[McNabb11b]

I have decided that since I have a bunch of extra time on my hands I am going to build myself some hardwood grips for my springfield champion. Today I picked out a nice light hard wood, I don't know what kind it is, but it is pretty. It was just laying around the shop. I cut these down into about the same pieces and am now calling these the "blanks". I will post pictures here later and throughout the project if anyone is interested. I hope it turns out. I am thinking about doing a checkering by hand if I am feeling really adventurous, but that decision will come later. I am open to comments and feed back, also feel free to ask any questions as it may help me to think some of these things through.

 

[Dillinger]

Interesting undertaking. I look forward to seeing some pictures of your work as the project progresses.

JD

 

[McNabb11b]

Here are the blanks.

sorry the quality is not so good.

 

[canebrake]

I hope Sarge43 drops by, he has "some" experience with this type of work.
I remember him talking about conditioning of the scales (I think that's what they call the blanks) before working them to prevent cracking when they dry out later.

Sarge43 are you out there? I have been thinking about experimenting with a set myself.

I have a set of Hogues on my XSE and love them.
I want to make a one piece grip that would wrap around with finger groves.
I'm doing a design that would require no grip screws.

McNabb, keep us in the loop with the progress.

 

[biff44]

you can soak the wood in this stuff and it will not crack.

 

[biff44]

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Green Wood Stabilizer - Rockler Woodworking Tools

 

[McNabb11b]

Today was busy. first I drilled the holes to fit the weapon. Kinda reminds me of a GLOCK.

After this I cut the traced shape out of the scales. (Thanks Cane)

After hours of sanding I finally got them fitted, even, and worked into shape. now they look like grips as seen here on my 45.


Now comes the decision making. I am either going to make an attempt at checkering on Wednesday, or leave as is and stain tomorrow. It also ocurred to me that I could get a couple of liberty head nickels with the year 1911 stamped on them and inlay them into the middle.

 

[McNabb11b]

Here they are. Is this a good idea?

 

[canebrake]

Today was busy. first I drilled the holes to fit the weapon. Kinda reminds me of a GLOCK.

No way, not ugly enough!

Now comes the decision making. I am either going to make an attempt at checkering on Wednesday, or leave as is and stain tomorrow. It also ocurred to me that I could get a couple of liberty head nickels with the year 1911 stamped on them and inlay them into the middle.

Decisions, decisions, decisions?

Mac I'm impressed! And the Liberty head nickels are a grest idea! Will the proportions be good? I'm thinkin' they may be a little big? Maybe a Barber dime? Lay one of the nickels on the grip and take a photo, let's see em.

IMHO, I'd go with smooth on the first attempt unless you have done checkering before. It's tough!

Maybe stippling? It's way easier.

 

[McNabb11b]

I had thought about using a penny but Lady Liberty seemed more romantic. I will try some stippling on some other wood to see if I like it. I do want to show some of the grain also, so I am pretty torn. Thanks for your help.

 

[Sarge43]

Hey! Looking good! I just stopped by to talk about what I think Cane was talking about when he said "condition" the grips - I believe he's talking about stabilization. Correct me if I'm wrong Cane. Stabilization is not generally needed on solid and/or dense woods (there are exceptions). It is a process by which the wood is impregnated with some type of polymer to make the wood harder or fill punky areas and just make the wood generally much tougher and mroe workable. Most professional services do this with an acrylic or polyester resin forced into the wood under high pressure so that the wood is totally saturated. This is the best way. You can do some light stabilization at home if you feel it's warranted with a minwax product called "Wood hardener" (available at hardware stores, home depot etc) or the REAL old fashioned home boy method of mixing equal parts of lacquer and lacquer thinner in a jar and letting the wood soak in it overnight at least. When you take it out, you'll have to let it dry thouroughly before using it or machining it.
I'm glad to see someone else trying their hand at grip making. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.!
I look forward to finished pics!
Sarge

 

[cpttango30]

I would not checker them grips. I would jsut sand them down nice and smooth and tru-oil them to death. Or do a clear on them make them nice and shiny. I think they would look great like that.

 

[McNabb11b]

I have decided not to checker and to go with a hand rubbed finish with some wood wax. Will post pics.

 

[McNabb11b]

OMG Sarge, I just looked at your site, Your grips are gorgeous.

 

[canebrake]

I have decided not to checker and to go with a hand rubbed finish with some wood wax. Will post pics.

Mac, I hope you're doin' that caus U want to, not from peernius* pressure??



*peer + penis = peernius

(get it McNabb?)

 

[canebrake]

OMG Sarge, I just looked at your site, Your grips are gorgeous.

I told you guys sarge has his $hit in one sock!

 

[McNabb11b]

No I started doing this this morning before I read these. I went out and experimented with all sorts of stains and finished on stippled and regular wood. I am going to put the liberty nickel into them I think. I will call it Era Licentia.

 

[canebrake]

No I started doing this this morning before I read these. I went out and experimented with all sorts of stains and finished on stippled and regular wood. I am going to put the liberty nickel into them I think. I will call it Era Licentia.

"End of an Era", Nice, seeing how we just experienced Obamageddon or was it Barackocaust?

 

[McNabb11b]

Actually it means Lady Liberty, Would that be somehow blasphemous?

 

[canebrake]

Actually it means Lady Liberty, Would that be somehow blasphemous?

Damn Latin, failed it too!!