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November 17, 2008
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I started work on a small frame grip last night and thought I would take y'all along if you are interested. I started with another block of wild cherry milled from a dead tree off the farm. 5 1/2 " X 2 13/16" X 1 1/2". I marked a line for the screw hole all the way around the blank one inch from the edge.
Next I used one of my factory grips to get a rough outline and make a few refernce marks.
Then with the table saw notched the blank to the receiver width, I believe it was 660 thousants if I remember correctly.
Next a pilot hole to remove some material.
Now a 1/2 inch mortise for the grip tang. A drill and chisel would work if you don't have a mortising machine.
Drill the screw hole all the way through.
A little work with a forstner bit to finish out the in-letting, I didn't photo this step" OOPS"
Then trim the outline to fit.
Now for the fit test.
Nothing left to do but the outside work. I hope to have time this weekend to work on it and will try to keep up with the photos. I must be getting faster because it only took about an hour and a half to inlet this one. Although I believe the small frame model may be a little easier than the large frame.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
February 4, 2009
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Nice work lbruce ! That looks really good.
You made much better time than I did. Maybe I should completely re-think my strategy. You've convinced me to start another inletting job using your table saw method. If you don't mind my asking, to what depth are you setting the table saw blade?
So.... how much do you charge to inlet 20 grips if I send you a box of 5 1/2 ” X 2 13/16″ X 1 1/2″ blocks? 
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January 24, 2009
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Nice work! You made that look way too easy.
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November 17, 2008
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Thanks, I really didn't pay much attention to the depth of the cut as I cut it to a reference mark on the blank( deeper than needed) and then trimmed the blank down to size after. As far as cost for inletting blanks, how bout you send me 20 blanks to inlet and I will send you 20 sets of grips to checker. 
And making it look easy is all in the photos, the worst part was trying not to show how big of a mess my shop is, although if you looked in the background of some of the photos it shows.
Also I do not seem to be able to get my text to line up with my photos so the step by step is a little out of sinc.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
December 17, 2008
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Nice work lbruce - on the grips and the pics!
That mortising tool is the hot ticket! I'm thinking it may be even easier with the round tang of the large frame...
So you have cherry on your farm and SMF has aged walnut...that's a pretty good start to some pretty awesome grips!!
Now we just need to find some curly or burly...
February 4, 2009
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lbruce said:
As far as cost for inletting blanks, how bout you send me 20 blanks to inlet and I will send you 20 sets of grips to checker.
You know lbruce, since you said this, something dawned on me…..
I need to focus on performing one procedure at a time.
I am prone to this terrible habit of becoming so interested in taking on certain tasks, that I don't know very well, that I never seem to make much progress. Maybe I should try to hone my skills and progress at one operation before starting another.
For example- I went out in the wood shop last night with the intentions of working on the rosewood grip I started. Did I work on it or make any progress at all? No.
I instead cut 15 sets of scales for 45 grips- I am never going to finish the revolver grip at this rate.
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November 17, 2008
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Now for the rest of the story. I spent a little time this weekend finishing the first small frame grip I tried. After the in-letting work the rest is up to the imagination of the grip maker. I chose to trace the outline of a standard target grip and make a few small modifications. I rough cut the shape on the band saw and the rest is just free hand on a sander. A lot of hand work with a dremel tool and a few blisters worth of hand sanding.
Then some more sanding.
Next a logo burning and several coats of lacquer.
Now for the final lookise.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
February 4, 2009
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Nice job lbruce. 
Those look great and I really like those finger grooves in the grips. I think I may try that on the next grip I produce.
I think you are ready to try out some rosewood. Shoot me a PM with your info, and I will send you a couple blocks of Cocobolo and Rosewood to work with- gratis. One word of warning if you take me up on this offer- you will need to do some research, or ask me about finishing these oily woods. These will require some special techniques to finish, otherwise, they will never cure properly.
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January 24, 2009
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Man, that one turned out great. Nice work!
I'm messing with some grips myself...some old Super Blackhawk Herretts that I'm trying to alter to fit my Seville. If they come out anywhere near workable, I'll be completely surprised. 😛 LOL!
December 17, 2008
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lbruce - nice job!! I also really like the finger grooves & that little flare at the base. And burning in DWCA is a pretty cool groove as well...
We need one of our creative types to come up with a particularly cool DWCA logo...
In case I didn't mention this, I am easily as artistic as a block of cocobolo...
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March 2, 2008
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Most of the finger groove grips out there taper right down to the bottom. That Target profile finger groove where the bottom of the grip swells back out is (I think) a better style
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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November 17, 2008
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If I had known the grip design would be so well received I would have applied for a patent. Just kidding of course. The extra wide finger grove base is the result of my having a finger that doesn't close all the way. My right small finger wont grip a grip with a skinny base. I hope it works well for others as well. As far as the logo thing I had a few ideas but the logo I came up with is about the best I could fabricate a branding iron for with the equipment I have. Possibly someone in our group has the tools and talent to come up with a better logo and or a better way to do it.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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