My first go at Sycamore grips

[Swindler1]

I made these today for one of my New Vaquero's to show a forum member what he could expect Sycamore grips to look like. He wanted low gloss. This is my first time working with this wood. Opinions needed, good or bad. Thank you in advance.
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/101_0260.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/101_0253.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/101_0256.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/101_0264.jpg

He is sending me two Ruger Old Army brass grip frames to fit Sycamore to.

[Uncle Jimbo]

I really like these. It looks like you done an excellent job. I might look you up for a set if this is something you do a lot.

[375RUGER]

That's nice. What a unique figure in the wood.

[Dan Cash]

1. Excellent execution and remarkable figure.
2. How did you ever get the wood to dry out?
3. Having cut sycamore and tried to split it, I learned that it is tougher than a billy goat's head and a wedge will go all the way through a sycamore log with out splitting anything.

[littlejack]

Swindler:
Those are top shelf. Very nice work.
Jack

[oscarflytyer]

not my personal thing, as I like darker wood or the nearly white/ivory Holly wood. But these are beautiful and first class! They should look fantastic on a brass frame!

I am looking at trying my hand at some grips for my Ruger BH for my own use out of some diff woods. One thing I am looking for is the black grip screw hardware. Any recommendations on where I can find black hardware? Thanx in advance!

Steve

[Swindler1]

1. Excellent execution and remarkable figure.
2. How did you ever get the wood to dry out?
3. Having cut sycamore and tried to split it, I learned that it is tougher than a billy goat's head and a wedge will go all the way through a sycamore log with out splitting anything.
I paid $50 bucks for a 3 foot ready to go board.;-)

[Swindler1]

not my personal thing, as I like darker wood or the nearly white/ivory Holly wood. But these are beautiful and first class! They should look fantastic on a brass frame!

I am looking at trying my hand at some grips for my Ruger BH for my own use out of some diff woods. One thing I am looking for is the black grip screw hardware. Any recommendations on where I can find black hardware? Thanx in advance!

Steve
You can buy the eagles and escutchenos from Ruger. $2.50 per eagle and $2.00 per ( L or R ) escutcheons. The screws from Ruger ( $2.00 ) are to short for wood grips without sinking them in to deep. I am still looking into finding a Machine shop with a automatic screw machine that can make the screw I need.

I am more than happy to give you any support I can . I dont do this to make a living. I do it to offer a custom fit grip to the Average Joe.

[Longwood]

Those grips are very nice indeed.
Another wood that looks similar is Myrtle wood. It has a grain that reflects light differently as you move it around.
Very pretty.

Do you use a carving machine?
A lady friend had one for sale that would carve 6 pieces at once. If you like, I will ask her if she still has it.

[Swindler1]

Those grips are very nice indeed.
Another wood that looks similar is Myrtle wood. It has a grain that reflects light differently as you move it around.
Very pretty.

Do you use a carving machine?
A lady friend had one for sale that would carve 6 pieces at once. If you like, I will ask her if she still has it.

I use a belt sander and a spindel sander to get the grip shape. After that it is all hand sanding to shape and fit. Thanks but it is not hand made if a machine does it for me. My goal is to sell you something that MAYBE your grandkids can say, some old guy made these without a machine [smilie=w:.

I have some Myrtle Burl drying as we speak. It will be ready about June .

[stubshaft]

Nice work but I prefer my grips with a more rounded profile and not so "planklike" or flatted in cross section.

[starmac]

I usually like darker, but really like the looks of them.
Is ruger the only ones you make.

[Swindler1]

I usually like darker, but really like the looks of them.
Is ruger the only ones you make.
Yes as of now. That keeps me pretty busy.

[lbaize3]

Your craftsmanship is excellent. How can I get some of those?

[Whiterabbit]

I also like darker but holy smokes the figure is awesome. Way cool.

[Swindler1]

Your craftsmanship is excellent. How can I get some of those?

Just click on my name and send me a message :wink:.

[dragonrider]

I have never Sycamore look so good. Very well done.

[David LaPell]

Very nice looking grips.

[starmac]

Virginia dragoon grips are very similar, and no one makes them, just something to think about.

[Longwood]

[QUOTE=Swindler1;1562097] Thanks but it is not hand made if a machine does it for me. My goal is to sell you something that MAYBE your grandkids can say, some old guy made these without a machine [smilie=w:.

