GRIP BUILDING

[DOEBOY1]

i am currently trying to build a set of round butt N frame grips and for the life of me i cant figure out how to cut out the inside contour to fit the grip frame. I have talked to several wood workers some say dremel tool, chisel, or router. i know there are some grip makers out there any advise would by greatly appreciated. Doeboy

[shovelwrench]

I don't know how either, I bet if you held your chunk of wood and traced the G frame on it you could figure it out.

[Spotteddog]

Heavy Grip 350 Pounder

(EDIT)
I knew that was evil, but I just couldn't resist?

[Fuego]

The trick is to use two pieces of wood. Fit the inner countour to the frame, just the way you want it.

Then glue that inner piece to the larger piece that will show on the outside.

[dfariswheel]

Probably the easiest/cheapest option is to use a Dremel tool with the drill press optional fixture.

Once you set it up for depth, you use the Dremel with a small wood router cutting bit, and work the wood under it like its a pin router.
In other words, you lower the Dremel to the depth you want to cut, then move the wood under the cutter to route out the recess.
Then you reset the depth for the cut that fits up on the frame and route that area.

There are several ways to utilize the wood.
One is to simply use planks. In this case, neither side will match the grain.
This is how Colt made their grips.

Method two is to use a block of wood cut in half. The grain will flow evenly from one half to the other interrupted.

Method three is to cut the block of wood in half, then turn the halves inside out. This gives the same grain on both sides of the grips. This is sometimes called "book matching.

The Dremel drill press and router cutter works very well, and is essentially how the factories do it, only this is guided by hand.