BK Grip Adapters

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wrangler5

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The following post from 6/4/11 is copied from the Tyler T Grip thread:

I posted a while ago that I was thinking of making these things out of resin. The learning curve has been steeper than I expected, but I have produced a few that I would appreciate feedback on before I proceed further. What I have are J frame size in satin black - I have been unable to maintain glossy black with the mold and material I have to date, although I did produce some glossy ones in black and a few other colors early on.

I would hope to sell a final product for $20 plus shipping, but at this point I will sell the few samples I've produced for $15 delivered in order to get some feedback. If you are interested, and do NOT live in Missouri (I'm not ready to deal with the sales tax people until I'm sure I'm in business) please send me an email at [email protected] . I will send PayPal payment instructions. If there is more interest than I have product I'll pick the "lucky" folks who get the payment instructions, so if you'd like to say just why you really need a lightweight grip adapter right now please embellish your email. Please don't ask for one of these if you won't give me some feedback after you get it and try it.

I've attached some images of what I've done so far. It's hard to tell, but one of 'em is a medium gray, which just sort of "happened" with one of the black castings. I do have black and white dyes and can try to make gray if there's an interest, as well as a number of other colors. (Green, or blue, anybody? How about international orange?)

Thanks for any interest.
 

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The following post from 6/5/11 is copied from the Tyler T Grip thread:

At the request of several I'm attaching close (well, closer) up shots of the 4 colors I've actually made so far.

Note the notch in the edge of the gray model - this is one of the casting difficulties I had to solve with a second mold.

In addition to gold and red (the gray was an "accident" when casting black, but I think it's good looking and hope I can reproduce it with black and white) I have relatively opaque colorants for orange, blue, green, brown, yellow and white. There are also a wide range of translucent colors, of which I have tried the pink, but I don't think translucence is particularly attractive in this application and don't expect to make any more that way.

BTW, if these discussions should be put in a separate thread, or moved to another forum, please let me know. I'm pretty new to this list and certainly don't know all the protocols.
 

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Subscribing, they look real good man. Let us know when you get all the little bugs worked out and start going full production, i definitely want a set.
 
Good job on the thread separation.
This one for discussion, feedback etc.

When you start 'selling' them, then a thread in the classified is in order.

And keep us posted on the J-frames. I've got a M36 that needs a black one.
 
Status report as of 6/7/11

Today I had a long talk with my mold maker about a new J frame mold to replace the one that wore out. New cans of material arrived, but not the mold release - presumably that will arrive tomorrow, as they charged my credit card yesterday. (Unlike some company we're all aware of, these guys WILL deliver what they charge you for. Promptly.)

I spent some time pouring "pucks" (tinted and mixed the resin, but let it harden in the mixing cup) using each of the tints I have available. That's black, white, red, blue, green, brown, yellow, and gold. (I don't plan to do much with the translucent pink that I have.)

I also experimented making a dark green (looks good), dark brown (also looks good), dark blue (almost indistinguishable from black - and I only added 1 drop of black to the mix, so not sure how to lighten that one up) and three shades of gray, all of which look nice. The darkest shade is pretty close to the gray one in the photos, which was an accident that showed up from a pure black pour - I have no idea how it happened, but at least I can now reproduce it if desired.

Nobody I've talked to has a good idea for how to make a variegated pour like the gold adapter in the photos exhibits. That was another accident which I have been unable to figure out how to reproduce. I did a few experiments, but none were successful. Work will continue, though, as I still believe a dark brown tortoise shell would be both classy and unique.

I would post photos of the color pucks, but my friend who is consulting with me on this project borrowed my strobes. Hopefully I'll get the lights back in a day or two.
 
I think you should work the kinks out and only worry about doing them in black to start with. You can add colors later. You already have guys here wanting black and I believe you could sale a lot of them. Get molds for different frame sizes and maybe as mentioned some for Colts, Ruger,etc. Black ones will sale.
 
I'm very glad to see this, Wrangler. I thought of trying the same sort of thing myself but you took the bull by the horns and good on you!

Like others have said, the black would sell very well, maybe the best. I think if you could get something close to aged ivory you'd have another winner on your hands.

Looking forward to getting my hands on one!
 
I think if you can get a very, very dark blue to come close the the current factory blue/black metal finish, and also a satin silver/gray color to match stainless you'll have a couple of popular colors. If you can perfect a marbled look, something to look like walnut would probably sell too. Good luck with the project.
 
They look great. I carry a model 37 off-duty and would interested in getting one in black or the dark brown tortoise shell would be pretty unique.
 
I've created a new email box, [email protected]. If anybody needs to talk privately, please use that instead of the PM function here - my PM mailbox is nearly full, and it's not nearly as convenient for me to deal with as straight email.

Thanks for everybody's support.

Cheers,
Kip
 
Don't Forget Colts!

Kip - I know you've got to work your way down the learning curve and obviously Smith & Wesson revolvers are where you're starting. However, don't forget that there are a LOT of old Colt revolvers out there too. My Tyler T-Grip order was for a Colt Officers Model 38. Bottom line, there may be even more business out here than you realize.
 
By God, isn't this just what America is supposed to be all about. An individual taking initative and stepping foward to actually solve a problem and in the process starting a good business and helping people out. Kip, you should be proud, you have what looks like a great product and you have the right attitude, keep it going. You will get all the support you need. Good luck in your venture.
 
Walter Rego said:
I think if you can get a very, very dark blue to come close the the current factory blue/black metal finish, and also a satin silver/gray color to match stainless you'll have a couple of popular colors. If you can perfect a marbled look, something to look like walnut would probably sell too. Good luck with the project.
Click to expand...

Blue-black I can do (have done), I just have to work out the blending a bit more so it looks a little more blue than I've made so far.

One thing I have to avoid is ending up with 57 varieties for people to choose from (which it looks like Tyler has with his trigger shoes - wonder how deliveries on THOSE are going?) and find I can't keep up with the variations. If I fall behind because too many people are ordering the basic black model, there are easily implemented, if expensive, industrial solutions for that (I met with an injection molder yesterday, just to start the conversation, in case I need to go there.) But the only reason I'm as far along with this project as I am is because somebody else, for whatever reasons, couldn't keep up with demand across 9 products x 6 finishes.

Bottom line: I would like to be able to offer each customer exactly what they want (I have the impression that's considered to be a good business practice :rolleyes: ) but to begin with I have to follow KISS. I will (I hope I have time to) continue to experiment with color options, but to begin with, it's probably going to be whatever color you want as long as it's black. (Or maybe blue black. Or maybe . . . ;) )

But do keep those cards and letters coming.
 
Bottom line: I would like to be able to offer each customer exactly what they want (I have the impression that's considered to be a good business practice :rolleyes: ) but to begin with I have to follow KISS. I will (I hope I have time to) continue to experiment with color options, but to begin with, it's probably going to be whatever color you want as long as it's black. (Or maybe blue black. Or maybe . . . ;) )

Good decision. Please keep us informed.
 
Here's another "well done" and vote of support. Basic black works for a lot of things and probably will be an excellent starting point for your grip adapters. When the N-frames are up and running I'll place an order with you.

Dave
 
I'm most anxious for you to get started. Any chance you'll be able to produce something close to the satin nickle or stainless finish?
 
Eventually I'm gonna need a couple for N Frames and several for the Colt New Service.
 
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