Making your own grips.

[Dean Hoffmann]

As a woodworker, I have a lot of small pieces of walnut, oak, butternut, mahogany etc that I have accumulated over the years, and my adoring spouse suggested they might make good grips for a couple of our 1911s that have relatively ugly grips. Anything I need to know here? Seems like a relatively easy project. I've never checkered anything before. Do I need special files, or will swiss files do? I was told that grips should be finished with linseed oil only slthough I don't remember why that was. I appreciate your input. Dean

[John]

As a woodworker, I have a lot of small pieces of walnut, oak, butternut, mahogany etc that I have accumulated over the years, and my adoring spouse suggested they might make good grips for a couple of our 1911s that have relatively ugly grips. Anything I need to know here? Seems like a relatively easy project. I've never checkered anything before. Do I need special files, or will swiss files do? I was told that grips should be finished with linseed oil only slthough I don't remember why that was. I appreciate your input. Dean
To make them durable enough to withstand the hardship of a shooter's life, I guess. Somewhere, in the "Technical Issues" there should be an article and a link on this subject. Have a look.

I just received my two personalized sets from woodgrips.com, so my babies are dressed in new clothes today! Smooth, with my initials engraved. A report will follow, soon I hope.

Rgds

[Dean Hoffmann]

John: Thanks for the come-back. I never noticed the technical section before, but what a wealth of information there is there. What a talented human being John Browning was. I have added him to the list of people I would like to have met along with Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and Mark Twain. I may spend the next month just reading the Technical Section. I didn't realize how much greater is the pile of my "Dont Knows" as compared to miniscule pimple that makes up my pile of "Do Knows". Thanks again! Dean

[John]

Most welcome Sir!

Rgds

[jsinon]

I also make my own, and make a few bucks here and there at it. The finish I use that seems to be the best for bringing out the grain is tung oil. The first few coats are a 50% mix with turpentine. It soaks right in to the wood to get deep down in the pores. After 3-5 coats, with about an hour drying time in between, I'll put another 3-5 hand rubbed coats of straight tung oil with 24 hours between coats. I also have another finish I use alot for a little bit more sheen, not much, I don't think anyone would buy very glossy grips. The finish is General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Oil & Urethane Top Coat Wipe on Formula in satin. It has a higher solid content than tung oil so it helps fill in really porous woods. I get it from a place called Woodcraft. I think they are a national chain and if not check them out online at www.woodcraft.com. They also have a great sellection of exotic hardwoods as well. God luck, you will not enjoy a set of grips more than ones you made yourself.

[Dean Hoffmann]

Thanks jsinon. I am temporarily disabled with a blown out knee, (surgery in the near future), and I thought that grips would be a good, "sit on my butt" project, and my wife would quit asking me when I was going to get rid of that box with all the little pieces of wood in it. I'm working on a set made from butternut right now. They are real light in color with sort of butterscotch colored figuring. Real pretty on black stainless. When I get them done I'll post a pic. I experimented first with pine, not wanting to screw up a good piece of hardwood, and when those turned out alright I took the plunge. Have you ever checkered your own grips? I'm curious as to how hard that would be. I have read about electric checkering machines, but while I'm a tool nut, I don't think I want to spend a couple of grand, (if they cost that much), on another tool. Besides, it it is a floor mounted type I don't know where I'd put it. Thanks again. Dean

[John]

I do not think your wife would appreciate it in your bedroom, as a bed stand? Hmmm, women!

[jsinon]

Sorry to hear about the knee, hope it doesn't keep you out of comission for too long. I haven't tried checkering yet. Personally I like smooth wood better and feel that the checkering hides the grain too much. Also both of my pistols have checkering on the front of the grip frame as well as the main spring housing, so don't feel the need for checkered grips. I have thought about doing it though but at this point my grip making is mostly a hobby and I haven't had enough people request checkering to make me want to run out to get a set of tools and teach myself how to use them. They aren't that expensive, around $80, but I'm not sure. I've had very good luck with my smooth grips on gunbroker.com so I'm not in a hurry do it. If I decide to get serious and make it more than a hobby I'll have to do it because even though there haven't been too many requests there is obviously a market for it.

[Dean Hoffmann]

Yeah John, I pretty much took over the garage, (there's just enough room for the car), so I think another big tool might be the straw that breaks the spouses good humor. I noticed on Haaken Peck's website that he isn't offering checkered grips yet, but he says that they are coming. I really got some good ideas from his site.

[marktheshark]

How about posting some pics as you complete them...

[Dean Hoffmann]

Hey, will do buddy, I have several scales cut out, but I really don't get time to work on them until my day off. The weekend is pretty much shot with work and church activities, so I have to wait for wednesday. I will post pics as I finish them though.

[Dean Hoffmann]

I have succeeded in screwing up my first set of hardwood grips. I measured carefully, drilled very carefuly, and got the holes just a tad off. Now I'm looking for a way to salvage them, but I think they are going to be the first pieces of scrap in this battle. All the news that's fit to print from here.