SDM Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Thank you - yes hard chrome by accurate plating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngineerEli Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 What do you guys think? I got either brave or reckless and started cutting away. I am really happy with the results but obviously I still have the typical grip reduction work to go. I am planning on knocking down the front of the grip and trying out a 20 LPI checker on the rear. That's the exact dust cover cut i wanted, but never got brave enough to do, before I sold my TS. I think it looks awesome! How does it effect the balance? The full dust cover always made the gun feel very nose heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 With inspiration from huskerlrrp I just finished the 20 LPI checkering cuts on my backstrap and have some nice blisters to show for it. Still have to do the undercuts and front strap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 I'm very impressed! What did you use as a guide to keep the lines straight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 I'm very impressed! What did you use as a guide to keep the lines straight? I started out getting a basic idea of where the first line should be using zip ties but overall I just got over it so I could keep a good angle with my eyes and I focused on smooth, straight strokes with the file. The first lines are the most important as I just moved the file gown the grip in half-file increments to continue the pattern. I started at the top with my horizontal cuts and once I had those roughly where I wanted I started I eyeballed the vertical lines while standing over the mount and went slow. For the vertical lines I initially started in the middle and moved down. The hardest part by far was the last half inch of vertical lines at the top since it would be very easy to cut too high. huskerlrrp's zip tie method really helped to avoid unwanted marks above the checkering area. Including a picture of the start and a closer look at the finished product. It isn't perfect but for my purposes it will work well and given that it was my first time doing anything like this I feel good about the work overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Very cool! It looks just like a Tanfoglio grip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 EngineerEli, I definitely think it improves the feel but it could use a bit more. I hope the grip reduction takes some noticeable weight out of the grip and I would love to try some slide lightening in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 that is awesome checkering done by eye! good job. it does look like a tanfoglio like kneelingatlas said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stage12m Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 wow that checkering looks great, how long did it end up taking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) wow that checkering looks great, how long did it end up taking?Three or four hours including the removal of the cast checkering. *edit: I just remembered that I had taken the cast stuff off the day before so make that 4 to 5 hours of total time. Edited January 17, 2014 by alma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eerw Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 wow that checkering looks great, how long did it end up taking?Three or four hours including the removal of the cast checkering.*edit: I just remembered that I had taken the cast stuff off the day before so make that 4 to 5 hours of total time. total fun time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huskerlrrp Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 wow that checkering looks great, how long did it end up taking?Three or four hours including the removal of the cast checkering.*edit: I just remembered that I had taken the cast stuff off the day before so make that 4 to 5 hours of total time. That's probably pretty good time and the results look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Update. Undercuts and front strap done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asimonp79 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 slik and slim looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Posting this last one and then I will stop hijacking the thread. Got some initial grip tape on the front and put in the FO front sight. I was planning on Cerakote and still might in the future but for now I think I kind of like the looks of the unfinished, roughed up frame. I may go back later and cut the backstrap and trigger guard a bit higher anyway. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/W9MqNO_gnBl_bwBmpiXxojYfAWp0I98FqR4BqKwuI8jUle2sF3lrgu8g_37bEYkOBHYFPlpOEEA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay1 Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I´m still fighting with the grip of mine, didn´t find the right config. yet. I have the same alu grips like alma has and taped them with ordinary skatebord tape, but can´t hold the bammy straight. It always turns, just a little, in my hand, so that I have to fix my grip new after every shot. The grip doesn´t fit my hand full, so there is always some space at both sides (grip to slim). I´v ordered now the original rubber grips of the Shadow, ugly somehow, but rounder and wider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I use the rubber ones too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigglemonkee Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I use the rubber ones too! thats what she said. I like the thin aluminums. get good grip tape on them and fit perfectly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDM Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 It has become apparent that I'm not as good at picture taking as others on here. The color in these is about right though. Once I decide between aluminum grips and tape or VZs it'll be finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czhase Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 TS project in the works Finished the hand checkering on the front strap (30 lpi), just needs alittle more sanding and cleaning up. Still need to checker the back strap, and squirt some cerakote at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 looking very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Excellent checkering! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Really nice. Are you doing 20 LPI for the back and do you already have the file? If not then maybe we could work out a file swap. The vertical lines must have been difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czhase Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Thanks, I'm going to checker the back in 30 lpi also. Here are a couple of pics of the process, I machined a couple of guide plates to keep the file centered on the front strap. Due to the upsweep at the bottom of the front strap all of the vertical cutting must be done with the front row of teeth on the file, these wear out pretty fast so I would clamp the end of the file in the vice and break a small part off exposing a fresh row of teeth. Had to buy a second file to finish the horizontal lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I was wondering how you managed that. That is very impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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