Warden Callaway Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Now that it's officially winter and it's bone chilling cold out, I've started in on a project of making new walnut grips for my new-to-me 60 Armys. I actually started out a month or so ago by sawing up an ugly walnut log that had been left behind some 10 years ago for being too short and nasty to be worth sawing. But it forked out and had butt flair that could maybe produce some interesting grain. Face on the mill. Walnut is remarkably resistant to rot. Earlier this week I picked a board and planned it down to about 1/8" over grip panel thickness. I marked out where I was going to cut blanks. I don't have a bandsaw so I chunked them out with the radial arm saw. Yesterday between getting ready for the family Christmas, I started the first steps in fitting the chunks to the 1860 frames. Here I'm tapering the blanks from top to bottom from the back side. I took wood off the back because it showed less figure. BTW. That's my new Fox parrot vise. Rotates 360° and can be reset on the side. Very versatile vise. Here I have fitted the pannel in the corner of the top of the frame. It's important to do this first and then do the other contours after the glue up. I made the magic filler block that makes two panels into one piece grips. I'm about this far along with parts for the second gun and may be able to finish them to this stage this morning. But I'll wait until family Christmas is over to start gluing up because my tinkering room is cool and it'll just work better in the warm down on dinning room table. To be continued.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Thanks for posting, I’m following. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Henry, SASS #53503L Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Warden thanks for posting. I am following too your videos are very well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 I'm making slow progress on my grip project. I trimmed the panels of much of the excess wood. A bandsaw would have been handy. But I used a handsaw. More fitting of the three parts. Paint the frame with release agent. Mix up Acraglas Gel and appy to area that filler spacer will go. Clamp in place. Wait overnight. Set up left side for glue. Applied more release agent to backstrap and let dry. Mixed new Acraglas Gel and apply to spacer block. Clamp to set up. Set up enough to pull apart. Always a nervous moment as there is always a chance it won't come apart. Pulled apart and ready to clean up. I'm going to set this project aside for a few days to let my hands rest. All that's left is take off the wood that don't belong. To be continued.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Looking good! I’ll be watching to see what that wood will look like when you put a finish on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowhand Bob, 24229 Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Reminds me of something I saw in an old gun rag, back when I was much younger, grips that looked like one piece but snapped apart. Always wished I could do that type of work just for that feature on my C&B revolvers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted January 10, 2021 Author Share Posted January 10, 2021 I got back to working on the grips project. Marked out. Rough rasp. Used Whiteout and pencil to get closer line on second grip. Chalk line indicates flat area up against frame and "ridge line" of transition from slope and radii on backstrap vs trigger guard side. I bought a HF belt/disk sander and used it on second set. I'm not really comfortable using power tools. Things go wrong quickly. Used electrical tape to protect metal. It stretches to fit contours nicely, holds nice and comes off clean. Butt nearly there. I used rasp and then 150 grit sandpaper to duplicate shape of original grip. As of this posting, right side down to tape with 150 grit sandpaper. Left side. Still have some areas to take more off until final sending and finish. To be continued.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jailhouse Jim, SASS #13104 Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Great job Warden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Coming along nicely. That was a good idea using the electrical tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Starting to come together, Warden. Waiting for further updates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 TaaDaah! One coat of Tru-Oil. A little cloudy. The figure is there but have to turn in good light to see. I'm thinking of taking my pictures and making a YouTube DYI slideshow video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 those are most impressive , i like the idea of one piece grips even though it appears a bit cumbersome to remove , they do have a very clean look , a few more coats of tru oil with light scuffing between and it should assume a nice finish - i would tend to less to match the revolver finishes if they were mine but looking forward to seeing what you end up with , very fun project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rainmaker, SASS #11631 Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Nice job! Love to see folks make their own stuff. Haven't made grips in a bit...maybe it's time again. Hmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 I blame and thank Bill Fuchs of Spring Creek Armory in Ten Sleeps Wyoming for sparking my desire to take on this project and to share his experience along the way. Bill routinely makes grips along with his other Colt SAA gunsmith work. Some of his work. He just sent me this second picture. 3 coats of tung oil. One more to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Really nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 I got the second grip done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Wow! Really nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Great fit and finish the mark of a craftsman. It’s been fun to watch your progress, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 VERY nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.