We would all love to be able to build any club we wanted with our tour truck. Most of us do not have the status to be on a professional golf tour. Many of us work on our golf clubs in our basements, garages or sheds. We have the tools and equipment to complete these tasks. To reshaft clubs with graphite, you need extra precision, patience, and tools such as a shaft pulling tool. Mitchell Golf, which has been manufacturing high-quality golf tools since 1988, is the industry leader. Steelclub EZ Commercial Graphite Shaft Puller is a product of the company that has a lengthy name but sets the bar for shaft pullers.
Over the 15 years I’ve been working with golf clubs, I’ve used several different shaft pullers. I’ve used cheap hydraulic pullers (under $100), but also high-strength ones. Some models have more pros than cons. But I’ve learned over the years that a good quality puller makes life easier for the shaft and is safer. You must pull the graphite shaft carefully, without twisting it. The heat and pressure will cause the carbon fiber layers to delaminate if you twist the graphite shaft when pulling it.
Mitchell gives you a variety of options for how you want to set it up. The Mitchell puller has welded-on feet which allow you to mount it permanently to your workbench, or in your benchtop vice. When not in use, you can also remove it from the vice and store it away. Both options provide a stable platform for using the puller. This E-Z Commercial Shaft Puller has been built to last a lifetime. It is over-built for high-volume use. You will be surprised at the weight. All parts are made of very thick steel. Precision milled parts are held together by heavy duty bolts to ensure zero flex when in use. The rotating handle for pulling the shaft is equipped with a large bearing that makes it easy to use and smooth. Rubber shaft clamps can be interchanged and the puller comes with a thick metal plate which is easily adjustable for hosels ranging from.335 to.500.
The shaft clamp is operated by a T-handle that can be rotated quickly. The hosel plate is adjustable in four different ways and the small hex screw can be removed by hand. This allows you to quickly pull a wood shaft, and then switch to a larger setting if you want to pull an iron. The shaft is clamped, then you turn the balanced handle and the hosel slide across the unit. The design of this puller allows you to remove the head straight from the shaft, without the need for rotation or extra stress. I’ve used cheaper pullers which don’t turn but apply some lateral force to the shaft when it slides off the head, but the Mitchell slides along a steel track, removing any stress from the shaft.
The clamps hold the shaft in place very well. The clamps can slip a little on a stubborn shaft. A quick quarter to half-turn of the T-handle of the clamp will fix this. This large pulling force allows you to apply less heat with your heat gun or torch on the club hosel. Less heat reduces the risk of damaging the resin that holds the carbon fiber layers in the tip. I almost feel like I could pull shafts without heat!
The balanced handle pulls the shaft so smoothly that you forget that it’s putting a great deal of force on the clubhead. The clubhead still spins smoothly on the large bearing, despite years of epoxy that has broken down and dust. The entire hosel plate is mounted on a large screw, which sits underneath the club. This exposes it to the epoxy that comes out of the hosel. The epoxy can catch on the screw but does not affect rotation. The hosel assembly is designed to clean off debris by gliding right and left. It almost does it’s own cleaning with each pass.
The only thing I don’t like about the Steelclub Puller, is that you might get oil on your clothes or hands if you don’t pay attention.
Mitchell Golf Steelclub E.Z Commercial Shaft puller is the industry standard, providing high strength, no flex and quick usage for club builders. The ease of use helps new builders to learn and reduce errors, while the solid construction will last a lifetime. The Mitchell Golf Steelclub E – Z Commercial Shaft Puller is a must have if you want to start your own club building business.
