caryc
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,055
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Post by caryc on Aug 15, 2024 17:01:05 GMT -5
I thought this used to be a sticky here but I can't seem to find it now. I've made and sold Ruger grips for over ten years. The following link shows most of the steps I do when making a set of grips. You really need the oscillating spindle sander that will save you hours and hours of work. With the tools that I have, I can make a set of grips in about three hours. Here is the link of me making a set of rams horn grips. www.clccustomgrips.com/RamBuild.html |
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Post by drycreek on Aug 15, 2024 19:57:24 GMT -5
I thought this used to be a sticky here but I can't seem to find it now. I've made and sold Ruger grips for over ten years. The following link shows most of the steps I do when making a set of grips. You really need the oscillating spindle sander that will save you hours and hours of work. With the tools that I have, I can make a set of grips in about three hours. Here is the link of me making a set of rams horn grips. www.clccustomgrips.com/RamBuild.htmlThat was very interesting ! As I don’t have any of those tools, that must be why I’ve never tried to make any grips. At any rate, you did a great job and those grip panels were real beauties ! |
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rjtodd
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 76
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Post by rjtodd on Aug 15, 2024 21:25:53 GMT -5
I thought this used to be a sticky here but I can't seem to find it now. I've made and sold Ruger grips for over ten years. The following link shows most of the steps I do when making a set of grips. You really need the oscillating spindle sander that will save you hours and hours of work. With the tools that I have, I can make a set of grips in about three hours. Here is the link of me making a set of rams horn grips. www.clccustomgrips.com/RamBuild.htmlCary, Your pictures and description of your process is extremely helpful! I've started another set of Bisley grips, this time from 1970's vintage Westinghouse brown canvas Micarta. I have shaped them pretty closely to the outline of the frame, but only the coarsest shaping of the "hand side" of the panel. I don't own an oscillating spindle sander, but I see I need one. Starting the process with jig set hole spacing is going to be the first thing I adopt from your method. To date, I have begun by fitting the top of the grip to the circle and two flats at the top of the grip frame, then fit the balance of the outline, drilling the locating pin hole last. One panel required a two-part epoxy fill of a fractionally mislocated hole and a re-drill. Your method eliminates this troublesome step. Lastly, those grips are absolutely gorgeous, and I am very envious of your results. I'll post some pictures of my progress, and maybe at least you can chuckle a bit remembering when you were as green at grip making as I am now. Best Regards, Randy |
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Post by eisenhower on Aug 16, 2024 9:03:28 GMT -5
Excellent work, well done! Making my own grips and leather holsters has proven to be one of the most rewarding aspects of shooting over the past twenty years or so.
One suggestion should you tackle two-piece grips again. Drill your screw and escutcheon holes well before you thin the grips down to final thickness. That way, if the surface of the hole gets chiggered to any degree by the drill bit, you'll be sanding those defects off and will be left with a perfect edge to the hole. I learned that one the hard way, believe me.
Your grips look really nice, and nothing is more rewarding that shooting a sixgun you gripped yourself. Enjoy!
DeWayne
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caryc
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,055
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Post by caryc on Aug 16, 2024 12:21:58 GMT -5
Excellent work, well done! Making my own grips and leather holsters has proven to be one of the most rewarding aspects of shooting over the past twenty years or so. One suggestion should you tackle two-piece grips again. Drill your screw and escutcheon holes well before you thin the grips down to final thickness. That way, if the surface of the hole gets chiggered to any degree by the drill bit, you'll be sanding those defects off and will be left with a perfect edge to the hole. I learned that one the hard way, believe me. Your grips look really nice, and nothing is more rewarding that shooting a sixgun you gripped yourself. Enjoy! DeWayne These are the two sanders that I would not even attempt to make a set of grips without. They save hours and hours of tedious shaping work. For what they do, they are worth their weight in gold and are not that expensive.   |
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Post by eisenhower on Aug 16, 2024 16:08:51 GMT -5
Yes, I actually have that lower belt sander myself - have used it for both grips and holster work over the years. Indispensable to have a good sander. Many years ago, my first grips (coincidentally for a Ruger Bisley) were done completely with a Dremel small sanding bit and hand sanding. Oy vey! That was a long, tedious project. Soon upgraded to a proper belt sander and never looked back.
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Post by RDW on Aug 18, 2024 18:20:08 GMT -5
Lost count on linseed oil coats but couldn’t develop any sheen. Finally used a few coats of a poly based finish. Not bad for a first attempt with wood I pulled from a bonfire. If you missed my description, it is burl from a red oak log cut for firewood. It reminds me of the CW McCall song “Wolf Creek Pass” with the line about road curves that looked like a can full of worms and the next looked like malaria germs. 🤣😊 The color is the same, but one pic was inside and the other was outside in sunlight. . Randy RANDY, You might have missed your calling there bud. Thats some extra Pimpy work your doing there man. Wanna Move to texas? Haha. I dont know what you do for a living, but you are one hell of a talented craftsman Sir. Keepem Flying bud. Ronnie |
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