Fitting grips

[LarsenAngus]

Hi there,

These are Ajax grips that I bought many years ago from EBay. They never did fit correctly and I never used them. Was cleaning recently and found them. I like the looks of them on this Vaquero, but I cannot stand the the way that one panel fits, with that gap. I’ve tried using a shim and 2 clamps. I don’t want to screw them up. But I’d like to make them usable. What would you try?

I’m at a loss and don’t know what else to try.

Thanks.

 

[GypsmJim]

As far as I can see they are completely unusable so whatever you do can't make them worse.

If they were mine I would heat them up and then use some pressure to try to get them flat, hoping they retain flatness after they cool down. Probably try low t emp and work up as necessary.

 

[Gunny268]

Not knowing the material they are made of, I'll take a SWAG at the problem. Put a pot of water on the stove. Just as the water starts to raise itty bitty bubbles from the bottom of the pot (approx. 212 degrees), hold the bottom portion of the offending grip panel in the water for about 30 sec. Longer, 45 seconds? may be necessary, but I just don't know. Then immediately hold the panel (pinched with fingers and thumb) in position on the grip frame with a gloved hand (don't burn yourself). After the panel has had a chance to cool, release your pressure and gage any success.
It may be as GypsumJim stated above, "As far as I can see they are completely unusable so whatever you do can't make them worse."

 

[Hondo44]

I would not heat them!
They are warped. But there's a very simple fix, especially since they're hollow!

You need a perfectly flat surface like a piece of glass, flat piece of tile or metal surface like a table saw or drill press.
Use 350 grit sandpaper laid flat on the surface.
Thread the grip screw into the escutcheon from the front side of the grip to provide a handle making sure it doesn't stick out the backside of the grip.
Slide the grip up and down on the sand paper putting pressure on the top end of the grip.
Sand until the gap at the bottom corner disappears.

 

[hittman]

Man that looks like a lot of gap to sand away ….. I wondered if heating would discolor or warp them the wrong direction ….. maybe some type of clamp while they’re on the gun and let them sit a few days. ~ ??? ~

 

[rugerguy]

I'm with Hondo, flat level surface ,emery paper would be my way to go, hell we used to do that with old Ford "flatheads" on the garage floor when they blew a head gasket ,my that was a long time ago, thank you Mr John Emerick, Emericks Sunoco, Cleveland ,Ohio.......

yes those grips pictured warped about the time they were poured and cooled down , saw that often back in them days, my gunsmith Walt even used a belt sander, with 'fine ' grit', ,,,me , I was trained to use a large hand file, take your time,,,the trick is to have them properly mounted to hold, keep in place, a steady hand and a keen eye
...and ONLY the offending ,thicker,warped part to the level of the thinner section, to match , you WILL thin them out, lessen the footprint (outline) as it thins down,

the old hot water, and clamp ,mount them on a gun, worked only on old Colt 'gutta percha', semi auto grip panels.......

 

[contender]

My very first thought was; "Sand down the back side.
Hondo44 & rugerguy are correct.

It may make the overall thickness of the panel thinner,, but they will fit & be usable.

Heat,, can be a VERY hard thing to control, as well as what happens the the material you are trying to use it on.

 

[Fox Mike]

I would figure that you can't mess them up so I would find a piece of stock aluminum about the thickness of the gap. Heat the offender up and place the shim on the top of the grip mount the hot grip and clamp it in place

 

[LarsenAngus]

Man that looks like a lot of gap to sand away ….. I wondered if heating would discolor or warp them the wrong direction ….. maybe some type of clamp while they’re on the gun and let them sit a few days. ~ ??? ~

I’ve been trying this.

I even put a couple shims under the good part of the grip and then clamped down on the corner that’s sticking up. It hasn’t seemed to work, sadly.

 

[Joey]

From the looks of the inside shot, a previous owner sanded it down, just the wrong end. You may try to sand the top inside of the grip a bit, see if that gets you closer. Put a rubber jaw squeeze clamp on it and see if it closes up completely when clamped before doing any sanding.

 

[Short Barrel]

They appear to be cast of a urethane casting resin.That stuff warps if removed from the mold too early.No big deal.I work.with it a lot.Heat,S Gunny268,descibed.Leave it in long enough that you can easily get it to flex,by hand.We are talking minutes.You can reheat multiple times with no problem.
Put cling wrap on your grip frame and clamp them.Let them cool at room temp overnight.Dont use the screw,only padded clamps.
If it springs back at all,do over and put a thin shim on the opposite side,to over compensate.You shouldn't need to do this step.
Don't be afraid to twist the grip into shape by hand before clamping to the grip frame.
These can be fixed.Dont toss them and don't sand them.I don't have the proper grip frame or Id fix them for you.Good luck.You can do it.

 

[GypsmJim]

IMHO sanding would make it worse. It might fit flat, but you might not want to use them anyway.

 

[Fox Mike]

I’ve been trying this.

I even put a couple shims under the good part of the grip and then clamped down on the corner that’s sticking up. It hasn’t seemed to work, sadly.

Do that and hit it with a heat gun (hair dryer won't get hot enough).....CAREFULLY. If that doesn't work you can always ship them to me and I will attempt to work some magic.

 

[Randyzzz]

Unfortunately while sanding might take care of the gap at the bottom, it will negatively affect the fit along the perimeter where you sand. Being that you’re sanding down a beveled part, it will make the sanded part narrower front to back and more of the grip frame will show. I agree with the heat and over-bend to account for spring-back.

 

[jav]

I have a set got my I frame they ivory the real stuff they don’t fit well custom made a did a bad job . I will keep them but I don’t use them

 

[Hondo44]

I have a set got my I frame they ivory the real stuff they don’t fit well custom made a did a bad job . I will keep them but I don’t use them

Just a suggestion: Proof read.

 

[Hondo44]

The grips actually look a little oversize at the top of the front grip strap where material will be removed by sanding. The grip will fit better when done. I'd even sand a little off the top of the grip on the other side.