Installing grip medallions?

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basicblur

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Putting together my first BBQ gun - got a Ruger SR1911CMD and R. Grizzle holster / mag carries in charcoal elephant - replaced the OEM wood grips with some Hogue pewter rubber grips, and everything is coming together nicely, but the "plain" grip needs a little something to dress it up?

Got a few OEM Ruger medallions (silver eagle on black) on the way and am just starting my search for someone that can mount the OEM medallions in the grips.

I may try searching locally, but doubt I'll have much luck?

I also don't know how much of a problem grips being rubber might cause, although it is a pretty hard rubber.

Hogue had their logo molded right where the Ruger emblem will go, and the Hogue logo is the same size as the Ruger logo.

Anybody had any experience doing something like this, or can you recommend someone that can if I ship the grips & emblems to them?

Shouldn't be much of a problem for someone in that line of work, other than the fact that the grips are rubber causing difficulty?
 
I haven't done it, but I were going to, I would get some scrap material and do some practice with a brad point or spade bit of the appropriate size in a drill press.
 
Your best & only bet with rubber grips is a hi-speed Dremel grind stone.
Dressed down to the right size, chucked in a drill press or mill, and spun up as fast as you can get it.

You need to grind the hole in the rubber, not drill it.

Once you get the right size & depth inlay hole, chuck a drill bitt the right size and drill the hole for the stud before you move the grip.
That keeps the stud hole centered with the inlay hole.

I would probably apply a dab of silicone seal or clear epoxy under the medallions when they are placed to keep dirt out of the joints.

rc
 
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Use glue or epoxy that does not get brittle in cold or too soft in heat.

Beretta factory glue for example can not take Finn winter.
 
do some practice with a brad point or spade bit
Click to expand...
Browsing the 'Net, I have seen some folks recommend a Forster bit for installing grip medallions, but they were talking materials other than rubber as the Hogues are made of.
 
Forstner, brad and spade bits can all be used for drilling shallow, flat bottom holes. But yes, they probably work best in hard materials. I'm pretty sure they would work well with hard rubber, but for softer rubber and other soft materials, the key to using one of these drill bits iis to have an extremely sharp spur to cut the outside edge and run the drill at low speed, perhaps even hand turn it. The softer the material, the sharper all the cutting edges of the bit need to be.

I like rcmodel's suggestion of a dressed Dremel stone.
 
Grip Medallions

I did this with a set of Houge Grips for a Taurus. I used a Foster bit of the correct diameter and then JB Welded the medallions in place. They still look good 18 months and 300+ rounds later.
 
Well I've had a reply from one 1911 grip maker that also does medallion installations - he says he can't do it - says there's no way you can cut clean holes in rubber.

I may possible sacrifice a set of grips (they're only $10) to experiment with either a Forstner bit or give the Dremel tip a try?

I'll probably give a few other 1911 grip makers a try.
 
he says he can't do it - says there's no way you can cut clean holes in rubber.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm?

Wonder how many soft rubber recoil pads he has ground down to fit a stock clean & smooth?

I have ground more Speed-Loader clearance in Hogue rubber grips too many time to count.
High-speed grinder is the only way I know to do it clean & smooth.

I would not sacrifice a rubber grip to even try it with a Forster bit.
Because I am pretty confident it won't turn out well.

rc
 
Thanks for the info - I'm still researching / learning / taking notes.

When you say use a Dremel, are you talking a flat-bottom bit?
At this time I'm looking to have a flat bottom in the hole as is done with wood grips, if that's going to be possible.

I'm sure a number of grip makers may just not want to chance it if they've never tried to tackle this particular problem (rubber grips)?
 
For the cleanest cut you can use a hollow punch if you can find one with the same diameter as the medallions.
41TsOf6qRqL._SX466_.jpg
SE 791LP Heavy-Duty 12-Piece Hollow Punch for Metal
 
That's true too.

But he doesn't really want a hole cut through the grip with a hole punch.

He needs a shallow round depression only as deep as the thickness of the medallion to basically inlay them.

It has to be exactly the same diameter as the medallion.
And probably only 3/32" deep or less with a flat bottom, so the medallion bottoms out in it flush with the grip surface.

