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Old 09-24-2009, 03:55 AM
ect1222t ect1222t is offline
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How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips?  
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Question How do you go about refinishing handgun grips?

A while back I purchased a set of Herrett Shooting Ace grips on line. When I got them, they looked like they had spent 20 years in the sun, as they looked bleached out. How do I go about restoring the color or changing the color on these grips? I must point out that I have absolutely no experience working with wood. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks. -Ed.
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Old 09-24-2009, 10:05 AM
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Got a picture of them? Are they smooth or checkered, Smooth is easier.
Basicly, if they are some hard wood you need to strip the old finish , lightly sand if needed, stain if you want a new or different color then seal with either a oil or poly finish.

If it is a hardwood, after stripping with something like Formbys refinisher (Parks makes a much cheaper) and some super fine steel wool, the natural wood finish will show. Then lightly sand and finish with tung oil (Birchwoods True oil is good)

OH heck, just send them to me, I like working with wood.
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Old 09-24-2009, 02:52 PM
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Some folks go out and purchase a belt sander...

But that's too much work..
And there isn't much left of the grips either.


Really, it depends on the wood's damage and finish.

I believe that these grips made by Herrett had a light clear coat or something similar- not oil finished, so...

Do exactly as OCD1 says. The only thing I'll suggest is if you want to give these grips an oil finish instead of any kind of clear coat, most oils will darken the wood- depending upon the kind of oil, and each oil has specific instructions and be careful to dispose of the oily rags properly as they are spontaneously combustible if thrown away carelessly!
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Old 09-24-2009, 03:43 PM
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How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips?  
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I did a pair that came out wonderful. Buy a can of acetone and let the grips soak in them for at least 24 hours which should remove most if not all the finish. If they are urethane, it won't work. Also the acetone will melt your medallions if they're plastic- I did two sets of grips like this and then rubbed several coats of oil finish and they came our with a wonderful velvet sheen. This is a great project to justify a trip to Lowe's and then sit out in the yard screwing around with it on a Saturday afternoon.
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Old 09-24-2009, 04:00 PM
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How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips?  
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Without seeing the wood, what Andy says is also correct about the oil. If it is a light colored wood and you do not want to make it darker, then just strip the finish light sand or steel wool clean off the dust with mineral spirits and then spray with several coats of clear polyurethane, Your choice of gloss, or satin.
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Old 09-24-2009, 05:50 PM
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Hey Caj....was that around the time of Katrina that you were sitting there in the yard with a handgun?
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Old 09-25-2009, 01:28 AM
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They are completely checkered with what I believe are gold tone metal medallions. Could I use an old toothbrush to remove the old finish?
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Old 09-25-2009, 01:15 PM
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How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips? How do you go about refinishing handgun grips?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ect1222t View Post
They are completely checkered with what I believe are glod tone metal medallions. Could I use an old toothbrush to remove the old finish?

Cut some pieces of BLUE painters masking tape to cover the medallions. Yes you can use a old toothbrush but get some of the Formbys refinisher or look for the Parks brand (cheaper) at Lowes or Home depot. Eventually the solvents will soften the toothbrush. Get some 00000 (super fine) steel wool. It will take you 10 to 20 minutes to strip the finish. Wear solvent resistant gloves. Very easy and if the grips are bad shape you will not make them any worse.
If you can, take some pics or PM me with them and I'll help you figure out what to do with them.

Get the Furniture kind. Follow the destructions
parks-templateF
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Old 09-25-2009, 03:03 PM
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I use RED DEVIL stripper.
Get the thin stuff ,not the gel.
You can use a paint brush to put the first coat of stripper on with.
Let it sit till it starts lifting the finnish.
Then just keep brushing with more stripper like you were useing it as a rinse.
This will take all the finnish off without the need to sand anything.
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Old 09-26-2009, 12:07 AM
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Aside from the fact that I don't know how to put pictures on the computer, I have been unable to find film for my camera. I called Kodak and they actually told me that they had discontinued making 110 film. Can you immagine Kodak not making film. I don't know how to do those fancy digital things. The next thing you know GM will stop making Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs.
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Old 09-26-2009, 12:40 AM
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The next thing you know GM will stop making Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs.
Better sit down, I have some bad news for you.
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Old 09-26-2009, 09:44 AM
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Glad I stocked up on 110 film before the shortage and hoarding started.
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Old 09-26-2009, 06:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ect1222t View Post
Aside from the fact that I don't know how to put pictures on the computer, I have been unable to find film for my camera. I called Kodak and they actually told me that they had discontinued making 110 film . . .
Hi,

THE BAD NEWS . . . they quit making 110 film

THE GOOD NEWS . . . they quit making film!

Let me s'plain . . .

Like shooting guns, where ultimately the most money is spent on the ammo you run through 'em, with film cameras the cameras were give-away cheap but we spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on film and processing costs to get photos.

ENTER THE DIGITAL CAMERAS . . .

Today? Zero costs buying film. You can get a pretty decent Canon Powershot point and shoot digital camera today for about $150 or less.

In your digital camera box comes a cable that plugs into your camera and computer and your computer's built in photo program will allow you to automatically download the photos you take into a file on your computer with a minimum of fuss.

VIEWING . . .
You can then view all your photos on your full-size computer screen in stunning detail. If you want print copies, you can get them made still too . . . without paying for the 'bad' shots.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY TOO . . . MUCH BETTER!
Today's digital cameras allow you to use 'automatic' settings that do all the thinking of a professional photographer for you.

- The camera automatically focuses for you (your 110 camera probably didn't even adjust for focus.

- The camera automatically sets shutter speeds and apertures so you can get incredible photos.

