I love Desert Ironwood. It is my favorite grip material next to ivory. It just feels good in hand and has beautiful figure. However, it’s name is truly fitting, lol. I approach workin the wood about the same as working metal.
I highly recommend you cut as close to final dimensions as possible. Sanding the stuff is a chore. Filing the stuff is a chore. I actually use drill rasps and carbide burs to work the stuff.
Right now I am working on a set of two piece grips for a Colt SAA. I thought about making one piece grips (3 pieces glued together), but really hate taking three screws out to remove grips instead of one, lol.
I’ll post up pictures later.