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Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
#5867163
08/07/15 02:25 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 520
edwardd
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Picked up a trade on a 1911 with some Grim Reaper grips. Don't really like that sort of style so made a pair of replacements I'm happy with. Had a little too much time sitting around for a weekend in the garage after cleaning it out so decided to make a new mess. There was some scrap wood laying around and made some selections. First Attempt - Trial - Little embarrassed but what the hell. Was still fun and got to learn. Used some wood off of an older beater of an 1871/81 where the wood was just falling off. No tears here. 1888 seemed right for the year. Old wood jokes? Hacked it all up. This was all that was left for what had not rotted away.... Got them into 4 sided flat-ish shapes. Stacked and glued them together. Shaped them after glue dried out. They were a bit thin though. Left is the rough. One on the right are factory grips for comparing to. This is where I started to mess up. Sunken part of the top screw head hole was a bit oblong, but screw hole was in the right location! I'll fill those oblong areas in later. This side turned out a bit better. I was happy with the first set so I did a second attempt with the goal of doing better and using some scrap wood that is slightly fancier than 100+ year old walnut. Attempt two results - Forgot about the bit that hangs over the plunger. Oh well. I'll probably spruce up the first pair a bit, but I am definitely liking the results of the second attempt. If anybody has any pointers or recommendations on tools, please let me know. I used a drill press, some files, and lots of sand paper. I'm sure there's probably an easier way to do this and get better results.
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5867180
08/07/15 02:36 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,920
skeeter22
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5867182
08/07/15 02:37 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,797
dogcatcher
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If anybody has any pointers or recommendations on tools, please let me know. I used a drill press, some files, and lots of sand paper. I'm sure there's probably an easier way to do this and get better results.
You did a great job. You have the basic method solved, all that will help is experience. There is no way to speed up the process. Not sure what finish you used, but I would recommend finding some tung oil, the real stuff 100% pure tung oil. Hope is the brand I use, you can find it on Amazon. Not all tung oils are 100% so be careful of what you buy, some have added varnish, you do NOT want them. Not all woods can be finished with just any finish, so make sure you find out what works on what woods before applying a finish.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5867200
08/07/15 02:45 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,273
Dink Dodger
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: Dink Dodger]
#5867208
08/07/15 02:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,531
SnakeWrangler
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I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5867216
08/07/15 02:56 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,011
NDN98
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5867233
08/07/15 03:05 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,273
Dink Dodger
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FWIW, I like the walnut grips as well as the "fancy" wood. You can pick up a set of checkering tools from Brownell's for fairly reasonable money. With a little practice, you could make some really nice grips.
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5867418
08/07/15 10:31 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Stub
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Faith, Family and Freedom
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5868339
08/07/15 09:42 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
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txmudder
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Nice Work.
You should have been here yesterday!
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: dogcatcher]
#5868413
08/07/15 10:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 520
edwardd
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Thanks all! Working on set of maple ones. Looking into getting into checkering tools. Not all tung oils are 100% so be careful of what you buy, some have added varnish, you do NOT want them.
Thanks, I'll check out tung oil and other finishes. Haven't really looked into finishes too much. Any reading material specific about the added varnishes and why not? Found this for tung oil.... sound about right? https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/get-more/tung-oil-debunking-myths
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5868712
08/08/15 02:05 AM
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Joined: Mar 2014
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JRJ6
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5868720
08/08/15 02:12 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15,186
Tbar
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Very Kool........
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Re: Made My Own 1911 Wood Grips
[Re: edwardd]
#5868745
08/08/15 02:31 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,797
dogcatcher
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Thanks all! Working on set of maple ones. Looking into getting into checkering tools. Not all tung oils are 100% so be careful of what you buy, some have added varnish, you do NOT want them.
Thanks, I'll check out tung oil and other finishes. Haven't really looked into finishes too much. Any reading material specific about the added varnishes and why not? Found this for tung oil.... sound about right? https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/get-more/tung-oil-debunking-myths Pretty good article I sent a PM with links, read those and you will be in good shape. These are the 2 links I recommend. Russ Fairfield secrets finishes http://www.woodcentral.com/russ/russ3.shtmlFrank Whiton's article on gunstock finishing. https://www.firearmsforum.com/firearms/article/3037
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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