How Easy is it to Inset Medallions into Grips?

[CWL]

Hi Y'all,

You can buy round monogramed silver cufflinks for $25. I was thinking that I could easily grind them into flat medallions and use them for insets into my gun grips.

How easy would it be to cut circular insets into various grips? I imagine wood would be easiest but how about micarta? Since the grips are rounded, are there any tricks I should know?

What about insetting square pieces into grips?

Anyone care to share?

 

[rcmodel]

Fostner bits & a drill press.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17603&filter=drill bits

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17315&filter=drill bits

Micarta is not a problem. Works just about like hardwood, only a little harder.
Be sure and get either Paper, Linen, or Canvis type Micarta.
Beware of getting Micarta with glass fiber layers in it.
It's eats sharp tools for breakfast!

Leave the stud on the back of the cuff-link and drill the grip for it for extra security.

Use clear epoxy for setting.

Square inlays are best done with very small wood chisels, and very sharp carving knives.

PS: Please don't mess up any valuable old S&W or Colt grips putting inlays in them!

rcmodel

 

[mrmeval]

Micarta is excellent to work with but wear gloves and a mask the dust is very bad especially the stuff with glass fiber. As mentioned the glass fiber micarta will eat tools.

Note: The grips on a Colt I recently bought are worth MORE than I paid for the gun. I could strip them off, sell them at a profit and have a free gun and be able buy new grips and dinner.

 

[CWL]

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

As for which grips, I own so many sets of aftermarket that I can easily pick & choose without messing with any originals.