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AR15.COM
1/11/2010 4:44:12 AM EDT
2nd attempt added at the end of the post..........

I hate the finger grooves on Gen 2.5's and up since they don't line up with my fingers at all.  So, I ground them off with my Dremel and did a stippling job.  Not bad for my first attempt, but I'm going to try a few different things next time.  I also don't like an extremely rough surface on a grip, so after the stippling was done, I lightly sanded the sharpness off with Emery Cloth.  Here are a few pics:









OK, the first one I did above feels great, but just looks OK, IMO.  Here are a few pics of my G17.  Again, my main purpose was to eliminate the finger grooves, then I just added some texture using a different method, also shown in the Stippling Tutorial thread in the refinishing forum.  I used the same soldering iron with a medium sized screwdriver blade inserted and just did a random linear pattern.





1/11/2010 5:01:53 AM EDT
[#1]
that has almost as many pock marks as my neighbors face

is it better for you now?
1/11/2010 5:03:03 AM EDT
[#2]
good job, what was your technique and tools. did it reduce grip size?
1/11/2010 5:41:55 AM EDT
[#3]
It does nothing to reduce grip size.  I do like the texture, but before I softened it with Emery Cloth, it was way too harsh for me.  

I used the method posted in the Refinishing Board here, using a soldering iron and altered brass screw head.  At first, I was being very careful, but after about five minutes, I realized it came out better if you just go random with it, then fill in any sections that still look flat.  Doing the actual texturing took only about a half hour, but I had almost an hour into masking everything off with blue painter's tape before starting.

Here's the screw I used:

1/11/2010 6:24:47 AM EDT
[#4]
Looks like a good job at removing the finger grooves. Fits you better now I bet.
1/11/2010 6:26:41 AM EDT
[#5]
Looks pretty good.
1/11/2010 7:08:13 PM EDT
[#6]
Looks like you used my tutorial, and I like how you even copied my pattern on the tang. Great job!

1/11/2010 7:16:14 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
It does nothing to reduce grip size.  I do like the texture, but before I softened it with Emery Cloth, it was way too harsh for me.  

I used the method posted in the Refinishing Board here, using a soldering iron and altered brass screw head.  At first, I was being very careful, but after about five minutes, I realized it came out better if you just go random with it, then fill in any sections that still look flat.  Doing the actual texturing took only about a half hour, but I had almost an hour into masking everything off with blue painter's tape before starting.

Here's the screw I used:

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll204/Hawglegf44/022.jpg


And that's the great thing about this method, you don't have to be precise like you do with a single point tip. I do the same thing with mine and just randomize it and fill in the flat spots.

Here's a tip also, if you want a less aggressive stippling you can make a second screw head where the "checkering" on the screw head is cut much more shallow than your current one. I've found that using the shallow cut allows you to skip the burnishing process after the fact.
1/11/2010 8:12:24 PM EDT
[#8]
I have two more Gen 3's to remove the finger grooves on, so I'm going to experiment a little.  The next one is probably going to use the blade screwdriver method, like in a response to your original post.  After that, I'll probably do the lighter texturing, like you did.

It's funny you mention the tang pattern.  I didn't remember how you did yours when I was masking mine off.  Karl Sokol at Chestnut Mountain Sports always ends his stippling on BHP's like this, so I ended up copying you both, I guess.

After hitting it with Emery Cloth, it grips your hand more like a rubber does instead of sandpaper.  It's a lot better.

I might do my G17 later on this week.
1/12/2010 1:27:26 AM EDT
[#9]
you guys should try out one of those rtf2's.  they're really grippy and the handle circumference is actually slightly smaller.
1/12/2010 2:49:29 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
you guys should try out one of those rtf2's.  they're really grippy and the handle circumference is actually slightly smaller.


I can buy one due to my job, but Glocks made after 10-21-98 are not MA "compliant", and cannot be sold to non LE.  I'm sure a lot of people here would love an RTF.

Personally, I think Glock had the grip right on their Gen 1's.

1/28/2010 7:34:30 PM EDT
[#11]
BTT for my 2nd experiment.