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Checkering vs. Stippling (Read 13758 times)

kala201

Checkering vs. Stippling
« on: February 20, 2012, 10:24:31 PM »
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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astroboy

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2012, 03:33:06 AM »
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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GZire

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2012, 08:28:18 AM »
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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bass monkey

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2012, 08:50:19 AM »
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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kala201

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2012, 05:01:56 PM »
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=281114

http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/punch-up-your-guns-appearance-

How to stipple a polymer frame:



How to checker a metal frame:

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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GZire

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2012, 08:10:16 AM »
^^^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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kala201

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2012, 08:50:02 PM »
Quote from: GZire on February 22, 2012, 08:10:16 AM
^^^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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DuckFat

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2012, 01:54:32 AM »
So stippling is like digging lots of little holes in a pattern?
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bass monkey

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2012, 06:21:50 AM »
Quote from: DuckFat on February 23, 2012, 01:54:32 AM
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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GZire

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2012, 09:12:27 AM »
Quote from: DuckFat on February 23, 2012, 01:54:32 AM
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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Ichigeki Hissatsu

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2012, 10:09:24 AM »
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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GZire

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2012, 03:10:47 PM »
Quote from: Ichigeki Hissatsu on February 23, 2012, 10:09:24 AM
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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bass monkey

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2012, 03:15:08 PM »
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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GZire

Re: Checkering vs. Stippling
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2012, 03:50:54 PM »
Quote from: bass monkey on February 23, 2012, 03:15:08 PM
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
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