Target Talk

How to Stipple?

Posted by Jerry on July 31, 2001 at 22:26:57:
Greetings,
I have been sanding down some uncomfortable spots on my new Vitarbo grips for my IZH-46M. ( I am trying to make some shallow finger grooves on the backside of the lefthand grip).
Before I restain and reseal the sanded areas I would like to stipple the freshly exposed areas to increase my "traction" on the handle.
What is an easy way to stipple a fairly small area?
Thanks,
--Jerry

Posted by Joseph Tousignant on July 31, 2001 at 23:03:13:
Hi Jerry. Awhile back there was a post describing how to make a tool fairly easily, made to do what you want here. Basically a fairly large nail(maybe 6 inches or so in length) is wrapped with a bunch of much smaller nails with fine points, and secured with several heavy rubber bands. The finer nails should, of course, hang lower than the "base" nail. (if I make one of these i might even use a two-step epoxy to bind the nails even better to themselves and to the larger nail).
This unit is then tapped on with a small hammer at a controlled amount. The recommendation was to "practice" on a piece of scrap wood before you do your grips. Good luck.
Joseph Tousignant

Posted by Danny Wells on July 31, 2001 at 23:14:39:
Jerry,
If you have a Dremel tool or similar tool, here is another idea. Mount a small rotary carving burr (1/16" diameter or smaller) in the tool. Then with the Dremel tool running a fairly slow speed just lightly touch the grip to create the dimple. You can adjust the texture of the stipple by changing the size of the burr, the depth of the cut and how close you space the dimples. Hope this helps.
Danny
Woodworker and shooter

Posted by steve p on August 01, 2001 at 05:29:33:
*** Believe it or not all you need is an appropriate size nail and a vice grip. Lock the nail in the grip and tap the nail lightly with a hammer against the wood using the grip to control movement.

Posted by David M on August 01, 2001 at 08:39:24:
For small areas try a old centre punch with the end ground to a 60 degree cone and the point just tahen off to be a dull semi circle.
Hold the grip in and hand or on a sand bag and tap the punch into the grip with the other, one dent at a time.
After a while you can aim very well with the punch and cover the area you need to stipple.
The harder you tap, the deeper the stipple.

Posted by Rod G. on August 01, 2001 at 12:07:50:
If you own a Dremel or similiar moto-tool, it is easy to "stipple" with a 1/8" round burr.
Outline the area you want to stipple and mask the border with at least 2 layers of tape.[just in case you go over the line!]
Holding the moto-tool at a shallow angle, less than 45 degrees, you "bounce" the tool randomly on the surface until you have full coverage and the desired roughness is obtained. [Test your technique on a scrap piece of material first.]
I've stippled many grips using this technique with "near factory" results.
Let me know if this works for you.
Regards,
Rod G.

Posted by Jerry on August 02, 2001 at 10:19:51:
Hmmm,
Thanks for all of the suggestions; I always wanted a reason for buying a dremel...
Now I can do some real damage :)
--Jerry

Posted by Roland Cannon on August 02, 2001 at 19:38:20:
First of all, I am no Scott Pilkington when it comes to engraving (or spelling) but here is how I do it. Years ago I bought a dremel tool. Attached to the box was a special "dremel engraver" for marking personal property. We all know a thief will not take a numbered item, right???
Anyway, I never used the piece of crap. It ended up falling on the floor and getting a broken tip. I was going to throw it away, but I decided to make a stipple gun out of it.
I filed three small points into the broken end. It should have been four, but one broke off. It marks wood by touching the grip while it is on the high power position. The more random sized the three points are, the better. It honestly works quite well.
I did one grip for a friend and my own. I do not do them professionally because I am afraid my high skill level may threaten Morini, Neil Giffe, Vitarbo, pilkington, etc.
Well seriously, it does work. Try it if you get a chance. With a bit of practice it is possible to match the steyr pattern perfectly. I am still working on the "smaller" pattern that Walther uses.

Back to Archive Index

Back to Target Talk

Sponsored by Pilkington Competition Equipment