I use a carver, along with other hand operated machines such as lathes, belt sanders, drill presses etc for making stuff such as reloading equipment, knifes, aircraft propellers etc.
If I spend hours using my hands operating small machines to make individual items, I call the end results "Hand Made".

[GLL]

Outstanding craftsmanship!

If your customers want somewhat similar figure but darker wood you might try Lacewood.

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/52C1C5F6EFBE02B/standard.jpg

Jerry

[Longwood]

Here is a photo of some grips I made using nothing but a drill press, a belt sander, and a lot of hand tools.
All of the wood ones I made are long gone ,,, given away with the guns they were on.
I make stuff for my enjoyment. I never could ask a price that would even come close to paying me for my time so I never did try.
I have found that making the outside is the easy part. Getting the inside to fit well is a lot more difficult and time consuming.

[GT27]

Looks like professional work to my eyes!

[Swindler1]

[QUOTE=Swindler1;1562097] Thanks but it is not hand made if a machine does it for me. My goal is to sell you something that MAYBE your grandkids can say, some old guy made these without a machine [smilie=w:.

I use a carver, along with other hand operated machines such as lathes, belt sanders, drill presses etc for making stuff such as reloading equipment, knifes, aircraft propellers etc.
If I spend hours using my hands operating small machines to make individual items, I call the end results "Hand Made".

Ok now you got my attention :grin:. Do you know the brand name or website to ck the machine out?

[Swindler1]

Outstanding craftsmanship!

If your customers want somewhat similar figure but darker wood you might try Lacewood.

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/52C1C5F6EFBE02B/standard.jpg

Jerry

Like this ;-) ?

http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/100_0389_resized.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/100_0386_resized.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/101_0233.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/101_0234.jpg

[Longwood]

[QUOTE=Longwood;1564045]

Ok now you got my attention :grin:. Do you know the brand name or website to ck the machine out?

No,,, I only know the Lady and have never seen the machine.
If you like, I will see if I can get in touch with her and ask if she still has it and what she may want for it.
Another person I know carves indian flutes and I told him about it but I don't think he wanted it because he was having another friend program a CNC machine for him.
It only carves one at a time but it is automatc.

Knowing her husband, (he is a chainsaw carver) it is a good one.
She sold hand painted, hand carved birds for many years but had to quit using it because she carved them from Redwood and after many years working with it, the dust began causing her breathing problems.

[HardColt]

Beautiful, perfecto!!!!! Nice.

[Swindler1]

[QUOTE=Swindler1;1564139]

No,,, I only know the Lady and have never seen the machine.
If you like, I will see if I can get in touch with her and ask if she still has it and what she may want for it.
Another person I know carves indian flutes and I told him about it but I don't think he wanted it because he was having another friend program a CNC machine for him.
It only carves one at a time but it is automatc.

Knowing her husband, (he is a chainsaw carver) it is a good one.
She sold hand painted, hand carved birds for many years but had to quit using it because she carved them from Redwood and after many years working with it, the dust began causing her breathing problems.

Yes if you could ck with her. I am going to pick up a shop size dust collector tonight. All this dust will kill ya.

[Longwood]

[QUOTE=Longwood;1564163]

Yes if you could ck with her. I am going to pick up a shop size dust collector tonight. All this dust will kill ya.

Yup! Sure can! Even if you wear a good respirator

It may take me a couple of days to find her. My first attempt was a failure.

She is quite the Lady. She belongs to the local prospectors club and goes out into the desert and works all day with a dry washer.
Yep,, she carries a 9mm with her.
She is as pretty as a Playboy model, (well,,, used to be) so I always call her my Gold Digger friend.

[Longwood]

Here is a photo of a carver I made using mostly scrap from the recycle yard.
It is designed to carve one blade of a prop at a time so it does not take up much space..

I used skate board bearings which cost me $16 and the Allen bolts I used cost me probably $40.
The one I sort of copied from photo's, (I love the net), had a asking price of about $3500 if I recall correctly.

I can post more photo's if anyone wants to see how I made other parts. Like the linear bearings for instance.

Here is the company made one I sort of copied.

http://www.wood-carver.com/index.html

[Longwood]

These cheap and easy to build carvers have been around for a long time,
I have seen one of these carvers in action. It worked quite well actually.

There are plans some where on the net.

http://tiltons.net/hovercraft/prop_duplicator/

[GLL]

Like this ;-) ?


Ya, "kinda" like those ! :) :) VERY Nice !

Jerry