2aHawaii
Tools and Uses => Firearms and Accessories => Topic started by: kala201 on February 20, 2012, 10:24:31 PM
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Do you prefer a gun grip that has been checkered or stippled (is that even a word)? Have any of you personally taken the time and done either one yourself? I was thinking about stippling the frame of my next handgun. I saw some really nice examples of frame stippling online, but then I saw some comments stating that checkering looks better and provides better grip. The gun is question is either a Browning HP or a 2nd generation Sig 226. Checkering looks nice too, but it looks really hard to get it to come out nicely on your first go. I can easily find scrap steel at work to practice my stippling technique.
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I prefer checkering. I never cut any checkering on the guns you mentioned but the 1911 is a natural for checkering the mainspring housing and front strap.I prefer 20 lines per inch but others prefer a finer cut. I have a high power but I never gave any thought to checkering it until now. It takes a while to cut checkering with a file but it can be done for those on a budget. Practice checkering on scrap steel before trying it on a gun. I hope this helps.
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I like checkering, but that has a lot to do with me liking metal framed guns. With polymers, unless it's from the factory (molded) it's not all that easy to checker the frame. I mean I'm sure it can be done, but if you don't have enough meat on the plastic to begin with, there's only so much you can do.
I have tried to stiple some stuff (airsoft) and boy it took forever........and I didn't do all that good of a job. So much of it is an art and your patience.
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There was a article in a recent gun magazine I just read. Can't remember which obe for the life of me, but theu were talking about DIY stippling a gun. Used a hot iron and a Xd as a example.
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Ok I did some digging on the internet and have amassed a few links for you DIY guys who might want to try checkering or stippling. I have not decided which I want to do yet. I have everything I need to stipple a frame so I may start practicing that technique first.
How to stipple a metal frame:
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=258658 (http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=258658)
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=281114 (http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=281114)
http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/punch-up-your-guns-appearance- (http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/punch-up-your-guns-appearance-)
How to stipple a polymer frame:
Tacticaladv.com do it yourself grip reduction/stippling springfield armory XD 45 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEl4DIyZpkw#)
How to checker a metal frame:
http://www.m1911.org/checkering.htm (http://www.m1911.org/checkering.htm)
Good luck. I will post some pics if and when I dare attempt this on any of my precious guns.
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^^^I thought about checkering my own guns. I had gone so far as to purchase an airsoft 1911 for a practice model.
The files are pretty cheap, but the jig to get the checkering started are some serious $$$. My choice was 25 lpi and it seems to be the hardest to find and the most expensive (as opposed to 20 lpi and 30+ lpi). Anyhow as I said I had bought an airsoft pistol as a guinea pig, I'd suggest you do the same if you want to try and stiple/checker. You mess that up it's simple to buy another lower. You mess up on the real thing and you need to buy another register-able part.
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^^^I thought about checkering my own guns. I had gone so far as to purchase an airsoft 1911 for a practice model.
The files are pretty cheap, but the jig to get the checkering started are some serious $$$. My choice was 25 lpi and it seems to be the hardest to find and the most expensive (as opposed to 20 lpi and 30+ lpi). Anyhow as I said I had bought an airsoft pistol as a guinea pig, I'd suggest you do the same if you want to try and stiple/checker. You mess that up it's simple to buy another lower. You mess up on the real thing and you need to buy another register-able part.
Thanks G that's a great idea, I never thought of that. It has the right size, contour, and almost the same hardness. :shaka:
I don't know if I can afford that though. I used to be an avid paintball player and I know you can get some paintball marker grip frames for cheap. I may do that to start out with, if they come out nice I can sell them to some paintball guys.
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So stippling is like digging lots of little holes in a pattern?
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So stippling is like digging lots of little holes in a pattern?
It burns the plastic and that's how it makes more grip. More area.
There's different designs too. Dots, lines, your autograph.
I should go look for that magazine again.
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So stippling is like digging lots of little holes in a pattern?
Sometimes. You can produce lines too. If you shape the tip, you could theoretically make little Hello Kitty imprints in your plastic.................. :love:
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i've never seen stippling on a metal frame before. That's pretty cool. I do know that my kimber tle/rl 2 has checkering on the front strap and it makes a world of difference compared to my springfield loaded (which is not checkered). Personally i would go checkering. If i had the funds, i would go and checker all my metal framed guns.
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i've never seen stippling on a metal frame before. That's pretty cool. I do know that my kimber tle/rl 2 has checkering on the front strap and it makes a world of difference compared to my springfield loaded (which is not checkered). Personally i would go checkering. If i had the funds, i would go and checker all my metal framed guns.
You can try hand checkering yourself. If you do more than one frame the investment in the checkering file, jig, & files will probably already pay themselves off. Most checkering nowdays is CNC machined or cast. Not a lot of big name people hand checker. Les Baer hand checkers, but I believe both Wilson and Ed Brown CNC their frames.
BTW another cheap alternative is to do the skateboard tape on the front of the grip in lieu of checkering/stipling.
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Skateboard tape ah.
I just picked up a benchmade and was thinking of trying it on my knife to provide more grip. Some areas feel kinda plain
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Skateboard tape ah.
I just picked up a benchmade and was thinking of trying it on my knife to provide more grip. Some areas feel kinda plain
http://www.10-8performance.com/products/Grip-Tape.html (http://www.10-8performance.com/products/Grip-Tape.html)