Caleb's Workbench "Projects"
 

Here I will try to collaborate all of my projects so 1. I can keep track of where I may post them and 2. for those that would like to see what I screw up!

**Disclaimer** I am by no means a Gunsmith and/or a professional. I do this for myself and for fun. Please take what I say/post here with a grain of salt. Do your own research and have a real Gunsmith do the work for you if you don't know how. I will not be responsible for any injuries that may occur if you follow my thread/step-by-steps and try it yourself.

To Grip or Not to Grip.......

Bought these scales on egay to try my hand at making my own grips. Follow me through my adventure and see my mistakes and/or accomplishments.

http://i.imgur.com/gXq5aM8.jpg?1

I'll start with the Flame Box Elder Scales..

Traced out the pattern using a factory set from one of my full size (Government) 1911's Then drilled the grip screw holes, still need to countersink them. Then started cutting them out...

http://i.imgur.com/L9ncdmK.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/0eI3FdR.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/oEIPXXC.jpg?1

Then I sanded them down to shape...

http://i.imgur.com/fnmCbMH.jpg?1

This is where I stopped for the night, more to come later....stay tuned!

Criticisms always welcomed (good or bad).

UPDATE: 3/11/14

So, the Flame Box Elder grips I was making took a wrong turn and one broke on me. I turned around to grab more sandpaper and had the grip in my other hand. My hand hip the end of the workbench and the grip went flying. Ended up on the floor about 10ft from me in two pieces, I just stared at it for five minutes. LOL. Any who, those are scrap now.

My co-worker was able to acquire me some American Walnut scales and on to the next set. Got them cut smaller and traced out the pattern. Tomorrow I will try to work on them some during lunch.

http://i.imgur.com/hv2DVQY.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/CreTIh3.jpg?1

UPDATE: 03/26/2014
Got them shaped after two belts broke on the sander. Just need final sanding and coutersink the screw holes on the faces.

http://i.imgur.com/TUjgOG3.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/QYGpXJc.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/PDbnAbV.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/6gClPet.jpg?1

looking good Caleb!

Wow, go you!!! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The one you started with is the one I'd have done last in the hope of it turning out the best. They're all nice though.

Fusion MSH w/Magwell
 

Fusion MSH w/MagwellMy Kimber....yeah I said it....came with a plastic MSH and no magwell so, I decided to change that. I purchased a Fusion MSH w/Magwell and proceeded to install it.

http://i.imgur.com/E9PvNlu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4s8oTX5.jpg

Here is the factory plastic MSH...

http://i.imgur.com/43OhZAX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EfGwBSM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UUIlRXj.jpg

Time to start...Remove grips

http://i.imgur.com/OlwBNqx.jpg

Hold down grip safety (rubber bands work great) and punch out MSH pin (be careful, it's under spring tension) using your thumb or hand to catch MSH or flying parts.

http://i.imgur.com/yXUze6M.jpg

Here are the factory parts removed...

http://i.imgur.com/Sm56IAA.jpg

Now install the spring, plunger, pin onto your new MSH (sorry no progress pics o this) and install the new assembled MSH onto the pistol...

http://i.imgur.com/AkX62M9.jpg

With this Fusion MSH, te Magwell is screwed onto the MSH with an allen screw. It will look like this when installed...

http://i.imgur.com/SyRHgK2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/i0E0Mry.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/C6eBc41.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/D0YHPFb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3cQ3JRR.jpg

Now replace your grips and enjoy easy mag changes!......

http://i.imgur.com/xmn3rGb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/oFt7r1R.jpg

DONE! Or are you?......I'm not. I want to blend the Magwell with the frame of the pistol for a smoother look and mag insertion. Look at these two pics and see the double "step" bevels on the bottom (they do not interfear much with mag changes, tho).....

http://i.imgur.com/8r1xOk8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KMyyGTb.jpg

I have not built up the courage to blend the well yet so, stay tuned!!!!

Reserved for updates....

