New grips on the Llama

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C5rider

C5rider

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I've had a Llama XI-B for a while and yesterday, my son and I were cleaning the guns after a range day and the bottom of one of the plastic grips broke off. I glued it back on and it looks okay, but I've been thinking of doing some custom work to this gun anyways.

I have been thinking of getting a used 1911 to do some custom work on but, I had recently reserved myself to doing some working on this gun instead. Just to preempt those saying that this gun isn't a true 1911, I know that. But, I own it already and some of the stuff I want to do will work on this gun. One of the things that won't work are a set of grips. And since mine were less than stellar, I figured that I'd try making my own. I bought a two-dollar piece of wood at Lowes and cut out a rough pattern on my dad's scroll saw. Then, I took the piece home and started sanding anything that didn't look like a grip for my Llama. :D

I'm not totally finished, but I think it came out pretty well. There's a little bit of sanding to go and, I've got to figure out whether I'm going to stain them or, simply put some linseed oil on them and keep the natural color. I WAS thinking a darker reddish stain with some 'urethane over them. But, this bare look is growing on me too! Here are a before and after shot.
 

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Nice job!

But Do Not leave them bare wood, or they will look like crap after oil and dirt from your hands soak into them and turns them black.

The best way to finish them quickly & easily is with Birchwood - Casey Tru-Oil stock finish.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13843162741046692674#

It will give a very good hand rubbed finish, and it allows you to easily touch up scratches on down the road, without having to strip urathane down to bare wood and start over every time.

rc
 
Good looking grips, C5rider! After the final sanding do not forget to slightly wet them with a kitchen sponge - it will raise "hairs" from the wood that you must sand off with #0000 steel wool - otherwise they will raise when you apply finish on the grips. I personally prefer oil finishes on wood - in general, varnish gives you a slippery, plastic like feeling when handling.

Boris
 
Walnut would be nice....That is a nice offer sparky!

I would linseed the ones you made...I did that to my old ranger .22 stock and really like it. Good durable finish it creates.
 
good work on the wood. if you ever start feeling exotic, you can buy small wood blanks off ebay for 10-20 dollars that make terrific grips. I got some australian myrtle that looks phenomenal.
 
Thanks guys! Glad you like it! This was my first attempt and, to be honest, I surpised myself. I'm really glad how this side turned out. My father used to do a lot of woood working on guns years ago. I'm heading over there tomorrow morning to start working on the other side. I hope it will turn out as good as this side.

That IS a great offer. My only fear is that I'd screw up a perfectly good piece of wood! IF you saw what my tools were, you'd be either scared or ashamed for me. To sand the flat and compound curves for the finger reliefs, I stuck a peice of 180 sandpaper to the curved surface of my workbench (I use cabinet countertops for my workbenches) and by turning the grip as you sand, you can make different radii. My dad has a scroll saw that I used for the rough cut but then everything else was done with a peice of sandpaper or a file. Thanks for the offer Sparky, but, I'd be too scared to ruin a piece of wood.

I will be looking into that Tru-oil though on my next trip to the LGS. I think the lighter color gives this little silver shooter a lot of class. I've always liked this gun since I bought it but now, I'm REALLY starting to dig it!

I'll have more photos once the other side is underway. Thanks again!
 
Just finished roughing-in the other side. I can see some stuff that I would have done differently but, I think it's not too bad, again, for my first time. My dad told me that he always used Lin-speed or something like that. He put about 14 coats on the gun that he built for me and it still looks great. I'll probably check out the gun shop and see if they have any of that next time I'm in there. I've got a little bit of sanding to do yet but, you get the idea. Hope you like this one too! :D
 

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Lin-Speed is just about the same thing as Tru-Oil.

Both are linseed oil based, with a fast drying agent added so you don't have to wait two months for the linseed oil to dry.

Get whichever one you can find.
Tru-Oil is usually available at Wally-World.

BTW: Applying water to raise the grain before final finish sanding will give you a very close approximation of what the color will be after the Tru-Oil or Lin-Speed finish is applied.
Were it me, I would not stain them.
I think they will turn out a beautiful color after the finish is on.

rc
 
I think they'll look great too!

Thanks!

Funny story. I was using a dremel to get clearance for the tube on the left side and it was hanging up in one spot. I couldn't really see where the problem was so I asked dad for a marker in hopes that if I marked it up under there, I might see where it was disturbed, thus showing where it was hitting. Dad said that he uses lipstick! Then, silence....

After a few awkward moments (felt almost like an eternity) I asked my father, "So dad, got any lipstick?" It worked but, once I got home, I just had this unending urge to take a shower.. Ughhhhhh....

when I handed it back to him, I told him, "I don't EVEN want to know where you keep this!"

LOL
 
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C5rider, you own your dad a big apology... And I mean BIG! Lots of guys (me included) do use pantyhose to filter molten beeswax - does this make us cross-dressers? :confused:

Boris
 
+1
I still remember writing home and asking my future wife to send me some old pantyhose when I was in Army Basic Training.

She probably thought I wanted to sniff them.
But in fact, they put a better faster spit-shine on black combat boots then anything else you can lay your hands on!

Some 50 years later, she still thinks I was lying about the real reason I wanted them!

rc
 
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C5rider, you own your dad a big apology...

LOL! We've both agreed that the conversation between us never happened. :D


I picked up some Tru-Oil today and hoping to get a little bit of time to put a couple of coats on them to see how they look. I'm pretty excited to see for myself!
 
I put about six coats of Tru-Oil on them last night. They've got a little bit of shine but not too much. I like that. I sanded them with 320 grit, then wiped them down with a damp sponge. Then rubbed the Tru-Oil on and used 0000 steel wool between coats after they dried. I think they look pretty good for a first timer! It gives the gun a classy look. I like that a lot as I'm not much for the tactical theme.
 

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P.S. Did you already buy your own, personal bright red lip-stick?
Click to expand...

Thanks Boris! I really like them. I always liked this gun but now, I think it looks great. I mean, I'm not trying to make a Kimber out of a sow's ear but, I think just a few more touches and it'll be great for me.

As for the quote, I don't think there is ANY way that ANY witty saying would not come back to haunt me! :D
 
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