Tyler T Grip company shutdown - shipping again

[Maximumbob54]

Wrangler5,

Please just CYB and make sure you don't get some lame patent infringement on these. I just pm'ed you for some. I knew if I kept reading this thread some kind of good would come from it!!!

 

[wrangler5]

Wrangler, those look terrific!

I hope this works out for you and that you are able to expand to other frame sizes. I'll be in line for a K frame or two.

If you don't mind my asking, how are you attaching the copper tab?

If I can get any life out of these molds a K frame (square) will be the next item I make. I'll do that as soon as I can figure out how to get any (consistent) life out of the molds.

The copper tab is a single U-shaped piece (with a hole in the bottom of the U) that is cast into the adapter. I have to put one into the mold before pouring the resin. Once the resin sets up, that copper ain't coming out - believe me, I've tried to recover them from adapters that didn't pour properly, and once it's set removal is impossible.

 

[wrangler5]

Wrangler5,

Please just CYB and make sure you don't get some lame patent infringement on these. I just pm'ed you for some. I knew if I kept reading this thread some kind of good would come from it!!!

Thanks for the thought. I did my own search, and consulted with patent counsel. As far as anybody can tell, if there ever was a patent in the first place it is long expired, and there are no other intellectual property issues that we can identify. The only risk appears to be the one faced by all businesses in this country - anybody can sue anybody for anything.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I like that the copper is set in the mold. That actually sounds better than the Tyler, Pachmayr, or S&W that I have. I don't have a clue what your throughput would have to be to make this profitable enough for you to make this a business but you already have a customer base, so that is a huge part of the battle right there. I know you have my name on the list for more J's, a K round or two, and at least on N so here is hoping this works out!!!

 

[Cooter Brown]

If I can get any life out of these molds a K frame (square) will be the next item I make. I'll do that as soon as I can figure out how to get any (consistent) life out of the molds.

The copper tab is a single U-shaped piece (with a hole in the bottom of the U) that is cast into the adapter. I have to put one into the mold before pouring the resin. Once the resin sets up, that copper ain't coming out - believe me, I've tried to recover them from adapters that didn't pour properly, and once it's set removal is impossible.

Thanks for getting back about that. I imagine that is somewhat of a pain to do but it's certainly the best way to go about it.

 

[ohiococonut]

wrangler5 you have a PM

 

[ben1]

I also have sent a PM. Good luck with your project.

 

[wrangler5]

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.

 

[Poohgyrr]

You guys are killing me with these pics.... I had forgotten how much I want a M40... And Wrangler's grip adaptors look good.

 

[Postman10mm]

The marbeling in the yellow looks awesome, almost like the faux tortiseshell you used to see in combs, very retro and very cool.

Bring on the K and N frames!

 

[tall gunner]

Quote from a future Smith & Wesson forum post

"I put a Wrangler's on my J frame 'cause I like the retro look and it's the most comfortable grip I've found."

 

[wrangler5]

Black adapters gone at least for now

I've had takers for all of the prototype black grip adapters I have on hand, so no more are available at the moment. A few folks have religious objections to PayPal (which I fully understand) and are supposed to be sending money orders. If some of those folks don't in fact follow through I may have a few black ones to re-offer.

Watch this space. But for the moment, no more "orders," please.

Many thanks for the interest. I really appreciate the support.

 

[wrangler5]

The marbeling in the yellow looks awesome, almost like the faux tortiseshell you used to see in combs, very retro and very cool.

Bring on the K and N frames!

Thanks, Postman, I agree that it looks cool. But it may actually indicate that the resin and catalyzer were not thoroughly mixed. I don't think there's enough stress on this part for the improper mixing to make that much difference in useful strength, but I also don't think it's an effect that I can reliably duplicate. The other two gold ones I made show no such variability in color, and I tried to mix all of them the same way before pouring.

As for future models, I have patterns for K square and N frame adapters. But I want to get feedback on my original models before going any farther down the line. While these resin adapters are every bit as functional as the aluminum models, they don't finish up as nicely on the edges and I need to decide whether that's going to be a problem I can solve, or just live with, or not.

 

[wrangler5]

Quote from a future Smith & Wesson forum post

"I put a Wrangler's on my J frame 'cause I like the retro look and it's the most comfortable grip I've found."

Mighty kind of you tall gunner, but I think I'm gonna call 'em BK Grips. I've carved a BK brand into the back of most of the prototypes, and will cast it into future production. (It's actually a brand I worked up when I was a horse wrangler in Colorado in the early '60s. See image attached.)

 

[DoubleAdobe]

Hey Cooter Brown

Just in case you haven't been told this lately, I've been drunker than you before, actually a few times.

 

[maddawg918]

Very nice work sir!

If you still have the one in red I'd be interested.

 

[Reacher (Said Nothing)]

BK Grips!

Wrangler5, these are looking great. My only 2¢ would be, have you tried a soft buffing wheel with some jewelers rouge then buffing them with a plain soft wheel? Works great with (smoking) pipe stems and may be the final finish for your product. Should knock off any edges and make them smooth and shinny. Put me on the list for N frame size.

 

[old bear]

Great Start

Wrangler, your BK grip adaptor looks great, as we have written about, I'm looking forward to getting one of the first K/L frame adaptors. Keep up the great work, and wishing you every success.

 

[wrangler5]

Wrangler5, these are looking great. My only 2¢ would be, have you tried a soft buffing wheel with some jewelers rouge then buffing them with a plain soft wheel? Works great with (smoking) pipe stems and may be the final finish for your product. Should knock off any edges and make them smooth and shinny. Put me on the list for N frame size.

Reacher - I've tried cotton, felt and rubber polishing wheels and (so far) nothing will polish these things back to the semi-glossy surface I got out of the molds to begin with. I now learn that I was not cleaning the mold properly, and should have been using a release agent (which I was told wasn't really necessary, before I started.)

I have a new mold on order and should get it day after tomorrow, and mold release should be here by then. So with luck I'll be back in production that evening and will see how the new mold goes.

 

[sheriffoconee]

I don't know HOW I missed these last two pages, you make 'em, I will buy 'em...
that is awesome, and I am glad SOMEONE stepped up...and call 'em what you will, I will be glad to tote some BK's (or Wranglers) on my Smiths