Thank you Zane, means a lot coming from the grip master. :D

funny, You are right but, I like all of them....so, gotta start with one of them. nanner

Painted P-Mags
 

Painted P-Mags

Got bored of the usual black mags so, why not..?..

http://i.imgur.com/WnYuzyw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/r94gUUZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/FEQrdNz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9JCwxRq.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WF88f4O.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/z3ovUX9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/dYtOpKl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rNYFsEt.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fz6gFYp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/FeMNCwe.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QH4mkBk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/JdIxZnX.jpg

Good job cockroach. Your girl lets you woodwork and paint but not reload? :confused:

Bwahahahahahaha.....funny......I'm waiting for Dave to invite my Champion over for six months. I'm outta motivation 'cept for Little league.
C'mon Dave.....open book.....make my Champion whole.
(probly just got my arse banned here too)

The woodwork is being done at work (just don't tell my employer) and the paint was done as a black ops mission (she was shopping).

BTW: It's not that she doesn't "let" me reload, it's that I don't have the room for a work bench. :rolleyes:

Yea, OK!

funny funny

You keep telling yourself that sunshine! I've seen guys take a folding Black & Decker Workmate and make it into a reloading bench. If you're creative enough to scam your employer into paying you to do your hobby's at work, you should be able to figure out how to reload in a 3 sq ft area!

Exactly!

Hmmmmmm.........maybe I can reload at work....???....

Cannot be any harder then reloading on the unemployment line...:D

See, now you're thinking!!!!

funny

See, I'm not as dumb as pig looks. :D

Uh huh. But *I* reload in a shed with a locked door to keep that woman out, and can shoot out my back door if I want.


Your turn :p

[QUOTE=Riverpigusmc;68635]Uh huh. But *I* reload in a shed with a locked door to keep that woman out, and can shoot out my back door if I want.

[url=http://cool-smileys.com//smiely-raising-a-white-flag]

Alright Caleb where are the updates and pics of them???????????:D


Clyde

Sorry, my little lady has been really sick all week and I have been playing nurse. As soon as she gets better, I'll continue with the projects..

Thoughts and prayers for your wife.

I hope to God you didn't put on the kinky nurse outfit......:eek:

I think he has little antenna he puts on his head as he scurries back and forth bringing food and meds...

Ditto to what Ellison said.


Clyde

Hope she gets better Caleb.

Only in your dreams!

Whatever it takes. ;)

Thank you everyone for the well wishes. She is doing better as of this morning, looks like the antibiotics are working.. finally.

I did get a chance to work on the grips a little last night before bed, I'm almost done with the shaping. I will post pics soon, thank you for your patience.

Sorry guys, no updates worth posting yet...

CZ 82: Night Sights Installed
 

I wanted to upgrade the sight on my CZ 82 and found these. There is not that much out there for these great pistols, these sights are nice. I have not tested them yet for zero. The sight picture is 10 times better (for me)than the originals. I had a hard time lining up the OEM sights so, they had to go. I'm talking range/target shooting and plinking here. Did I "need" night sights.......no.. but, why not. I was going to install FO front and black out the factory rear but, I don't like FO sights for a CC pistol (too fragile IMHO). You see, I'm thinking of sometimes CC'n this pistol.....it just fits so well in my hands. Plus, it eats everything it's fed (so far....I want to try different HP's).

OK, less talk more pics.......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...psbf1a5b50.jpg

BEFORE:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps2357e3db.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps99741f20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...psfb96c4ee.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps5287a3bd.jpg

AFTER:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps5bed3692.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...psad7cbca7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...psfe821395.jpg

Continued..........

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps0abeed8f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps44041135.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps3f66ce9d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...psb4501d0b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps97d6a835.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps466d9c29.jpg

Camera will not pick up the pics with them lit up in the dark.

I still have to drill and pin the front sight, just don't have a bit that small (will get one tomorrow).
Thanks for looking.

looking good Caleb!

Thanks Zane! Now, if I can only find someone to make me some grips.........hmmmm.

I thought you were making your own?

It's not going well. Was using the belt sander at work and they are having a hissy fit about it. So, no way to sand them to shape quickly (by hand takes way to long). On hold for now.

you need a shed

And a belt sander...

A bunch of clowns around here lately, all from FCC!

...and a belt sander.

You do know who makes Meprolight, right?