[Valkman]

Anyone here make 'em?

I used a tutorial I found to go out and try my hand at it - took me 5 tries but I finally make a pair from Ironwood that fit and are the right thickness!

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/Left_side1-1.jpghttp://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/right_side1-1.jpg

I kinda forgot the bevel at the bottom of the grips but I was so happy with them I went ahead and finished them to 400 grit, wiped some poly finish on 'em and took some pics.

All I used to make these is a drill press, a 4 x 36" sander and files for fitting and a 5" orbital sander for finishing - you don't need a ton of stuff to make these. :)

Let's see some more homemade grips!

[hammer502]

Niiice!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rcmodel]

I told ya so! :D

rc

[Valkman]

This was possible thanks to your tips, rc. Thanks!

[Jason_G]

They look great man. Any tips on finishing them? I have some cherry ones that I'm making (my first set to ever try), but I've set them aside because I have a scrimshaw job I'm working on. I want to finish them as soon as I get done scrimming this job though.

Jason

[Valkman]

I only have 100 and 220 grit discs for my sander, any more than that I have to do by hand. I'm going to try sanding them at 600 tonight and then re-apply the poly - while making another set of course. :)

I'm interested to see how that cherry wood turns out as I have a bunch on the way!

[Red Cent]

How did you do the slight recess for the screw holes?

[Valkman]

That I use a 9/32 drill bit and my eyeball. :D

Tonight I made another pair out of mystery wood. They came out pretty nice and fit well. No pics yet as I'm letting the poly coating dry.

[YankeeFlyr]

What spec did you use for the bushing hole spacing, and where did you get the spec?

Not only center-to-center, but what diameter?

[Valkman]

I use a pair of grips that came on my Colt for the hole spacing. I center punch for the first hole, drill it, then line it up with an original grip for the second hole. I use a 7/32" drill bit for the original holes, a 5/16" bit for the grip bushing relief and a 9/32" bit for grip screw countersink.

The specs come from a 1911 blueprint which can be found on http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=55b8ed92c8ba000727297c3558412060&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.1911forum.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D376331&v=1&libid=1344232731407&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.m1911.org%2Ftechnic.htm&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.1911forum.com%2Fforumdisplay.php%3Ff%3D72&title=1st%20grip%20making%20attempt%20-%201911Forum&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.m1911.org%2Ftechnic.htm&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13442330316143 - go to the 13th listing, get the pdf file and grips are on page 40.

[YankeeFlyr]

Ahhhh......soooo...

Thanks!

[Valkman]

Here's a pair I just got done with, they're only sanded to 400 with no finish but are the best pair I've made yet. They're made of Mystery Wood which is mostly black with some streaks running through it.


http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/1911%20Grips/Black_with_stripes.jpg

Then the last pair I did of spalted maple, but all the markings went away when I sanded them down. They're to narrow for grips really but I have a lot of these and can still practice on them.

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/1911%20Grips/Spalted_Maple.jpg

[JShirley]

Maybe you can test some tasteful burn marks on the maple, if they finish so pale.

John

[Valkman]

I'll try that John! Just happen to have a torch nearby in the shop....poof!

[CWL]

I notice that the bottom of the Ironwood scales are not beveled and protrude beyond the steel, are you planning on adding a magazine guide to the pistol?

[Valkman]

Yes I'll be beveling them, just was lazy at first and SO happy they were as good as they were.

[bluethunder1962]

Ironwood. You picked a hard wood to get started with. They look cool. I use just a oil finish on my grips.

[Valkman]

Here's the latest set I made, out of Snakewood, all the wood I have left including this pair are a little too narrow for grips but I made them anyway to practice. The left side of the left grip looks a little funky because a piece chipped off when I was filing the msh cutout. But they look good! :)

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/1911%20Grips/snakewood1.jpg

[C5rider]

Looking good Valkman! Firearms woodworking is a whole realm unto itself. My dad used to do a lot of it when I was younger. There are some real artists on here. I'm sure they'll show their abilities soon enough.

I decided to try my hand at it this year on my Llama 9mm. The plastic grips were crumbling so, I grabbed some pieces from Lowes and started making dust. When it all settled, this is what I was left with. This was before I finished them but you get the idea.

[Arp32]

Nice work on this thread!

[Valkman]

Those look great C5rider!

I've been crippled up and haven't been in the shop much but did get a bandsaw and cut up a bunch of micarta, which I'll be turning into 1911 grips hopefully SOON. :)

[JShirley]

Don,

I'm eager to see how your grips are coming out. :)

John

[bikerdoc]

I am also Don.

[The Lone Haranguer]

That I use a 9/32 drill bit and my eyeball.
Wouldn't a counterbore bit be better? With the inner shoulder flat, the screw will have more surface contact area. A drill bit will leave this beveled and the screw head will only make contact on the very outer edge.

[Valkman]

I have been crippled up lately and haven't been out to the shop much, but hopefully all that micarta I cut up will turn into grips soon!

Wouldn't a counterbore bit be better?

You may be right, I am just using what I have for now.

[willieb]

Are the snakewood ones for sale?

[Valkman]

No, they are not good enough for selling even though they look pretty good. :)