Black silicone sealant doesn't go off... whoops! ... WITH PHOTOS!

[Muse]

I bought a used putter and the butt end of the grip has a hole in it. The grip is blackish rubber. Rather than buy a new grip (they are over 15 bucks, it's an Odyssey, and that doesn't include installation) and replacing the old grip I figured I'd just fill the void in the end with some black goo that sets up like rubber. I had an unopened 3oz squeeze tube of black silicone (GE, IIRC) which felt nice and soft (squeezing the tube), so I figured it would work. Today I discovered that it can be squeezed out of the tube but it's not the least viscous. It doesn't stick to anything (not even my fingers) and I can't use it.

I went to a local Truevalue hardware and they wanted $8 for 3oz of black silicone. Seems steep. I went back home and discovered I had a tube of black silicone in a caulking gun. It had been opened, was capped with the provided cap. Removing the cap I discovered that it hadn't hardened, so I figured it would harden on contact with air and it's moisture. I applied it but it's not setting up. Um, how come? Now I have to remove it somehow before applying something else.

Is silicone really what I want here? Suggestions?

 

[Micrornd]

I know it's too late know, but if it doesn't have vinegar-like smell, I throw it away as it's too old.
The older it is, the longer you have to wait for it to set.
Being old, give it over night at least.

 

[Muse]

I know it's too late know, but if it doesn't have vinegar-like, I throw it away as it's too old.
The older it is, the longer you have to wait for it to set.
Being old, give it over night at least.

Well, it's been over 14 hours now (overnighted) and it hasn't set up one tiny bit. I'm not optimistic to put it mildly.

Is there anything I can do to promote setup? Obviously I want it to set up good and tough. It will be tested. The butt of the club will sit on the bottom of my golf bag, so it will get bump bump bumped 1/2 a million times!

Argh. Well, how can I remove the stuff that won't set up and what can/should I put in its place? Is silicone sealant really my best option for this? If so, I'll buy a 3 oz. tube of it somewhere... AFTER somehow cleaning out what I put on. It was stupid of me to just assume it would setup without testing. There's no hurry, I just never saw silicone sealant fail to setup, and I made an assumption I shouldn't have. TBH, I was amazed it hadn't hardened just sitting around. My experience is that it does, once opened, if given some months. This has probably been sitting in my sometimes cold, often moist, sometimes quite hot garage for 4-5 years!!!

 

[Greenman]

Well, it's been over 14 hours now (overnighted) and it hasn't set up one tiny bit. I'm not optimistic to put it mildly.

Is there anything I can do to promote setup? Obviously I want it to set up good and tough. It will be tested. The butt of the club will sit on the bottom of my golf bag, so it will get bump bump bumped 1/2 a million times!

Argh. Well, how can I remove the stuff that won't set up and what can/should I put in its place? Is silicone sealant really my best option for this? If so, I'll buy a 3 oz. tube of it somewhere... AFTER somehow cleaning out what I put on. It was stupid of me to just assume it would setup without testing. There's no hurry, I just never saw silicone sealant fail to setup, and I made an assumption I shouldn't have. TBH, I was amazed it hadn't hardened just sitting around. My experience is that it does, once opened, if given some months. This has probably been sitting in my sometimes cold, often moist, sometimes quite hot garage for 4-5 years!!!

I've never had silicone that wouldn't set. As for cleaning it out, if you wet the area with denatured alcohol it won't smear all over the place as you dig it out of the hole. Keep misting the area and scrubbing with paper towels.

 

[mxnerd]

Use a chair rubber feet cap.

https://www.google.com/search?q=chair+rubber+feet+cap

 

[Muse]

Use a chair rubber feet cap.

https://www.google.com/search?q=chair+rubber+feet+cap

That IS interesting. And maybe the best idea. I think maybe clean off the gue and bring the putter into Home Depot, maybe tomorrow ... I'm planning to be in their neighborhood either tomorrow or a few days later... see what would work. Probably could just jam in the hole. Don't know if I could secure it in there with anything, but jammed it, it should stay, I figure. Thanks!

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

Is silicone really what I want here? Suggestions?