A high-speed grind stone dressed to the diameter of the medallion, and spun at high speed in a drill press or mill so it can't grab or wobble, and the depth stop set, is what you do it with.

rc
 
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I dropped off my grips & medallions at a local gunsmith today (had a few other jobs to check on) - he said as long as I didn't care if he ruined a set of grips (they're only $10), he'd take a shot at it. Said he didn't see it giving him any problems - probably going to bolt the grips to a block of wood and use his milling machine.

He says (and probably true) that the Hogues look like they're rubber coated plastic - I know when you tap on the back side of the grips they sure sound / feel much harder than the front of the grips.

I may drop off a second set - if the first set goes well, might as well get another done - should be cheap for the 2nd set once he's set up for the first set?
 
All rubber auto pistol grips have a metal or plastic liner molded inside them so the grip bushings have a firm support on the grips.

Hope the milling cutter works on rubber over-Monday, cause given half a chance?

It is going to try to get out of the way!

rc
 
I'll post the results here when they're done.

I might have to break down and post a pix of my BBQ rig!
 
Note that I have never done it, but it seems to me you should be able to cut the circumference with an X-acto knife, then rout or grind out the center. That would give a sharp edge but would be easy enough to do.

Jim
 
I use a combination of the methods in the replies. I made a tool similar to the hole punches shown out of a scrap barrel. Turned the OD to the exact size of the medallions and tapered the inside to leave a sharp edge then turned it by hand to cut into the rubber. I then took a Dremel with a flat bottom coarse stone and removed the center of the circle, taking care not to touch the clean cut edge. Glued the medallions in place with JB Weld.
 
Success with the medallion installation!

Just got my grips back from the gunsmith - I think he milled a 1/2" hole (the size of the Ruger medallions, and of the molded in Hogue logo) - he originally told me he was going to let me glue 'em in, but when I picked 'em up he had already used the rivet stud on the back of the Ruger medallion to lock 'em in place (don't know if he used any glue).
The Hogues ain't fancy, but they're cheap and feel great - the rubber adds a little extra grip - they are rubber coated plastic.

Attached is a pix of my BBQ rig.
I know it ain't much (I tend to be the understated, pragmatic sort), but for me, it's a fancy gun - all my other stuff seems to be all black!

Heck - the holster is fancier than the gun.

Ruger SR1911CMD
Hogue Pewter Rubber Grips with Ruger OEM medallion installed
Cylinder & Slide SS Grip Screws
Wilson Combat 8-rd 47D magazine
R. Grizzle Leather Country Boy holster in charcoal elephant (with reinforcing mouth).

I liked the holster enough to order a double magazine carrier from R. Grizzle Leather to match the holster - got a couple of Wilson Combat 47DAB magazines for the double mag pouch - figured the black bodies of the extra mags wouldn't be such attention grabbers should the mags accidently become visible.
 

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  • SR1911CMD #2.jpg
    SR1911CMD #2.jpg
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but when I picked 'em up he had already used the rivet stud on the back of the Ruger medallion to lock 'em in place (don't know if he used any glue).
Click to expand...
He done good!

And the way he should have if he used the rivet stud as intended.

Give him more of your business.

Looks like he done you exactly right on that job!

rc
 
And the way he should have if he used the rivet stud as intended.
Click to expand...
I think when he mentioned letting me glue 'em in, he didn't realize they were rubber coated plastic - I assume after he got into the job, he realized the rivet would work on the plastic base under the rubber coating.

Give him more of your business.
Click to expand...
I plan to, 'specially since I can't see where he charged me for the medallion installation?
Got him to install a Wilson Combat trigger & hammer on an old 1991A1 compact - planned to have him install a Big Dot XS Trijicon sight on my 590A1, but I'm waiting on Mossberg to get around to shipping me the correct heat shield for it before I can have the front sight installed.

He got the front sight for me cheaper than I could find anywhere online - went ahead and paid for it and brought it home so he wouldn't have his money tied up - when / if I ever get the correct heat shield, I'll haul it all back to him for installation of the front sight.

I'm also mulling over having night sights installed on the 1991A1 Compact.

First work I've ever had him do, but I knew he had a good reputation, and his prices are very reasonable.
 
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