New grips for my Govt Gold Cup Natl Match

[ron61]

I just made these tonight and put 'em on the old girl.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk135/ron61_photo/DSC02229.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk135/ron61_photo/DSC02226.jpg
What do you think?

[Rob Longenecker]

Looks like a grip tattoo. Tell me more about it. What did you start with and how did you make the grips? Is that graphic printed on there or did you engrave it somehow?

Can you do my grips or would we have to start from scratch?

I probably don't want the same graphic, though. What else could you do?

[ron61]

Well I started with .125 Kydex and cut the graphic and grip on the laser. I can do any colors or graphics you can think of. I hadn't really thought of making them to sell but I guess we could work something out. I would only want to do it on grips I cut. PM me.

[Cap]

the laser etching ability would be cat's meow

since you asked "what we think", I'll ask;

is 1/8" thick material thick enough to use thin grip bushings and still have room to countersink the grip screw?
(it looks those screws aren't countersunk)

I don't want to assume, so I'll ask, can you laser etch profiled panels, or just flat?

Thanks

..L.T.A.

[ron61]

To countersink the holes I would think a slightly thicker material would be needed but perhaps not. I could laser etch profiled panels as well as flat.

[ron61]

Made these today. I have to get shorter bushings and then I will try to countersink the holes. I am also ordering some plain contoured grips to play with.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk135/ron61_photo/DSC02230.jpg

[Rob Longenecker]

Made these today. I have to get shorter bushings and then I will try to countersink the holes. I am also ordering some plain contoured grips to play with.


Yep, I think the screws need to be countersunk.

[ron61]

I will find out soon if I can countersink the kydex. I ordered bushings today.

[Cap]

I will find out soon if I can countersink the kydex. I ordered bushings today.

I have some kydex holsters, I'm not plastics/polymer guy, but it likes there would no problem drilling it

9/32" is the size bit you need

BTW, you have to countersink the inside too.
You need clearance for the grip bushing shoulder or it won't fit flush to the frame.
(regular or thin grip bushings)

..L.T.A.

[ron61]

Thanks but I won't drill the holes I'll laze them. I will have to countersink them though. As previously mentioned I have ordered some other grips to engrave. I really enjoy doing this. I work with Kydex all day long and as rewarding as that is I enjoy doing something different from time to time. I can engrave plastic, bone, aluminum, micarta, rubber, and wood and I want to try them all. Between the engraving and the Duracoating, I think we could do just about anything a guy could want. At the very least I think I may have found a new hobby.

[Cap]

Thanks but I won't drill the holes I'll laze them.

cool, 9/32" is the size needed
appx 1mm deep.

Forgive my ignorance if these sound like really dumb questions.
(cause i don't have a clue about laser cutting)

You mentioned you cut the grips with laser.
I'm assuming not just the engraving, but also the panel?

I'm curious, can you cut profiles and such with the laser?
( like a CNC machine)
or are burn/charred issues a concern?

thanks

..L.T.A.

[ron61]

I can not cut contours on my laser because it is a 3 axis laser. (up, down, left,right, and depth of cut.) burning or charring is not an issue. We cut all of our holsters, mag carriers, and ancillary equipment out on the laser and it produces a very smooth cut. Also, to cut a contour would remove the finish of the Kydex. As mentioned before, I am in the process of procuring contoured grips to play with and I will be able to finish them out with any graphic, finish, and color I choose. We have this equipment laying around, why not use it for my new hobby?