Grip tape on blued gun?

[Shmackey]

Stair tape works fine on my black oxide-coated Kimber, but are there any finish problems when applying it to the frontstrap of a blued gun? Will it remove anything or cause any rust?

[9x19]

I use skate-board tape, and it hasn't caused any finish problems on the blued front staps of the German, Bulgarian, and Russian Makarovs I've used it on.
FWIW

[Wild Bill]

I’ve had skate tape on a 45 Witness, a Gold Cup, and the sweetie’s CZ for years. All are blue. None have developed rusting or any other issue.

Buy the roll and change it out as it wears. Horizontal strips seem to work better than patches FWIW.

[willyjixx]

why would you use grip tape on a pistol? or any other gun for that matter?

[10-Ring]

Grip tape is just an inexpensive way to imrove the grip on your pistol ;

[Handy]

Maybe a better question would be: Why spend $200 on checkering when 20 cents of grip tape work?


(Yeah, I know the answer. Don't fret.)

[Shmackey]

why would you use grip tape on a pistol? or any other gun for that matter?

Because it's cheap, it works even better than checkering, and it can look just fine if you do it right:

http://gregfeld.home.attbi.com/KimberLeftPlusCaps.jpg

[Mil Novecientos Once]

Griptape: the poor men's checkering (http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=329875)

[Shmackey]

Heck, you don't even need to be poor to stay away from $200 worth of delicate filework.

[9x19]

And most metal checkering (especially on 1911 front straps) these days is done by machine.

[Rob96]

I've done it to two 1911's now, and just love the the hold I can get on the gun when I use grip tape. Looks really good on my stainless Colt 1991A1.

[themic]

you ahve a picture of that Rob96? I'd really like to see grip tape done well on stainless....

[pmbiker]

I used marine grip tape, same idea but it's textured rubber instead of sandpaper.

[Missouri Mule]

pmbiker..


Please post a few clearer and up close pics.:cool:

[themic]

what made you choose the rubber over the standard? had you tried both kinds?

[Rob96]

Sorry Themic. I don't have a digital camera yet, so I can't post a pic. It looks really good with the frame and top of the slide being matte and slide flats having a slight polish to them.

[pmbiker]

I was reading a thread on one of the 1911 specific forums very similar to this one. The theory was that it is possible for the grit to become dislodged from the tape of standard grip tape and-I know it's far fetched-find it's way into the inner workings of the gun. So someone said that they had used this marine griptape and liked it. Up till this point I had been a Hogue finger groove grip user, but I was unhappy with a few aspects of the hogues.
So, I tried it and liked it and now most of my pistols have the stuff somewhere.

That picture was taken with a borrowed camera, but I'll try to borrow it again and get some closer, more detailed pics up.

[Sisco]

So, if one is a thousand miles from the nearest ocean and a hundred miles from the nearest lake, where to you get the marine tape?

[JCM298]

Any Ace Hardware store can order it. Any "teenie bopper" can tell you where to get skate board tape. When I have to renew my supply, I , a gray haired senior citizen (old fart), get some strange looks when I go to "Itchy Foot Moe's " to buy some. Yes, IFM is a real business,
John

[Sisco]

I went to the local skate shop to get some grip tape, 20-ish gal with colored hair & piercings behind the counter. I told her I didn't need a whole sheet, just a little bit. She asked why I needed so little, I told her I was using it on the grips on my guns and waited for her reaction.
Didn't get much, she just said "Does it work good for that? It comes in different colors too!"

[pmbiker]

So, if one is a thousand miles from the nearest ocean and a hundred miles from the nearest lake, where to you get the marine tape?

That almost describes good ole' Dayton, OH, but funny enough there are two marinas in my hometown of Vandalia just a few miles north.

I've also seen the marine grip tape at pool and spa supply stores.
And if they don't have it, should be no problem to order some.

I've even done a little experimentation with the rubber grip tape. I dug up some old cheap thin 1911 grips, cut a piece of tape to fit and gently melted the edges with a propane torch and formed and shaped them to fit.
Cut the excess off and now I have custom grips to match my frontstrap. :cool:

[Rob96]

For the grip tape, go to any Home Depot. They sell it by the foot, and in three different widths.

[willyjixx]

ingenious!

yall got my respect

[Missouri Mule]

Brownells sells something similar, I think it is.
Kind of pricey as normal with Brownells.

textured rubber sheet

I have been tempted to try it. But haven't.

If it is the same stuff I got for my Maks from Mak.com it is much easier on the hand than the gritty tape but works quite nicely.

[musky hunter]

grip tape on my beretta

http://members.rogers.com/muskyhunter/images/pic1.JPG

[Shmackey]

Yes, Home Depot is the way to go for the gritty kind. Unlike skateboard tape, it comes in 2"-wide strips, which are perfect for a frontstrap, with enough to go under the grips. I don't think it had a particular name, but I call it stair tape because it sure looks like that's what it's for.

Use a utility knife with a disposable blade to trim. Do NOT use a good knife. (No, I've never been dumb enough to do that, but I'm serious about my pocketknives.)

[Serpico]

does it add much thickness? I want to try it on my hi-power but will the grips still fit flush?

[themic]

i guess what i'm really wondering about is:

how well do they stick?
how well do they come back off if you don't like them or they wear out?

[Wild Bill]

Stair tape sticks well with a little hold pressure until the tack sets-up. Even better if you can set the edges under the grip panels.

Mine usually hold through several thorough cleanings provided I don’t get too much harsh chemical on them.

Pealing the stair/grip tape off is no problem. Grab an edge and pull – viola - no residue.

Get some and try different configurations. You’ll probably be impresed.

[Sisco]

I did try the stair tape before changing to skateboard tape. Found the stair tape to be to 'abrasive' for my tastes.

[rick_reno]

Anyone ever try this stuff? It looks like it was developed for hockey sticks.

http://www.whatastick.com/

[Serpico]

judging from it's application method, I would assume that smooth steel would not be a good base for it....loks like it needs something rough for purchase...

[Erik]

I use black 3M floor/stair tape. It canbe found most anywhere, I think.