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February 4, 2009
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I spent some time messing with wood today…..no, not that damn tree. I still hurt from Thursday's activities and took today off. Tomorrow I will have to finish up though.
Well, my first ever attempt at building 1911 grips for the STI didn't go too bad. I still have some adjustments to make to my jig. I made one pair that didn't quite line up with the frame properly. Made some more adjustments and then made a 2nd pair. These line up a bit better but I still need to make some more minor adjustments. At least my holes for the screws and bushings are dead on. A slight bit more grip to frame alignment and the cutout at the lower rear and I think I'm there. At that point, I will redo the 2 pairs I made today and life will be good. I am posting pics of progress, but keep in mind that I've never attempted this before… so please be kind if you have comments.
I think they should look OK once I get everything perfectly aligned, finish the chamfering, and do some quality finishing to them. I tried to get decent pics but the lighting was crappy. It's really tough to get that 3D effect with the camera. There is some nice curl in the darker pair that can't be seen in the pics. (The blotchy look is actually the curl)
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Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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WOW! 
Fantastic! Truly excellent work. Now, if I could only get yoy to make me some large-frame grips from Coccobolo...
Oh well.
Anyway those things are gorgeous. What are the woods?
February 4, 2009
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Thanks zoom- I appreciate it.
The woods are flamed maple and bubinga. I have some zebra wood that I will make grips with after I get the few final adjustments made. I started a grip for a large frame revolver from bocote wood but that project has stalled at the moment. I need to figure out an easier way to do the inletting. If I can figure out something with that, I've got a sweet piece of Cocobolo with your name on it. 
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January 24, 2009
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Wow, those are GREAT looking grips!
I can see it now, "Custom grips by CDF, made right here in the good 'ol USA"
December 17, 2008
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CDF - Man, that's some beautiful work! I like 'em both, but really like that flamed maple. Quite an eyefull to see how each of the grip sets changes the character of the pistol. -->both colors look great against that dark coated frame.
I do like that STI and am very glad to see that you didn't also make a pair of hackberry grips...
Let me know when you're ready to go commerical - my CBOB could use a couple pair of CDF specials!
Now that I think about it, if DW made an interchangeable .45ACP barrel / slide, I could buy me a lttle suitecase and have a 1911 pistol pac...
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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cdf294 said:
If I can figure out something with that, I've got a sweet piece of Cocobolo with your name on it.
[Image Can Not Be Found]cdf294:
Thanks, that would be just fantastic. Of course, if you do, you will be well compensated. I looked up the bubinga and bocote. They're gorgeous too. I'm learning so much about exotic woods here. It's amazing. What a fun place this is.
February 4, 2009
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I really appreciate the compliments guys- Thank You.
Submitted for you gentlemens approval: The flavor of the week- Zebra Wood
I still need one more coat of oil and then a topcoat for protection, but this is more or less a finished set. I think I might try and get the grip cutout closer to the rear mainspring pin a little more on the next set and round the cutout. My biggest fear is cracking or breaking the wood trying to rout the cutout- maybe I should leave it be.
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Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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Another outstanding effort.
January 22, 2008
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CDF those look great! I'm trying to get some tools together to start playing around with this myself!
Let us know when you are read to mass produce and we'll open the DWF Online Store!
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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CDF excellent job! You are a master crafsman. I appreciate anyone who has patience for woodworking. My father had a passion for it, but all I could ever do with wood is keep the fireplace going. Nice job. Taking orders yet?
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
February 20, 2008
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Kow-wa-bunga~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!
Nice work!
If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Once you go into production on the 1911 Gov't model Zebrawood, put me down for a set. Those wil look perfect on an SS Pointman
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
February 4, 2009
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Hi guys!
I am going to head over to the wood store Thursday since that is when their deliveries come in and see what types of wood I can get my hands on.
I am also trying to get with Dusty Trail so I can make something that will fit these:
If you guys seriously have any interest whatsoever, I would be willing to make some for group members although it may be a couple weeks before I could get supplies and organized enough to work on several sets.
Steve, the Gov't model is a full sized grip, is it not? If it is, they should be exactly the same size as the STI grips. If you could measure the screw holes, center to center should be 3 1/16".
December 17, 2008
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Supermagfan said:
CDF excellent job! You are a master crafsman. I appreciate anyone who has patience for woodworking. My father had a passion for it, but all I could ever do with wood is keep the fireplace going. Nice job. Taking orders yet?
SMF
SMF - VERY funny! 
December 17, 2008
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I'll check the grip screw dimensions of the Colt 1911 I have as well.
I could see a set of Zebras on that bad boy - and I do have 2 conversion kits for it, a Super 38 and a Kimber .22. Coupla' grips and voila...
February 4, 2009
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Dusty Trail said:
I'll check the grip screw dimensions of the Colt 1911 I have as well.
I could see a set of Zebras on that bad boy - and I do have 2 conversion kits for it, a Super 38 and a Kimber .22. Coupla' grips and voila…
Dusty,
Don't worry about screw hole measurements, just bring it along with the 10.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Gov't Model/Fullsize will be a standard dimension. One thing to watch on 1911 grips is the grip thickness, thinner grips may require a different bushing. There is also some variance in the grip screw head diameter and depth of countersink for the gripscrew
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
December 17, 2008
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CDf - will do!
Steve - great detail, thanks!
DWF Supporters
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November 17, 2008
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Hey CDF, Great job on the grips. I haven't tried 1911 grips because I like checkering on mine and I just don't have the patience. The wheel gun grips are tricky to inlet and takes a lot of hand fitting but I know you will pull it off. Looking at your work I can tell you have the talent. My attempts are a little rough but came out OK. Maybe when I get thing back on track around the homestead we can compare notes. Once again great job!!!
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
February 4, 2009
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Thanks lbruce.
I've been contemplating trying to checker a set but I know that's a pretty tricky scenario. My patience is pretty limited after solving other peoples problems all week.
Fortunately, I'm blessed with a wife that likes the smell of curing finishes and is pretty darned good at intricate details with clay, wood, and deer horn. I think I might put her on a probation period with the Foredom tool and a set of grips to see what she can do with them.
I've also been thinking about some kind of logo on the grips......maybe she can pull it off.
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