w/ an air compressor.  I have been practicing and I am getting better, but every so often I run into the dreaded giant air bubble, usually right in the middle of the grip.  I think part of the problem is that most of the grips that I have been practicing with are GP New Decade Multicompound, they seem to be more prone to the problem than others.  Is there an alternative to the long plastic tube attachment that Golfworks sells for $40? I have tried using paper towel rolls as a substitute, however those do not work very well.

I am open to any and all ideas.  Thanks in advance for your time.

The tube is actually to prevent your hands from being injured in case you accidentally explode the grip.

You should be able to blow the grip off with the air alone. If it bubbles, stop the blowing and try to squeeze the bubble down towards the tight and still glued parts to break the glue. Don't let the bubble grow too large, but little spurts and some squeezing down will make it usefull for breaking the glue. Once the glue is broken you should be able to simply blow the grip off.


Shambles

[TKing]

I don't use a tube, and don't blow up grips.  I punch a hole through any bunched up tape inside the grip end hole,  shoot carburetor cleaner in the shaft with the little straw for 3 seconds,  clamp the club almost horizontal with the grip down so the solvent runs to the grip end, stick the air nozzle (35 year old standard small diameter nozzle) into the grip hole, use air pressure to bump a little solvent under the grip, twist, bump, twist, bump, etc., etc., until the whole thing is loose.

I do have a large compressor with an 80 gallon tank, so I can get by with only 8 psi.  Multi-compounds are not a problem.  The only grips that won't blow off like this, are ones that aren't worth bothering with anyway-like ten year old stock grips.

The whole process takes maybe 30 seconds.  I tried other solvents with various syringes, but went back to carb cleaner for ease of use, and quick bond breaking.  I first tried carb cleaner before I ever read about anyone blowing grips off.  I swapped the grips on two sets of clubs.  The first one, I used too much pressure, and holding the grip in my hand, the club shot across the shop with the first shot of air, leaving the grip in my hand.  Then I used the end vise on my woodworking bench to hold the club, and the grips came right off.

Use the nozzle trigger as a throttle, not an on switch.  Stop before you get a lot of expansion.  If you can't control it, you are using too much pressure.

Edited by TKing, 18 August 2012 - 06:15 PM.

[snafu34]

If a grip in on tape - Often the grip will require a fair amount of twisting to get the solvent to do it's job.  So I use a long length of 2" wide polyropylene webbing or strap.  You can spiral wrap the grip with the strap very quickly and it lets you really twist the grip when required.  The stuff is very strong and promises to never let you blow up or STRETCH a grip.   I am looking for larger piece of the strapping so I can sew on a long piece of Velcro to secure it.