Aspire makes it soooo easy.

[GripUs]

Here are a couple of pics of an inlay I did using Aspire. The feature that really allowed me to do this was the ability to project onto a 3D surface. The grip curves, so a standard pocket would not cut a uniform depth, but projecting onto a 3D surface made that possible.

I imported the DXF file for the grip and generated toolpaths just like normal. I then created the vectors for the inlay and placed them where I wanted them. After cutting out the grip with a .25" ballnose I used a .03125" ballnose to cut the inlay pocket.

I then used the same vectors (copied to another instance of Aspire) and bit to cut out the sterling silver inlay. I used a rubber mallet to form the inlay over an old, reject grip, and then epoxied it into the new grip. The silver was just over .0625" thick.

Regards,

Joe

[metalworkz]

Hi Joe,
That inlay turned out very good! Is it done on both sides?

[Greasetattoo]

Joe,
Sweet!

Where did you get your silver sheets?

[tmerrill]

Joe,

Very impressive! Thanks for posting.

Where did you get the .dxf file for the grips?

Tim

[Greasetattoo]

Hey Tim,

If I remember right, I think Joe scans the grips in..
I am sure he will fill you in..

Sweet stuff!

[GripUs]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

Greg,
I got the silver off ebay Silver.

Tim,
I have a Roland 3D scanner that I use to scan in the grips. I always put the grips on a pistol before I send them out, just to ensure the fit is good. That, and having a new set of grips to scan, is always a good excuse for buying another new gun. LOL

That was my first real attempt at cutting metal. Well, my first successful one anyway. I think I will leave the metal cutting to Wes.

Wes,
It is only on the right grip, the one showing when the gun is holstered. Most of my customers want both grips done, but every now and then someone only wants the one side.

Regards,

Joe

[GripUs]

here is a set I did a couple of weeks ago where the inlay was on both grips. These are made of Corian with a mesquite inlay and my customer wanted two identical sets.

Regards,

Joe

[glenn]

Joe,
Great work! Do you use the same epoxy for silver, to hold wood to corian?
Thanks for sharing photos and information.
You really are a master of gun grips. I hope to build up my small hobby into
a successful business like you have done with yours!
Are most of your customers word-of-mouth, or from other means of advertising?
Thanks,
Glenn

[GripUs]

Glenn,
Thanks for the compliments. I do use the same epoxy for most everything I inlay and I haven't had any problems/complaints in the five years I have been doing this. When doing an inlay, I drill several small holes all the way through so the excess epoxy has a place to go and the inlay seats all the way down and flush with the bottom of the cut.

The sales of my "standard grips" are about 35% from ebay, 45% from my website and 20% referrals. My custom grips, which now make up about 50% of my business, dollar-wise is about 50% referral and 25% each from phone calls generated by my ebay ads and my website. My 800 number is on both.

Be careful about building your hobby into a business. We started 5 years ago making pistol grips and cremation urns in our garage. Two years later we moved into a 2500 sf shop and hired a part-timer. A year ago we moved into a 3700 sf shop. Of course, for the last 5 years we have only had to work about 7 days a week. That isn't counting the nights we work on graphics.

After all of that, I hear that 85% of all statistics are made up anyhow

Good luck with your hobby/business.

Regards,

Joe