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Old 12-20-2010, 08:27 PM
flyfishdave flyfishdave is offline
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Default Stippling the M&P – a tutorial

Stippling the M&P – a tutorial

As much as I enjoy steel framed 1911’s, checkered wood and other firearms forged from fire, polymer pistols and accessories are here to stay. As with most stock polymer components, the texture and grip is usually lacking and leaves much to be desired. Like most of you, I’ve been stippling various items for a few years and have thoroughly enjoyed learning from the process of trial and error.

My instrument of choice up till now has been a dental waxer with interchangeable tips and a variable temperature control. More importantly, the actual instrument and working end is about the size of a sharpie marker, which definitely affords control and precision.

Here’s a pic of a basic unit I got ‘issued’ in dental school:





Temperature range is about 170’ – 300’ F and has worked well for most projects including shotgun stocks and grip panels. Here’s a pair of stippled Sig X-5 226 grips – from the factory, Sig grips are pretty slippery.





After purchasing a M&P, I was certain the grips would need some work, as the pistol felt like holding a bar of ivory soap. Did the requisite google search and surfing on the forums to see all variations of stippling done on the M&P, as well as reviewing some of the example put forth by some very competent gunsmiths. Looking at the M&P closely, I knew that because the grip itself was missing some definitive borders, stippling was going to be more of a challenge and would require more careful planning.

Started with the backstrap with the waxer set around 250’ and made quick work of that area.







Now would be a good time to talk about magnification. While a comfortable workspace with good lighting is recommended, I honestly believe that magnification to some degree will make the job easier and produce a better product. Same thing applies to dentistry. Anyway, you don’t need a pair of Zeiss 3.5x loupes, but a magnifying lamp or even the clip on magnifiers that flyfishermen use will be of benefit.





At this point, I attempted to stipple the rest of the pistol and realized the waxer was just not hot enough to dent the plastic. The alternatives were a soldering iron or a hobby wood burning kit. My only issues with these instruments was the lack of a variable temperature control and most importantly, the lack of precise control with a bulky long and fat handled iron which would get ridiculously hot to manage.

Back to google, I discovered that there were wood burning kits available with the working end attached to a handle no bigger than my waxer. Okay, another excuse to buy more tools. Here’s what I found:





Wood Carving Tools & Art Supplies - Greg Dorrance Co. - Wood Burners

They have the best prices for these wood burners if anyone is interested. The kits come with pre-selected tips, but upon request, will swap tips to suit your needs. As you can see in the photo, the pen-like grip is probably the most useful part along with the variable temp control.

Okay, some basics:

1. Do your research and commit to a design or style. I liked what Ben was doing over at Boresight with the addition of the borders to better define the stippling. The straight lines are visually more appealing and breakup some of the wavy curvy borders on the M&P. Also helps keep the stippling straight along the edges and leave little room to second guess where the tip goes next.

2. Make sure you have all necessary tools that work best in your hands. For me, using a soldering iron is like using a dremel to drill teeth. Get good lighting and consider using some magnification.

3. Plan and layout any lines/borders. You can use tape or draw lines with a pencil or fine tip sharpie with a straight edge. Use calipers to ensure symmetry or get a machinist’s rule. Make sure you are consistent on using fixed points to measure off of on both sides of the pistol. Use a rubber band or copper wire over contours like the back strap if you a straight line from one side to the other.

4. The enemy of good is perfect. You’ll pull your hair out chasing perfection. If it’s good and to your liking, let it be.

How to make the borders.

After you decide the overall look you want to achieve, draw your outlines. Note, on the M&P, the location of both the right and left slide release tabs/cutouts are NOT identical. The right-side release is a hair forward of the left-side release. If you are making a line between the mag and slide release, use a fixed point off the mag release area to start the line, using the angle of the slide release frame cut out as a reference for angulation. A small detail, important to me, buy maybe not to others. I used a pencil first, checked symmetry and then followed with a sharpie since I was going to cut a border.







Okay, now the fun/hard part. What’s the best way to cut these borders? Heat? Scalpel? Chisel? Only think that made sense was using a drill but had nightmares about a drill bit skipping across the frame and slide. Decided to try anyway as I was committed to finishing this up in some manner.

I used a benchtop laboratory electric handpiece. Again, a very compact handle with variable speeds capable of 30K rpm. The electric motor is good for consistent torque and figured this would keep me on a straight path. Used a #4 round bur at low RPM (around 5K) to gently score the lines. Again, use magnification. As the borders grew deeper, I increased the RPM to about 20 – 25K as there was already a trough of sorts to guide the bur. It also helped to angle the bur while running along the borders to better define a step in the border, making sure that the shaft was perpendicular to the direction of the ‘cut’. Once done, I cleaned up the hairs of plastic first with a scotch brite wheel, then a felt wheel, ,followed by some scraping with an enamel hatchet. A fancy word for a tiny chisel.







With the borders completed, it was time to finish the stippling. Without a doubt, the precision wood burning kit made finishing the project a joy. I found that using a higher temperature setting made for quick work without leaving too much material lift around the holes. Also, the hotter tip allowed for brush-like strokes in all directions versus the usual stab. For some texture variety, alternate between pokes/stabs and drags/twists with the tip. You can also go back over areas as well.







For now, I’m pretty happy with the results. I still have to run over the stippling with the scotch brite and felt wheels, and will likely smooth out the area under the trigger guard, as well as add a small border to outline the stippling there. I’ve already cut down the bottom of the front strap where it meets the magwell with that ugly protrusion.