No, what you really want is a golf grip. The universe won't explode if you replace it with a grip that isn't an original Odyssey. Hell, Odyssey doesn't even make grips, the grips they use are Winn with an Odyssey logo added. Go to a golf shop or a Golf Galaxy, putt around with a bunch of different models, find one with a grip you like and have that installed. Break open the piggy bank and take out a loan if you need to, but spend as high as $11. It will be worth it in the long run.

 

[Muse]

No, what you really want is a golf grip. The universe won't explode if you replace it with a grip that isn't an original Odyssey. Hell, Odyssey doesn't even make grips, the grips they use are Winn with an Odyssey logo added. Go to a golf shop or a Golf Galaxy, putt around with a bunch of different models, find one with a grip you like and have that installed. Break open the piggy bank and take out a loan if you need to, but spend as high as $11. It will be worth it in the long run.

I've replaced several grips in my DIY workshop with the help of a bench vise, a kit and some Lampkin grips (of which I have extras). The Odyssey grip on it now isn't symetrical, though. Maybe I should get a grip specific to the shape of the putter's handle. Don't know. Anyway, the easiest thing would be to either patch it with black rubbery substance (when set up), or I could actually just use it as it is. It's functional! I cleaned out the black gue that wouldn't set with 91% denatured alcohol and a clean rag.

 

[BoomerD]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasti-Dip-14-5-oz-Black-Plasti-Dip-11603-6/202196703

 

[mxnerd]

OP's putter handle has a hole at the grip's butt end, the grip's side surface didn't wear out.

 

[BoomerD]

OP's putter handle has a hole at the grip's butt end, the grip's side surface didn't wear out.

Duh...apply a drop or two to the hole, let it dry, apply a drop or two, let it dry, repeat until the hole is filled.

 

[mxnerd]

Duh...apply a drop or two to the hole, let it dry, apply a drop or two, let it dry, repeat until the hole is filled.

Yeah, he can do that, but it's a bit time consuming and tedious.

 

[BoomerD]

Yeah, he can do that, but it's a bit time consuming and tedious.

Shouldn't take more than two applications...depending on the size of the hole. If it's bigger than say 1/4", a simple plug made from a bit of cotton ball would work.
This shit ain't rockit surgery...

 

[Sgt. York]

I've noticed that many on these forums can take the simplest problem and turn it into a problem of confounding proportions.

Cut down a cork and shove it in.
Cut a golf tee down to fit/fill the hole.
Fill with leftover epoxy.
Buy a 40 cent plastic cap or plug from Lowes/Home Depot and cram it in.
My favorite, ignore it.

 

[Muse]

Pretty much all good ideas. Thanks to all.

ATM, I have a cut-down cork in the hole shoved about maybe 1/4 inch down into the hole. The hole itself is the inside of the steel putter shaft although the top of that is below the top of the grip. A bit of the side of the grip is torn off... not all the way around, but about 1/3 the way around, if you can picture that. Thus, a rubber chair leg stand-off wouldn't be a perfect fix. But so what? Like Sgt. York said, ignore it actually works. I suppose I'll fill it with something eventually, black plastic/rubber or similar. I kinda think silicone isn't very tough stuff. Epoxy is, of course, but I don't know that it would stick in there. How someone damaged the club this way I don't know. Maybe a tantrum!

 

[Muse]

I still want to fill it. Nobody has commented since I posted the picture. What do you think??

Today I plan to visit a couple of giant hardware stores to see what they have, probably buy something. I'm thinking that silicone is maybe not tough enough, assuming the butt of the putter will be supporting it in my bag. Some kind of rubbery black substance. The texture doesn't matter, it doesn't have to be rubbery, it should just be black, tough, and stick in that hole really well.

 

[Ajay]

http://eclecticproducts.com/products/shoe-goo.html

Used to work great when I was a runner!

 

[Muse]

http://eclecticproducts.com/products/shoe-goo.html

Used to work great when I was a runner!

Same here. I used Shoe Goo for years, bought many many times and built up my running shoes... when I was a runner! Turned into a swimmer when I developed some bad plantar faciitus.