- The camera has automatic flash that measures the distance to the subject and sets the flash brightness to give you a perfect exposure on your subject!

Bottom line . . . crisp, detailed photos that can be enlarged to 8 x 10 size that look radically better than a 110 could do!

Here's a photo I took using my Canon Powershot:


And a close up of cornet and trumpet mouthpieces . . . to show you how a digital camera will even focus sharply 6" away from a small object . . .



OTHER DIGITAL CAMERA BENEFITS TOO HUGE TO IGNORE . . .

1. You can post photos of your guns and other stuff on forums, or to sell items here and on ebay, whatever . . . and digital photos are a must to get maximum sale amounts.

2. You can email your family and friends all over the world photos.

3. You can join a site like Facebook and reconnect with friends (warning . . . it is so much fun and addictive, once I tried it) and you can post your photos there will virtually NO technical fuss at all. Their photo program does it for you!

Hope this helps!

Don't be afraid to take the plunge . . . ultimately using one is also easier IMHO than loading a pack of 110 film!

Tom
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Old 09-27-2009, 01:42 AM
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That's what I liked about my 110. It was point and shoot. No adjustments, nothing for me to screw up. I wouldn't know what to do or how to do it with a digital. I tried my son's and screwed it up royal. All I can do with a computer is e-mail and google. Half of the stuff I get in e-mails I can't get to come out or whatever as my computer isn't powerful enough. It's an old 2GB I got out of the give away column in the newspaper. How are those fancy use and develop 35mm cameras? Are they any good? All of this new technology is way over my head. I guess I'm just dumb.
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Old 09-27-2009, 11:53 AM
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Quote:
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That's what I liked about my 110. It was point and shoot. No adjustments, nothing for me to screw up. I wouldn't know what to do or how to do it with a digital. I tried my son's and screwed it up royal. All I can do with a computer is e-mail and google. Half of the stuff I get in e-mails I can't get to come out or whatever as my computer isn't powerful enough. It's an old 2GB I got out of the give away column in the newspaper. How are those fancy use and develop 35mm cameras? Are they any good? All of this new technology is way over my head. I guess I'm just dumb.
No your not. Just get any basic digital camera, Cannon, Nikon, Fugi, Sony, Kodak that is within your price range. You do not need anything over 5 mega pixels (don't worry about what that is) You do not need to know or care.

Set the camera to automatic and point and shoot. It's as easy as your 110 film. Take the memory card (think film cartridge) and stick it into you computer card reader. Don't have one of those? Plug the cord that comes with camera into you computer USB port and presto, look at your pics.
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Old 09-28-2009, 01:38 AM
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Card Reader? USB port? All I have on the front of my computer are two slots, one 3.5" long and the other 5.25" long plus the round hole for the where the keyboard goes. When the old keyboard died, I had to get an adapter for the new keyboard, as it wouldn't work without the adapter. On the back are the connectors for the moniter and the modem. The date of manufacture is 10/15/95, and it is running windows 95. Like I said, I got it out of the give aways in the paper, and it's old. it's a Magnavox. I can't even find a printer that will work on this thing because they all have vwry tiny rectangular connectors that won't match the pin connectors on the back of the computer, and they all come with CD's that won't work in the slots on my computer.
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Old 09-28-2009, 10:45 AM
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Card Reader? USB port? All I have on the front of my computer are two slots, one 3.5" long and the other 5.25" long plus the round hole for the where the keyboard goes. When the old keyboard died, I had to get an adapter for the new keyboard, as it wouldn't work without the adapter. On the back are the connectors for the moniter and the modem. The date of manufacture is 10/15/95, and it is running windows 95. Like I said, I got it out of the give aways in the paper, and it's old. it's a Magnavox. I can't even find a printer that will work on this thing because they all have vwry tiny rectangular connectors that won't match the pin connectors on the back of the computer, and they all come with CD's that won't work in the slots on my computer.

The 3.5" slot is the one you put your credit card in to order stuff online. You know what a credit card is, yes??
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Old 09-29-2009, 02:43 AM
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Yes, I know what a credit card is, I've seen them at stores and in ads on TV, but I don't have one. Don't have a checking account either. I use cash or money orders. Send me your mailing address and I'll send you a copy of my monthly check. [email protected]. -Ed.
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Old 09-29-2009, 09:20 AM
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Yes, I know what a credit card is, I've seen them at stores and in ads on TV, but I don't have one. Don't have a checking account either. I use cash or money orders. Send me your mailing address and I'll send you a copy of my monthly check. [email protected]. -Ed.
You know I was kidding you

Don't send me your check but if you want, send me your grips and I would be happy to re finish them for you, no charge, really. You only pay to mail them both ways.
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Old 09-29-2009, 08:43 PM
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To answer the OP's original question,. I soak my 110 cameras in acetone to remove the finish, Acetone won't remove the stain, but then I use Tru-Oil, rubbed in with my finger, for about 20 coats or so until the wood pores are filled. Need lots of friction to get a nice finish, so I usually end up with a blister.
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Old 10-03-2009, 12:54 AM
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send me your grips and I would be happy to re finish them for you, no charge, really. You only pay to mail them both ways.
Could you give me a ballpark figure on the return shipping? I also have an old pair of K frame round butt grips that are chewed up. What would you charge for the two grips? I have to pay you something. Also, I would need a name and mailing address. -Ed. [email protected].
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Old 10-03-2009, 10:33 AM
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Could you give me a ballpark figure on the return shipping? I also have an old pair of K frame round butt grips that are chewed up. What would you charge for the two grips? I have to pay you something. Also, I would need a name and mailing address. -Ed. [email protected].
I would just use US Post Office Flat Rate small box. $4.95 each way.

USPS - Priority Mail Prices

I sent you a PM
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