Purpleheart Grips

[Swindler1]

It's different :bigsmyl2:

http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/purpleheart028.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/purpleheart027.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/purpleheart026.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/purpleheart025.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/purpleheart024.jpg
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g331/swindler11/purpleheart023.jpg

[44man]

You are crazy but I love you! :drinks:
Do you find time to eat and shoot?

[DanWalker]

Simply amazing! Bravo Sir!

[SciFiJim]

I've got to say that that is right pretty. Love the combo of the purpleheart color and the stainless pistol.

[Lefty SRH]

Yes, beautiful, purpleheart is some interesting wood to work with to say the least.

[Salmoneye]

I prefer Red Cedar:

http://i42.tinypic.com/m7b6z5.jpg

Yes...I know I need a sharper bit...And a drill press lol

[Hickory]

The only problem with purple heart is
that it will darken with time.
But, it sure is purdy.

[Sasquatch-1]

Those are nice. Had a night stick made out of purple heart once. Heavy as heck but real pretty.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

I put purpleheart on my Ruger SBH 3-screw too and just love them. Very dense wood with Ruger medalions just like yours. Now I'm just waiting for the loading gate to turn purple too.

[Salmoneye]

The only problem with purple heart is
that it will darken with time.
But, it sure is purdy.

I think that is the 'beauty' of many woods, and one of the reasons my stocks and grips seldom get anything but Boiled Linseed Oil on them...

I like the fact that wood absorbs oils from your hands, and becomes 'part' of you...They age along with the owner...

Swindler is one of the best grip makers I have ever seen, and I try and learn from him every time he posts...

Not only is he a master 'technician', but he has an eye for the art of what 'works' on an individual gun...

Simply stunning work...

[joec]

I have a 125 year old cleaver that I replaced the original maple grip with Purple Heart wood on the handle and it has really held up well now for 6 years.

[Whiterabbit]

Thanks for that. I've been wonderng what stainless would look like with purpleheart.

I have some purpleheart blanks here I carved on the bandsaw for my BFR, but I made them too thick. VERY CAREFULLY thnned them on my tablesaw ( I have no planer) and goofed, so one came out thinner then the other. Now I have a VERY HARD jig for the next set. :)

I love purpleheart. I was wondering what it would look like. I think the next attempt will be either yellowheart, or if I am feeling particularly masochistic, vermillion. You ever sand vermillion? Try to keep the dust from poisoning your other woods? It's like the herpes of woodworking.

Sure is pretty though.

[Swindler1]

Thanks for that. I've been wonderng what stainless would look like with purpleheart.

I have some purpleheart blanks here I carved on the bandsaw for my BFR, but I made them too thick. VERY CAREFULLY thnned them on my tablesaw ( I have no planer) and goofed, so one came out thinner then the other. Now I have a VERY HARD jig for the next set. :)

I love purpleheart. I was wondering what it would look like. I think the next attempt will be either yellowheart, or if I am feeling particularly masochistic, vermillion. You ever sand vermillion? Try to keep the dust from poisoning your other woods? It's like the herpes of woodworking.

Sure is pretty though.

Are we talking about Padauk ? I have some of that but have yet to use it.

[Whiterabbit]

yep. It's probably fine by itself. Last time I used it I made a cheese board by laminating that and yellowheart together. It's BEAUTIFUL. But when sanding the dust migrated over into the yellowheart and poisoned those areas of the board. You ever try to extract sawdust out of sanded wood? It's a pain. :)

I think this one is vermillion and wenge. No images of vermillion and yellowheart. But making it was unforgettable. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/200824ffa7f833a3ed.jpg

[GT27]

Dandy grips!

[Green Frog]

I just picked up a 3/4" plank of purpleheart that is about 18" long by 6" wide. There might be a set or two of grips for my S&W stainless guns lurking in there waiting to get out! :idea: Thanks for the inspiration! :mrgreen:

Froggie

[Whiterabbit]

By the way, do you guys get specific hardware for installing the grips, or do you use a general screw type?

I'd like to pick up some grip hardware/fasteners, I'd just really prefer not to buy online if I can get it local (even at a fastener store, not a gun store)

[BeeMan]

yep. It's probably fine by itself. Last time I used it I made a cheese board by laminating that and yellowheart together. It's BEAUTIFUL. But when sanding the dust migrated over into the yellowheart and poisoned those areas of the board. You ever try to extract sawdust out of sanded wood? It's a pain. :)

I had to figure that one out too. Forget sandpaper. Do the final smoothing on mixed wood cutting boards with a cabinet scraper. Not only do you eliminate the cross contamination of colored sawdust, you can get a glass smooth finish.

Swindler1, those purpleheart grips are really nice.

[Salmoneye]

By the way, do you guys get specific hardware for installing the grips, or do you use a general screw type?

I'd like to pick up some grip hardware/fasteners, I'd just really prefer not to buy online if I can get it local (even at a fastener store, not a gun store)

The grips in my pic are done with a hardware store brass screw, washer and hex nut on the left panel...

I have since purchased some 'escutcheon' screws from Brownell's...

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/small-hardware/metal-screws/escutcheon-screws-prod388.aspx

[kywoodwrkr]

Are we talking about Padauk ? I have some of that but have yet to use it.
Padauk is red. AKA blood rosewood. Heard it called African Rosewood many years back as well.
Will turn real dark red with age.
Used to use it for dulcimer backs and sides.

[Whiterabbit]

man, I tell you what. I've done blood wood (with yellowheart!), I've done peruvian rosewood with figured maple, walnut, and bocote, and neither bloodwood or peruvian did what the padauk did to me! But I don't doubt it one bit. they do look very similar. all of them.

[Swindler1]

Padauk is red. AKA blood rosewood. Heard it called African Rosewood many years back as well.
Will turn real dark red with age.
Used to use it for dulcimer backs and sides.

padauk AKA blood rosewood

bubinga AKA african rosewood :smile: