Anyone checker their own front strap?

[JeffJ]

Thinking about biting the bullet and sending my colt to novak for a full match barrel job and some other work, but they want almost 300 for checkering.

Is it worth trying it myself or is it more trouble than its worth?

[L Haney]

Don't make that your first try.

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by L Haney

Don't make that your first try.

That sounds like a definite don't do it vote..

[E5c03]

Could get some "skateboard" grip tape. You can remove these.
if you don't like the checkering,,you're stuck with that.


http://www.ericwesselman.com/store/1911_frontstrap.html

[JasonB]

Get a punch or a round bastard file and texture it.

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

Thinking about biting the bullet and sending my colt to noveske for a full match barrel job and some other work, but they want almost 300 for checkering.

Is it worth trying it myself or is it more trouble than its worth?

Wait 'til that five-figure year-end bonus ya talked about comes thru, and pony up, big guy.

[LaConservationist]

SLO-CAT! He is the CHECKERING EXPERT round these parts!!

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by LaConservationist

SLO-CAT! He is the CHECKERING EXPERT round these parts!!

Maybe not "the"...

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by shlomo

Wait 'til that five-figure year-end bonus ya talked about comes thru, and pony up, big guy.

Thanks for the advise It is slated for 2 college tuition's...

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

Thanks for the advise It is slated for 2 college tuition's...

You do this to me on purpose, don'tcha? You know I'm gonna pop a vein one day, from holdin' back my overflowing cornucopia of smartass?

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by shlomo

You do this to me on purpose, don'tcha? You know I'm gonna pop a vein one day, from holdin' back my overflowing cornucopia of smartass?

Isn't that called Bull baiting? I think it's illegal in Georgia.

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

Isn't that called Bull baiting? I think it's illegal in Georgia.

Thank God that exacerbation is legal here, contrary to popular myth. Otherwise, I MIGHT bust.

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by shlomo

Thank God that exacerbation is legal here, contrary to popular myth. Otherwise, I MIGHT bust.

LOL, you have too much time on your hands lately! Maybe you need a project or two...

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

LOL, you have too much time on your hands lately! Maybe you need a project or two...

Yeah, you wish.

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by shlomo

Yeah, you wish.

I hear low T makes people really grumpy, was gonna try and rent your checkering files but L Haney convinced me I am not up to the job. I think Slo Cat is in Denver..too bad there aren't any other slow derivatives in Ga.

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

I hear low T makes people really grumpy, was gonna try and rent your checkering files but L Haney convinced me I am not up to the job. I think Slo Cat is in Denver..too bad there aren't any other slow derivatives in Ga.

I don't rent or lend cutting tools, especially to the unskilled.

GP would be proud of that reply, I think.

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by shlomo

especially to the unskilled.

.

OK that was uncalled for.

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

OK that was uncalled for.

That's why GP would be proud.

I continue to buck for my very own starter cudgel. Autographed, of course.

[JeffJ]

[shlomo]

Brownell's can ease yer pain. Prolly cost ya less than 40 bucks, so you can tear up your own file.

[tdb59]

I think you should definitely do the checkering yourself, Jeffy !





I could use another $ 50.00 Colt frame !

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by tdb59

I think you should definitely do the checkering yourself, Jeffy !





I could use another $ 50.00 Colt frame !

Exactly why I won't be taking this adventure!

[gunplumber]

Originally Posted by shlomo

I don't rent or lend cutting tools, especially to the unskilled.

GP would be proud of that reply, I think.

I don't lend any tools. It never ends well. If I like you enough, you can use my tool in my shop, but they don't leave. Even that hasn't gone so well. I can understand an inexperienced guy tapping the mill vise, but how do you drag the mill head for the entire 6" width without noticing? He still hasn't replaced it, and is not welcome back until he does - actually, he's not welcome back, even if he does, I'm not holding my breath. I was a beginner once too and used a chamber reamer as mill cutter, because I didn't know any better. But I replaced it when it broke.

Checkering is really hard. It's a skill set all of its own. Checkering round surfaces is even harder. The vertical cuts on a 1911 front strap are among the most difficult checkering tasks. Arguably harder than checkering a fleur-de-lis on a stock.

Stippling on the other hand, is much easier.

[JeffJ]

How does the grip of stippling compare with checkering?

[gunplumber]

I like it better. checkering is too regular, I find in long shooting sessions, it is more aggressive and tears up my hand. Right now I only checker (or serrate) small stuff like mag catches, sights, etc.

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by gunplumber

Checkering is really hard. It's a skill set all of its own. Checkering round surfaces is even harder. The vertical cuts on a 1911 front strap are among the most difficult checkering tasks. Arguably harder than checkering a fleur-de-lis on a stock.

Stippling on the other hand, is much easier.

Them that can, do. Them that can't, stipple.

Seriously, though, I never found checkering to be that difficult. It takes a certain amount of hand skill, a good eye for square, and the personality of a dullard. That last being the main requirement, in order to keep one's face in it until it is right.

I'm perfect for it.

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by gunplumber

[C]heckering is too regular, I find in long shooting sessions, it is more aggressive and tears up my hand.

I agree with this on coarse checkering, like 20 and 25-line. That's why I prefer 30 LPI, and don't take them all the way to needle points. Perfect compromise for me.

[L Haney]

Originally Posted by shlomo

...the personality of a dullard. That last being the main requirement, in order to keep one's face in it until it is right.

I'm perfect for it.

Hear hear!

I've WATCHED checkering being done, did some very small flat pieces myself. Nothing will draw the eye to a part like bad checkering.

Did clean up some cut checkering on a stock once. Was tedious to the point of butt walking. Probably because I didn't want to screw it up. Wasn't my gun. Big lesson learned on that one, REMOVE THE FINISH FIRST.

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by L Haney

Hear hear!

I've WATCHED checkering being done, did some very small flat pieces myself. Nothing will draw the eye to a part like bad checkering.

Did clean up some cut checkering on a stock once. Was tedious to the point of butt walking. Probably because I didn't want to screw it up. Wasn't my gun. Big lesson learned on that one, REMOVE THE FINISH FIRST.

I never saw that coming, and especially from this quarter.

[JasonB]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

How does the grip of stippling compare with checkering?

The nail file on a Wenger SAK(this would be like super fine stippling, but coarser than Victorinox versions) and some polymer grips/frames(the Sig P290 is one I have handled recently) will give you some idea of what it feels like.

You can get stippling a little too coarse(neither example mentioned is,) but it is easy enough to wear it down with a piece of sandpaper.

Stippling is also a way of covering up a checkering job gone wrong(lines cockeyed version, not cut too deep) and/or checkering that has been dinged in use.

Mark's example looks like a punch while think the hand matting done by Novak's appears to be done via round file.

You can also get an idea of whether or not it is for you by either stippling wood grips (you can do this with a punch with a textured design cut in the tip or with a Dremel cutter bit) or by using a wood burner or soldering iron on plastic grips.

[gunplumber]

I believe the Novak texturing (don't want to call it stippling) is a done the same way Ted Yost does it. With a Gravemeister. Same tool for mechanical engraving just done in thousands of short parallel lines.

[JasonB]

Originally Posted by gunplumber

I believe the Novak texturing (don't want to call it stippling) is a done the same way Ted Yost does it. With a Gravemeister. Same tool for mechanical engraving just done in thousands of short parallel lines.

That would be a lot handier than whacking on a round bastard cut file.

[Slo cat]

Jeff,

If you just want to do one pistol frontstrap, your own gun, it is not worth the time investment learning checkering, nor the tool cost.

For those serious about learning this skill, I recommend practicing on a piece of 3/4" iron pipe before ever touching a firearm with a file. Many pistolsmiths know how to checker, but hate doing it as it is time consuming and is a tedious process for most.

I like 25 lpi as a nice medium between the checkering being too fine or too coarse. Comfort for the shooter depends on if you have workman's hands or office boy hands. I mostly hang out with bullseye pistol shooters who shoot a lot and tend to like the 25 lpi checkering.

I have done many 1911 frontstraps, but in searching my photos just now see that I don't have any really decent pics of these. But here are a few of some specialty checkering I have done on other pistols.

Here is my Seecamp .32 and a H&K P7M13 with checkered backstraps:



Close up of the Seecamp backstrap:


Seecamp frontstrap:


Since I don't have an FFL, I only do these as a hobby for local friends, and can't receive a firearm for this work except face to face. So I am not trying to get work doing this. But I do checker some small FAL parts for fun and sell a few of these.

Originally Posted by shlomo

Seriously, though, I never found checkering to be that difficult. It takes a certain amount of hand skill, a good eye for square, and the personality of a dullard. That last being the main requirement, in order to keep one's face in it until it is right.

