When you can't buy something, just make it! (pics)

[swingcatt]

I don't say this very often, but that is a very impressive job. I love doing hands-on DIY things, but usually end up skimping on the cosmetics. Tried a few sets of grips out of different materials, but nothing ever turned out as classy as those!

I would be very proud of that job if I were you! SC

 

[xMetal]

Nice Job, I love to see a mans fiddleing turn out into a respectable and useable product... this is something the little woman in my life doesn't understand about "a man and his garage time".

Amen to that!

Here's a pic of the laser unit I am getting (well, I'm getting 3, as I figure I'll break one of 'em). It's ready to go, completely self contained. Just needs power.

I spent time last night and have some pretty serious plans already. This will be fun!

 

[shaggycat]

That's impressive! I have plans to try my hand in making grips for my 1911. I will be quite satisfied if they look that good!

 

[Michael Zeleny]

I spent time last night and have some pretty serious plans already. This will be fun!

I would love to make a high-end alternative to Crimson Trace. Please let me know if you are willing and able to scale up your manufacture.

 

[xMetal]

I would love to make a high-end alternative to Crimson Trace. Please let me know if you are willing and able to scale up your manufacture.

Well I've worked out all the development phases for my prototype. Looks like it'll only take 35 major steps! I hope to not have too much trial and error on this, as the basic construction is all stuff I did before. It's mainly the more "engineery" type things (like routing wires, creating comfortable switches, creating windage/elevation adjustments, etc) that will take some time.

Depending on how this works out, it might very well be a viable product. I'm hoping to get everything integrated into a quite small package. I'm waiting on parts right now and will be sure to update this thread as I go along.

 

[MD_Willington]

FYI, "make" magazine and "instructables" have some rticles on laser diodes... I have an account at "instructables"...

 

[buddyRoland]

Nice. I wish someone could fabricate aftermarket grips for the Sig P245.

 

[xMetal]

laser updates

Well I've got some updates on my laser project. I got the main grip construction going, but you've seen pics of that already. What's more fun is the laser. I ordered units from a supplier and got them Friday and have been playing with them over the weekend. I got the basic wiring plan figured out and have two working versions with different switches. I've not sure which switch might work best yet. Your thoughts would be appreciated on that.

Here's the laser unit. It's just incredibly small, and completely self-contained with a lens, power control chip and everything.

Here's the first switch. This one is relatively large, but not very deep so it could be placed in the grip pretty easily. I was thinking that the switch tab could lie along the forward edge of the grip, letting you use your middle finger to actuate it when you grip the gun. This one would be simpler to install.

This is the other switch. It's much smaller, and is a simple button (you have to hold it down). I thought that this switch could be installed in the grip with the button facing upwards, and a pivoted plate flush with the grip surface could be used which would push down and activate. That might work well. I'm leaning towards this one right now as it would be a much visually cleaner end result.

Here's the laser lit up. These are really easy to work with, and will ultimately use just one 3v lithium battery. It projects a nice bright dot. My main engineering challenge is how to mount that in the grip and allow for elevation and windage adjustments...

 

[VirgilCaine]

Well for my next trick, I just happened to have this laser laying around....

So I'm going to investigate how to integrate a laser sighting system into one side. While I could use the laser diode I have, I think I'm going to just use it for testing, and find a source for a prebuilt diode with lens that I can install into a new custom grip with an area molded into it for the sighting (much like a crimson trace I suppose). The electrical part is quite simple actually, just two wires and a small switch (which I'll need to source, as the one I have doesn't click on).

From my preliminary investigation, this should not be horribly hard to engineer. I'm sure it will take me some time and plenty of fiddling though.

That was EXACTLY the next thing I was going to ask, what about a laser?

One important thing, you never said how much better grip the grips give than the original ones--LOOKS like they give great traction (and they also look cool), but I can't tell from looking at them. How are they?

 

[xMetal]

The new grips actually feel really nice. Though they appear glossy, the spray paint surface actually gives quite high friction on your hand. The shape of the grips came out nice too (though that was partially just luck). If your hands are really sweaty, they aren't super awesome, but then again the OEM plastic ones were pretty slick too in that case.

I'm diggin' 'em!

 

[Michael Zeleny]

I've not sure which switch might work best yet. Your thoughts would be appreciated on that.

I am very happy with Crimson Trace LG-301 lasergrips that I have installed on a new-to-me 1939 Colt National Match Government Model. The laser sits atop the right grip panel and uses one #2032 battery under each grip, separating them from the frame with a plastic spacer sheet. A master on/off switch is located in the lower right corner of the left grip, whereas two instant-on switches wired in parallel and meant to be operated by the middle finger of the shooting hand, are fitted just aft and below the trigger guard on either side:

This design depends on routing wires through the rubber bumper that traverses the front strap under the trigger guard. Semi-wraparound grips found on many SIG handguns can route this connection through the backstrap, achieving a cleaner look.

 

[xMetal]

AND WE'RE DONE!

Well, this turned out to be a whole lot of work, but I'm finally 99% done.

Here are some more pics of the process.

Here's the switch area, with a machined-out channel for the titanium switch to sit

The switch set in it's position. You will activate the laser by simply putting pressure on here with your middle finger

Backside. Channels for the wiring and the battery housing. The battery will have a black plastic cover, and the wire channels will simply be covered with a piece of electrical tape

The business end.

And here we go. Aside from doing another coat of gloss and a little finishing work on the switch, this is good to go. I got it on the gun and it feels great. Actuation is real easy with the middle finger. It feels pretty natural. The laser side is a bit thicker, but not really noticeable in hand. All the wiring and battery are completely self contained in the one side.

Here it is on the gun

View from the front. You can see the laser lens just aft of the trigger mech

A simple touch on the switch lights it up

In hand. Works like a charm!

 

[Michael Zeleny]

Great setup for a lefty. Can you accommodate an ambidextrous shooter?

Where did you buy the electricals? How much did they cost?

 

[Quack]

that's awesome paul

 

[SUBMOAS]

Nice Work!!!

Remember us when your famous..............

 

[xMetal]

Great setup for a lefty. Can you accommodate an ambidextrous shooter?

Where did you buy the electricals? How much did they cost?

I'm actually right handed. I was just holding it left because I had teh camera in my other hand. hey work very well with the right hand. Your middle finger wraps around them right where that switch is and it takes just a little pressure to activate.

The electricals came from three places, ebay, radio shack, and a cheapo laser pointer. I spent approximately $20 for three laser units, and the wires and switch would be only a few dollars more.

The companies out there selling these are making a KILLING. They certainly have engineering and manufacturing costs, but I'd imagine that in large quantities, a company like Crimson Trace probably has less than $10 of materials into a set of grips.

 

[Michael Zeleny]

I'm actually right handed. I was just holding it left because I had teh camera in my other hand. hey work very well with the right hand. Your middle finger wraps around them right where that switch is and it takes just a little pressure to activate.

Could you install bilateral switches in the Crimson Trace style, for semi-wraparound grips on guns without a backstrap? I am mainly interested in the SIG P210 as my test mule. But many popular guns have the same layout.

The companies out there selling these are making a KILLING. They certainly have engineering and manufacturing costs, but I'd imagine that in large quantities, a company like Crimson Trace probably has less than $10 of materials into a set of grips.

I would gladly pay for a set of molds to produce your grips in small batches. I am sure that a nicely finished set would fetch at least $250 on Ebay. A higher end product might be CNC machined out of Al or Ti in the manner of new Hogue grips: