Best way to take the pain out of aggressive checkering??

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  • Grelber

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    Have a new pistol with very aggressive checkering, with a good hard grip the bite into the fingers of my right hand hurts.

    I can sand or file or whatever to fix the issue, but figured I would ask about best technique before I start taking off metal.
     

    natdscott

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    Unless it is chambered in an abusive cartridge, I would shoot the pistol more.

    -Nate
     

    lazarus0213

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    I have a lot of the fast fit mechanix gloves. a large fits me but the medium is snugger and gives me a very good bite and grip as well as feel. They are just thick enough to take the sting out and cut the wind off the skin. very good for the inexpensive investment. Can be found on amazon for 10 ish bucks a pair.
     

    obijohn

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    IF i were going to take down some checkering, I would use 1000grit and just knock the tops off, try the grip, rinse and repeat until I achieved the feel I was looking to get.
     

    Cree

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    As stated above, finer grade sandpaper in a "shoe-shine" motion and go slow and check your progress often. You can check your progress by raking some light back and forth over the checkering to catch the top surface of the newly dulled points. Shoot for evenly dulled points.

    Andy Cree
     

    JettaKnight

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    I assume new grips are available for this, as the look to be removable. Therefore, sanding them down wouldn't severely impact the resale value of the gun.

    Another option would be a rubber-like cover (e.g. Talon grips) if they are available.


    It's ironic the to read all the "no!" responses, yet if your wanted to stipple it, "yes!!!!" Now there's something that can never be undone.
     

    JettaKnight

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    IF i were going to take down some checkering, I would use 1000grit and just knock the tops off, try the grip, rinse and repeat until I achieved the feel I was looking to get.

    ok... What the heck is 1000 grit sandpaper? I think silk panties are coarser.

    I would start with a belt sander... no need to make this an all-day project.
     

    rvb

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    It's ironic the to read all the "no!" responses, yet if your wanted to stipple it, "yes!!!!" Now there's something that can never be undone.

    Not a contradiction/irony if you look it at from the perspective of more grip is always better, especially for a race gun. I've yet to see anything "too" aggressive, incl the PT 2011 grips out now. Get through a couple weeks of blood/blisters and it'll all be good. been there! :)

    ok... What the heck is 1000 grit sandpaper? I think silk panties are coarser.

    I would start with a belt sander... no need to make this an all-day project.

    Finest sandcloth I have is 600. 1k + is available. 200-400 would be adequate for this task unless wanting to get a mirror polish on the new blunt ends.

    :twocents:

    -rvb
     

    Benp

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    The 1000 grit will remove an extremely small amount, which is what you want. Just the peaks that are hurting, and it will leave a lot of grip. Sand, check, sand, check. As you are getting more comfortable to the grip that you are desiring, sand less and check more often. You can always take more off.
     

    natdscott

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    Psshhh...

    3M has microabrasive paper down to 0.5 micron. That's roughly (smoothly?) 60,000 grit.

    I have 60 through 2,000 grit on hand all the time, and have a set of 3M papers from about 1,000 grit through 60,000.



    Handy for certain things.


    -Nate
     

    JettaKnight

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    Psshhh...

    3M has microabrasive paper down to 0.5 micron. That's roughly (smoothly?) 60,000 grit.

    I have 60 through 2,000 grit on hand all the time, and have a set of 3M papers from about 1,000 grit through 60,000.



    Handy for certain things.


    -Nate
    I'm guessing that's for stuff other than woodworking.


    You learn something new everyday...
     

    Leo

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    A co worker has a custom .45 that was built by a major name custom gunsmith in the 1970's. The front of the grip has patterned punch marks that were punched at an angle. They looked like and felt like the teeth of a cobbler rasp. Those teeth were so sharp you HAD to wear gloves, and they would grind the fingers out of your gloves. I would not hesitate to grind down any "features" on a handgun that got in the way of use. I am kind of a function first man, pretty is not pretty if it does not work.

    Any finish other than stainless will have the complication of the base metal showing through the finish.
     

    Cree

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    As a custom 1911/2011 pistolsmith, I keep a good supply of wet/dry paper all the way up to 2000-grit. From there I use polishing compound. I also use a lot of the same paper for woodworking - not for use on the wood per se, but for cleaning up tooling, and sharpening.

    Andy Cree
     
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