How to make gun grips?

[Big Russ]

When I still had my cheap little .22MAG revolver I got the idea to refinish the grips. Started off practicing on a $12 piece of pine lumber from Lowes to get a feel for working in the curves....those photos make the process look easy!

 

[StrawHat]

JCT

Thanks for all the great posts, I'm holding off on starting this until the new year. That's when I can get some walnut and cherry to play around with. I can see the basic shaping is straightforward, it's the details that take the time and can be tedious. I may start with some maple before I go buying expensive woods.....

JCT, of the three woods you mention, maple is usually the hardest followed by walnut than cherry. All will take a nice finish but the walnut (especially American black walnut) will benefit from filling the pores. Most of the available fruit woods are good also.

As for expense, well it depends how much figure you want but for the amount of wood you need for grips, it shouldn't be too bad. But start with the plain grade and see how you do.

 

[daveinvegas]

One piece SAA grips I made. I also made the display stand.



and progress on current set



The right side is about 75% complete; the left side has bit more to go.
I applied tung oil to the right side so I could see the grain. The tung oil also helps to show areas that need more sanding.

 

[daveinvegas]

A couple more coats of tung oil and steel wool, maybe some sort of poly finish and the two sides will be ready to install.

 

[messerist]

Exemplary grips! Can't wait to see them mounted. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[daveinvegas]

Now, for some final finishing.

 

[missuramoss]

Awsome dave, damn good work!

 

[daveinvegas]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Great work Dave. Nothing beats that Tung oil finish either, looks and feels like wood.

 

[daveinvegas]

yep, nice wood is second only to ivory.

 

[scrat]

Confused. Whats holding the gun up

 

[StrawHat]

scrat

Confused. Whats holding the gun up

Thank God someone else asked that. I thought I was the only one who didn't see the trick.

 

[daveinvegas]

I was beginning to think no one noticed.

The answer is:
1. I photoshopped the supports out of the photo;
2. it's glued to the display;
3. magnets;
4. very well balanced gun;
5. the gun is screwed to the display;
6. none of the above.

What do you think?

I sent one to someone at Colt. I heard everyone there loved it.

I make em and sell em mostly to gun stores and gunshow vendors.

it even works with this Desert Eagle

 

[madcratebuilder]

A really strong magnet?

 

[daveinvegas]

Yep, really strong magnet.

 

[jes]

Olivewood Grips are READY!

Here they are, folks! I gave up on the blind pin idea and went for real mosaic pins. Managed to fit it pretty well and finished with 5 eek coats of tung oil. One these days I'll set up the light box and get proper glam shots that are actually in focus. Enjoy.

 

[daveinvegas]

very nice

 

[StrawHat]

Good job on the grips. Nice thing about tung oil is it mellows with age and use. You can always add another coat if you think it needs it. I have added coats after years of use and it livens things up nicely.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Maybe posted already but

http://www.chipengelmann.com/Grips/MakingGrips.html