I'd like to hear some responses as to who here sends their 1911's away to have customized. Or who does small projects like beavertails and safeties and who else does everything themselves.  Also, how did you learn, trial and error, or taught?        
     I just finished doing some small things on my mil-spec for the first time and I'm proud of what I accomplished.  Filed and fitted a beavertail, added hammer/sear/dissconector, added a trigger, and fitted a thumb safety.  I don't think I could do some of the bigger work though.

Ignore the rust, but that should answer the question pretty well...