Kings6- grip maker

[steve]

I just got these in the mail. Our very own Robb Barnes has started making custom grips! He let me be the guinea pig, these are serial #1. Get in line gentlemen, I have a feeling he's going to be really busy!! .....I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Thanks Robb!!

Attachments:

[longoval]

Excellent. Did you need to supply the blanks?

[steve]

A couple boxes of wood actually....so I know for a fact he has some pretty wood!😄

[longoval]

Should have known. I forgot you were that guy 😁

[mhblaw]

Check your messages Robb!

[bamagreg]

Nice work Robb!

[kings6]

Thanks guys, this something I have been contemplating doing for some time. I hate having to ask folks to come to the shop to help me flip the large tables I’ve been building and I decided I better not try doing them myself much longer.

I have been very fortunate to been able to spend some time with both Alan Harton and Rob Rowen to see their tools, techniques and such. I have been making sample sets and been sending them to Rob and he is kind enough to go over each sample, critique them, give me feedback and suggestions then give me my next assignment. While working with wood is not new to me, learning and memorizing the proper steps and techniques is a truly humbling learning experience.

Steve is right, I do have a nice supply of black, English and French walnut but I am still working on technique, order form details and pricing. I am also waiting on my ffl paperwork to allow me to receive clients firearms but I am entertaining the option of building grips off of just the clients gripframe that I would bolt to my decommissioned mainframe.

The bottom line is I hope to make each set of grips a custom proposition based on the clients wishes, budget and time frames. What I do not plan on doing is making grips off my shop sample frames and building an inventory. The quality of what I hope to make is much more important than the quantity or the price.

I will post more as I get further along in the learning process but I appreciate all the encouragement.

Robb

[kevshell]

Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Looks great.

[needsmostuff]

Hey Robb, you may want to also look into simple home material stabilizing also.
It is not complicated but merely another step and a little more equipment.
Some woods it is not necessary, but some materials I would not dream of using without it.

[kings6]

Thank you Sir, I will look into that. I’m all ears on suggestions anyone has on doing a better job.

[potatojudge]

Looks great Robb!! I've got a few Bowen and Clements guns in desperate need of proper grips.

That cake/marbled figure is, in my mind, as classy as it gets.

For stabilized wood, I think for certain woods it's great. For nice walnut, it seems to me like it can rob the wood of its depth and shine. If there's a workaround to that, I'd love to hear it. Of course for other woods it's not necessary at all.

[Jamey Worrell]

Jun 10, 2024 19:43:29 GMT -5 kings6 said:

Thanks guys, this something I have been contemplating doing for some time. I hate having to ask folks to come to the shop to help me flip the large tables I’ve been building and I decided I better not try doing them myself much longer.

I have been very fortunate to been able to spend some time with both Alan Harton and Rob Rowen to see their tools, techniques and such. I have been making sample sets and been sending them to Rob and he is kind enough to go over each sample, critique them, give me feedback and suggestions then give me my next assignment. While working with wood is not new to me, learning and memorizing the proper steps and techniques is a truly humbling learning experience.

Steve is right, I do have a nice supply of black, English and French walnut but I am still working on technique, order form details and pricing. I am also waiting on my ffl paperwork to allow me to receive clients firearms but I am entertaining the option of building grips off of just the clients gripframe that I would bolt to my decommissioned mainframe.

The bottom line is I hope to make each set of grips a custom proposition based on the clients wishes, budget and time frames. What I do not plan on doing is making grips off my shop sample frames and building an inventory. The quality of what I hope to make is much more important than the quantity or the price.

I will post more as I get further along in the learning process but I appreciate all the encouragement.

Robb

I'm building out my shop this summer...Poppa was a furniture maker by trade and my retirement plan is to build custom furniture when the professoring gig is over *promptly* on August 1 2030. Moving all of his equipment from N FL to Birmingham hopefully this fall/spring 2025.

Might have to pick your brain at some point re grip making and such...sounds like something I'd enjoy, and after taking a scupltural rocking chair class at Marc Adams, I have become strangely infatuated with rasps

Jamey

[kings6]

I love working with the good rasps and files! Sure, power tools like the bandsaw and some sanders or die grinders are necessary for stock removal but the tactile feel of holding the hand tools in your hands and feeling the wood and its soul reaching you through the hand tools can not be beat. Hopefully I will learn enough to be able to share like my teachers have done so generously with me. My college work resulted in my teaching degree and I have loved teaching and sharing with others my entire life!

[blacktailslayer]

Nice, way to go Robb! I was wondering if you were going to hang out a shingle for stocks. It is a natural fit for you and your talents. Looking forward to seeing more.


Don D.

[bushog]

Jun 10, 2024 19:43:29 GMT -5 kings6 said:

Thanks guys, this something I have been contemplating doing for some time. I hate having to ask folks to come to the shop to help me flip the large tables I’ve been building and I decided I better not try doing them myself much longer.

I have been very fortunate to been able to spend some time with both Alan Harton and Rob Rowen to see their tools, techniques and such. I have been making sample sets and been sending them to Rob and he is kind enough to go over each sample, critique them, give me feedback and suggestions then give me my next assignment. While working with wood is not new to me, learning and memorizing the proper steps and techniques is a truly humbling learning experience.

Steve is right, I do have a nice supply of black, English and French walnut but I am still working on technique, order form details and pricing. I am also waiting on my ffl paperwork to allow me to receive clients firearms but I am entertaining the option of building grips off of just the clients gripframe that I would bolt to my decommissioned mainframe.

The bottom line is I hope to make each set of grips a custom proposition based on the clients wishes, budget and time frames. What I do not plan on doing is making grips off my shop sample frames and building an inventory. The quality of what I hope to make is much more important than the quantity or the price.

I will post more as I get further along in the learning process but I appreciate all the encouragement.

Robb

I told Ben Forkin about your endeavor this morning and he seemed pleased….

Great job Robb.