I have some Shoe Goo now, actually. Could use it, only reason not to is that it dries kinda clear, not the black I'd prefer. I know, it's kinda dumb ... to care about the appearance. After all, who's going to be looking at the butt end of my putter? Mainly just me... so what?

 

[Muse]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasti-Dip-14-5-oz-Black-Plasti-Dip-11603-6/202196703

I went to Home Depot today and couldn't find anything besides this (and the silicone stuff), so I got this. Around $8 including tax. Way more than I need, obviously, hopefully it will last (with that plastic top) and I'll find other uses.

Gotta think/hope: Maybe I'll putt so well/terrific with this putter people will be asking to see my stick. Uh, no, I'm not gay. I mean my putter. Ahem.

Edit: Amazon reviewers note that once opened, this doesn't keep well at all... maybe a week, unless you intervene. The plastic tennis-ball-can-like top is susceptible to weakening from the fumes given off by the contents. That makes it get loose and allow air to penetrate and/or fumes to escape and the stuff soon becomes worthless. A few of the reviewers offered ways to improve the keeping qualities. There are ~70 reviews right now, and I haven't read them all, but here's a few ideas on improving the keeping qualities of the unused portion of the can, from memory:

1. Remove to a lidded jar

2. Place some grease in the crease between the opened can and the plastic lid

3. Place a folded sheet of Saran Wrap between the opened can and the plastic lid

 

[Ajay]

Same here. I used Shoe Goo for years, bought many many times and built up my running shoes... when I was a runner! Turned into a swimmer when I developed some bad plantar faciitus.

I have some Shoe Goo now, actually. Could use it, only reason not to is that it dries kinda clear, not the black I'd prefer. I know, it's kinda dumb ... to care about the appearance. After all, who's going to be looking at the butt end of my putter? Mainly just me... so what?

The stuff I linked is black

 

[Muse]

The stuff I linked is black

Oh!

 

[mxnerd]

If you haven't open the Plasti Dip, wood filler / 3M bondo probably is another option.

Fill in the hole and mold it into approximate shape. Power sanding it, then spray with a black paint.

Wood filler probably won't stick to the rubber part though.

 

[Muse]

If you haven't open the Plasti Dip, wood filler / 3M bondo probably is another option.

Fill in the hole and mold it into approximate shape. Power sanding it, then spray with a black paint.

Wood filler probably won't stick to the rubber part though.

I was actually considering opening an old 5 gallon bucket of roofing tar I bought at Home Depot probably about 15 years ago. I used that stuff several times to stop leaks in my roof. In 2005, I had the roof torn off completely by a largish professional roofing company, and I've had no use for that can since then. Roofing tar sets up into semi-tough blackness. Anyway, I didn't feel motivated to open that can! I should put it on the sidewalk and see if someone wants it and if not, just turn it in on a substance recycle day, which happens once a year around here.

 

[BoomerD]

I went to Home Depot today and couldn't find anything besides this (and the silicone stuff), so I got this. Around $8 including tax. Way more than I need, obviously, hopefully it will last (with that plastic top) and I'll find other uses.

Gotta think/hope: Maybe I'll putt so well/terrific with this putter people will be asking to see my stick. Uh, no, I'm not gay. I mean my putter. Ahem.

Edit: Amazon reviewers note that once opened, this doesn't keep well at all... maybe a week, unless you intervene. The plastic tennis-ball-can-like top is susceptible to weakening from the fumes given off by the contents. That makes it get loose and allow air to penetrate and/or fumes to escape and the stuff soon becomes worthless. A few of the reviewers offered ways to improve the keeping qualities. There are ~70 reviews right now, and I haven't read them all, but here's a few ideas on improving the keeping qualities of the unused portion of the can, from memory:

1. Remove to a lidded jar

2. Place some grease in the crease between the opened can and the plastic lid

3. Place a folded sheet of Saran Wrap between the opened can and the plastic lid

Dip some tool handles since you have it...no sense in wasting it.

 

[Micrornd]

I don't understand?
You can afford to play golf, but can't afford the $15+ for the correct grip and cost of installation to fix it right and would rather spend money on some half-a**ed repair?
How does that make any sense?
Just fix it right, be done with it, and move on.