Now to enjoy the new grip on the M&P!

Dave.
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Old 12-21-2010, 12:50 AM
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Very nice. You need to come over to my house and do mine!
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Old 12-21-2010, 11:47 AM
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My solution was to put a strip of NoSlip tape from Ace hardware. Cost was under a $1.00 Might work for you as well.
Randy
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Old 02-03-2011, 02:15 AM
Theojt Theojt is offline
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Awesome looking. Is it hard to get it right or just tedious?
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Old 02-03-2011, 01:58 PM
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Wow, talk about "idle hands". I'm willing to bet that you do/did all of your own dental lab work too. You remind me of my dad who owned his own, one man, dental lab for almost 50 yrs. His dexterity, patience and attention to detail were bar none...until now I see.

Great job doc. You should/could start your own business. I'm sure there is someone, more knowledgeable than me, who could tell us what the laws are related to sending the grip portion of our pistol to a "custom stippler" like you.
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Old 02-03-2011, 05:03 PM
iujeffcpa iujeffcpa is offline
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Thanks for the tutorial. Looks like a very professional job you did there. I would never attempt this myself but I would pay for this level of detailed work.

Again, thanks for sharing...
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Old 05-04-2011, 04:38 AM
ricklee4570 ricklee4570 is offline
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Looks great! I might have to try this myself, as I find the grips to be a little slick.
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Old 05-04-2011, 08:26 AM
OKFC05 OKFC05 is offline
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It should probably be noted that the illustrated stippling makes the gun illegal for USPSA Production and IDPA/SSP.
You can stipple the grip insert, but not the frame itself.
Just a note for anyone who might want to try competition with their M&P.
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Old 05-04-2011, 10:12 AM
ricklee4570 ricklee4570 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OKFC05 View Post
It should probably be noted that the illustrated stippling makes the gun illegal for USPSA Production and IDPA/SSP.
You can stipple the grip insert, but not the frame itself.
Just a note for anyone who might want to try competition with their M&P.
This I didnt know. Is it also illegal to apply some non skid tape to the front of the grip?
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Old 05-04-2011, 04:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ricklee4570 View Post
This I didnt know. Is it also illegal to apply some non skid tape to the front of the grip?
Skateboard tape may be used.
For USPSA, see Appendix D4 and E4 for allowed and prohibited areas.
For IDPA, see ppg 19-20 and HQ IDPA rulings and interpretations. It should be noted that IDPA severely restricts stippling and checkering but is more free with tape use. Basically, you cannot stipple the frame in IDPA/SSP, but can do the removable grip. You can put tape on the part of the frame you grip.

Part of the stippling shown in the OP (such as controls, buttons, levers, ) is not allowed in either USPSA or IDPA.

http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPARuleBook2005.pdf

http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010Handg...sProof3web.pdf
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Old 05-09-2011, 09:25 PM
KennyTX KennyTX is offline
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Thank you for the tutorial.
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Old 08-27-2011, 09:43 PM
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wow this looks great. this process sounds interesting.
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Old 02-09-2012, 11:26 AM
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Cool KUDOS

***OUTSTANDING*** in every respect Mr. FlyFishDave, you are "The Man". You have awakened my artistic imagination. Thanks.

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Old 02-09-2012, 03:30 PM
1fly2ty 1fly2ty is offline
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Flyfishdave,
You sir are a trouble maker! When I first saw this post months ago i was enamored with your ability to stipple these grips! So much so I ordered the colwood controller and tips so I can get started in this endeavor, then my business picked up and I haven't had a chance to do anything with my M&P's or my Glock. I hope to have some time next month to get started and try my hand at this, I will say a friend of mine had a great idea, he said before you start one of the grips take a glock or smith and wesson case and practice on it. so that is where I am going to try this first. Thanks for your tutorial and your recommendation for the colwood burner, great work keep posting new stuff, I am going to try a rifle I have with a plastic stock!
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Old 02-14-2012, 11:03 AM
DaveNC DaveNC is offline
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Hey Dave,

Thanks for sharing this. Everything looks great....well done!
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Old 03-19-2012, 08:25 PM
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I took your advice and started this new hobby! Working on back straps before I continue to stippling the gun itself. Here are a couple of my examples:

M&P Back Strap Stippling
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Old 03-19-2012, 10:35 PM
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Great thread!

Thanks for sharing!
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Old 03-15-2013, 04:25 PM
KY1911 KY1911 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OKFC05 View Post
Skateboard tape may be used.
For USPSA, see Appendix D4 and E4 for allowed and prohibited areas.
For IDPA, see ppg 19-20 and HQ IDPA rulings and interpretations. It should be noted that IDPA severely restricts stippling and checkering but is more free with tape use. Basically, you cannot stipple the frame in IDPA/SSP, but can do the removable grip. You can put tape on the part of the frame you grip.

Part of the stippling shown in the OP (such as controls, buttons, levers, ) is not allowed in either USPSA or IDPA.

http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPARuleBook2005.pdf

http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010Handg...sProof3web.pdf

If I'm not mistaken, stippling on the rear removable grip is acceptable for IDPA/SSP. However, permanent alternations to the frame would make it illegal for IDPA/SSP. That said, your good to go in IDPA/ESP with whatever stippling you have anywhere on the pistol.
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