I'm perfect for it.

I totally agree. I am a good fit for this as well. OCD also helps.

Regards,
Slo cat

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by Slo cat

Jeff,
Comfort for the shooter depends on if you have workman's hands or office boy hands. I mostly hang out with bullseye pistol shooters who shoot a lot and tend to like the 25 lpi checkering.

I ain't got workman's hands, even though I have every right and reason to. Been plagued all my life with the skin toughness of a nine year-old girl. I even got cut one time watchin' Rocky.

Dunno what GP's problem is. He oughta have hands ya could strike matches on, after all these years of wielding a cudgel.

[MAINER]

I have a Springfield A. 1911 with 20 lpi checkering on the frontstrap and mainspring housing that is just downright painfull after a couple mags.
Minimum of 25 lpi for me from now on.

Wilson Combat sells a checkered strip that works if you're not real fussy.
http://www.brownells.com/handgun-par...prod16409.aspx

I've had 1911's with stippled front straps and thought it worked well. I 've done the job myself and it's not hard to do at all. Not as much snob appeal as 30 lpi checkering perhaps, but it works just as good and doesn't cost $300.

A gunshop in Cali stippled a 1911 for me years ago. The job took all of 10 minutes using a "Paint Scaler" on an air compressor. Very popular mod with 1911 shooters back in the pre-custom days.

shlomo and slo cat: Either of you gents would be allowed to work on my pistols anyday!! Nice work to you both.

[Slo cat]

Originally Posted by MAINER

Not as much snob appeal . . . . . .

Lowest on the snob appeal scale, and very high on the level of effectiveness is using adhesive skateboard tape (or stair step tape available at any hardware store). And anyone can install it. Just cut out, degrease the metal, and stick. And I readily admit that snob appeal is a big reason why I like checkering.

[shlomo]

Having done the work yourself--and done it well--is the best sort of snob appeal in my opinion.

[BUFF]

Slo, I really like what that checkering does for your Seecamp.

[JeffJ]

Well this is all a moot point, Novak told me it s 6 month back log.

No way I am shipping of my gun for 6 months...

[Slo cat]

Originally Posted by BUFF

Slo, I really like what that checkering does for your Seecamp.

Thanks. It was a slipperery little sucker to shoot. Now it has 'stickshun'. Ended up looking good too.

[BUFF]

"Thanks. It was a slipperery little sucker to shoot. Now it has 'stickshun'. Ended up looking good too."

Yep, there just isn't much to hold on to. I might stipple mine now.

[D P Six]

Jeff, Slo Cat suggestion to practice on an iron pipe is a great idea. Move on from there to the mainspring housing. Depending on how that turns out, you either quit while your ahead and buy a new housing or move on to the frontstrap. It is very satisfying to do your own work and even if things don't come out perfectly, your gun will still shoot.

[JeffJ]

Originally Posted by D P Six

Jeff, Slo Cat suggestion to practice on an iron pipe is a great idea. Move on from there to the mainspring housing. Depending on how that turns out, you either quit while your ahead and buy a new housing or move on to the frontstrap. It is very satisfying to do your own work and even if things don't come out perfectly, your gun will still shoot.

I am normally a do it myself kind of guy, but I know Shlomo said it took him a long time to do his, many warnings and I am kind of a perfectionist..I am going to pass on this one and seeing every 1911 smith i researched and contacted has many months of backlog...I will have to do with a smooth front strap...I will however be installing my own kart NM barrel...

[shlomo]

Originally Posted by JeffJ

I am normally a do it myself kind of guy, but I know Shlomo said it took him a long time to do his, many warnings and I am kind of a perfectionist..I am going to pass on this one and seeing every 1911 smith i researched and contacted has many months of backlog...I will have to do with a smooth front strap...I will however be installing my own kart NM barrel...

Well, "a long time" is kinda vague. It ain't like it takes a month of late nights in the shop, or something like that. First one might take 6 to 8 hours, going slowly and breaking it up into an hour or two at a time over several days, to let yer sore fingers callus up. Next one probably will go four hours, maybe a bit more or less, depending on your comfort zone.

[fire for effect]

http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Checkere...ductinfo/100B/

Bill Wilson makes a checkered front strap that you install, and is held in place by the drips.

Not that I am a fan of Bill Wilson.