Big thanks to Armco for Grip stippling advice

[W.Kropf]

Earlier this evening I talked Gunnar at Armco who is bead blasting my M&P9 slide for a satin stainless finish. We talked a bit about grip stippling. After he was nice enough to point me in the right direction i got straight to it. A few hours later I was done. It feels great in the hand, I can't wait to get my slide back and try it out.

W.Kropf

 

[gnmontey]

And what was the advice?

 

[W.Kropf]

A clean soldering iron with a sharp tip shaped for the desired finished pattern, patience and a steady hand.

 

[Sambaru]

Wow, that is crazy detail! It looks like bark... pretty sweet and looks like it'll be very functional

 

[gnmontey]

A clean soldering iron with a sharp tip shaped for the desired finished pattern, patience and a steady hand.

Sweet. Looks good! You obviously have a very steady hand.

 

[Jesse_01]

Wow very nice. Looks like it came that way.

 

[justsomeguy]

WOW, I think you found your calling....you should go into business, I'd be your first customer with my GP6!

 

[volks_r_us]

WOW I think I want a plastic gun now.

You did a wonderful job, Seriously WOW !

 

[Jesse_01]

Hmm maybe a dremel and a steel gun. That give it a light sanding to remove any burs.

 

[Doc M]

Pretty impressive job for your first go!

-M

 

[Juster]

A clean soldering iron with a sharp tip shaped for the desired finished pattern, patience and a steady hand.

And ventilation!

Looks good.

 

[W.Kropf]

Thanks to all for the good words. I have been thinking about getting my hands on a Glock to try it out. I have also been thinking about different grove patterns. Awhile ago I was tempted to try my hand at a Glock grip reduction, After doing this to my M&P I really have the itch.

 

[tritium4ever]

I'm interested in seeing the final results on the slide. I've seen some other pics of people who stripped the black finish off the M&P slides and barrels and it looks really good.

 

[W.Kropf]

WOW, I think you found your calling....you should go into business, I'd be your first customer with my GP6!

If I had more practice doing this I would say yes, this was my first try. I am trying to convince friends into allowing me to do this to their pistols.

 

[CeeZer]

Looks GREAT, really!!!

The only thing I'd do differently - front of the trigger guard, I'd do the lines at 90 deg to the other ones being horisontal when gun is in shooting position.

 

[SandRoad]

x2, that looks great. What type of tip did you use?

One comment for others that might want to try stippling. You might want to be cautious about stippling areas there the frame contacts the side of your fingers (depending on grip). You don't grip with the side of your fingers, and if there is movement, it will can really sand off the skin in a hurry.

I have a couple grips with skateboard tape, and with one gun tried a couple temp patches in questionable areas before cementing down the tape.

 

[W.Kropf]

I just filed the tip of a soldering iron to make a sharp point, and to get rid of any solder.

I tried a different pattern on my last untouched grip. I saw a pattern like this on Accurate Iron's website, I think they called it starburst. I just picked a spot on the back of the grip and started working out from it. Looking at it now I could have carried this pattern off the grip over the rest of the frame. Oh well guess i have to buy another M&P lol

 

[PharoH]

looks awesome, I think I might try that on my small size grip for me m&p9


good job

 

[Mambo]

Got your slide back yet?

 

[Meph]

I think they make tips specifically for stippling. It's a lot easier, they look like a miniature meat hammer tenderizing head. You just push in on the frame and it does a perfect stipple.

Any idea where you can get them?