Well I finally decided to take on building a 1911 as I simply can't afford to buy a $2000 pistol:-(.  

Anyway, this thread I plan to update as I go along and hopefully get some advice as I progress deeper.  This is my first "true" build...obviously nothing like assembling an ar15 lol.  

Current parts:
Fosters gov standard frame with no additional options.

I received the fram last Thursday and instantly dug in!  First I decided to check squareness of the fram by laying it on a granite test table and checked for rocking which it had plent on both sides....I put some 400 grit paper on the table and started to lap both sides until it no longer had movement.





The frame had some holes in the casting so I filled the biggest with solder as to prevent crap from getting in it....this portion is directly around the back by the rear spring housing and will be covered by a magwell so you won't see it when finished.





I then started to do the front strap.  I made several practice parts to figure out what I wanted to do and how to do it...realized that doing some sort of texture was very involved and I simply didn't want to do that much work and risk messing up...so I decided on something rather simple but had a modern look (in my opinion)....though not as functional as checkering I am pretty fond of the "look"!



Double checking before edge finding


Starting my cut








Finished front strap

So its now Monday and I started working on the trigger area....lots of cast marks in the trigger and around the trigger so I sanded them out and melted the lines as best I could.













This is the first time I did anything like this so please go easy on my lol

While sanding I had to constantly return to the bead blast cabinet so I could see high/low spots....took a lot of time!!!  Probably 3-4 hours just to blend as I wanted both sides to look the as close to the same as I could.  


Anyway I'll try to keep this thread updated as much as possible!


Current thoughts:
I will probably never use a caspian or fosters frame again as you don't know what imperfections are beneath the surface when cutting the metal....I now have two cast holes in the front strap that were uncovered while milling and I can't do much about it short of welding which I don't want to do.  I'm not bad mouthing either company as I'm aware it's the nature of casting and shit happens:-)

You're obviously a stickler(sp?) for details. Can't wait to see it as it progresses.
Nice camera work BTW.

a-bare

Well thanks I guess:-). It's hard for me to appreciate my own work as I always feel I could have done better...though that can is a problem itself as ill try and try to do better and eventually I go to far and ruin something that was fine to begin with lol.  

I'm only 25 and never built a 1911 let alone shot one before.....guess I'm just trying to see exactly what kind of "art" I'm capable of:-).

Very pretty so far.  I really sort of like the front of the grip milling you did.  Interesting.

Thank you!  

I plan to do the same on the slide some how to complete the look....I need to order up a slide first so I can do a basic layout.  I want to do something that may not have been done before while still classic 1911 good looks lol.  I plan on ordering the slide after I get back from TX this Xmas.

Maybe sumpin' like this?





I'd suggest getting the pistol functional before spending more time on looks.
There might be a problem with the frame that will show up later.
And it might be a problem that can not be resolved.

When I saw the front strap milling with the blue still on it in the vice I was calling you some pretty bad names..
But after it has been bead blasted and cleaned up I think it looks pretty bad ass!!  They do look a little crooked in the pic though.

I am really excited to follow this build..
Good Luck!!

Little extreme but similar to what I had in mind...fudge:-(

I'm not worried about frame problems as anything that will stop the gun from working would be covered under warranty....if I had to get a new frame then awesome as I know I'd do better on it:-)

Lol the blue was there so I could see when my mill just touched the surface so each line has equal depth.  Becides it's just machinist dykem...washes off with acetone or alcohol:-)

Yes they look crooked in the pics as my iPhone sucks for taking pics....I guarantee you they are square when looking at it in person:-)

Thanks for the compliments!!

Maybe this will give reference to how straight they are.

I know it is dykem. They just looked terrible when they were raw. Now that they are cleaned up I am really digging them. How does it feel to hold?

They look straight in the last pic..

Keep up the good work

Nice! I will Tag this.

It feels comfy but I need a beaver tail and main spring housing to be 100%

Here is a short clip of me cutting the flutes.

This is relevant to my interests. Looking good.

Just deburr'd the inside of the frame....doubt you'll see much difference in the pics...used the dremel type tool with cratex cone and a small file





After

OST.  Good work so far.

I thought my OCD was bad . I really like that front strap treatment. Looks modern without being tacky; very minimal. Keep up the good work.

Thank you!  I really wanted to do a snake scale type finish but I need to learn more about how to do that:-(. Suppose I'll start messing with some scrap steel to figure it out.  Though I'm happy with what I have....just wish I was more skilled to do more technical stuff.

Great work so far. Really like the frontstrap treatment.

in for updates! great job thus far!

i doubt ill have updates till after xmas as i wont be at work so i wont have a milling machine handy lol.  will be ordering my slide and some small parts maybe this weekend.