Well I am bored and decided to try my hand at refinishing the grips on my 45 Bisley. The stock rosewood grips had some really nice figure in them but I don't care for the finish or the reddish look they have so why not....the worst thing is I learn something new and I send they frame off for a custom set.

So I popped the medallions off went to work with the stripper. The stock finish came off easy enough. I then used a 180 grit sanding sponge and smoothed up a few places namely the lower portion of the grips and the semi sharp angle towards the bottom. I removed ~ 1/16" to take out some the bottom flare. Followed up by 320 and 600.

Next I stained it with Minwax's stain and sealer. Letting it dry then buffing it with 0000 steel wool. Currently I am on my 3rd coat of minwax and think I have the perfect color. It's really looking good! Its dark with nice figure but if the light hits it right a burst of red will shine through. Already I have out kicked my coverage because it looks much better than I thought it would.

Hers the thing do I need to add a "real" sealant to it now? I bought some Truoil. Apparently the minwax sealant part of the (stain and seal) isn't the best one for gun use.

After this coat is finished drying I am planning on buffing with a little steel wool and a t shirt then VERY lightly rubbing some truoil in. Is this a mess up should I try something else? The look I want is a satin/ semi gloss. I would also like to keep the "feel" of the wood. Any I-deers?

Yes before and after pics will come...when I am done....if I like it.

Thanks
Blake

I never use the combo stuff. I prefer to stain and then finish in separate steps. I don't think truoil will harm polyurethane but don't apply any lacquer, they don't play well together.

Noted. Also this is my first time so I am all ears.

What kind of epoxy should I use on the medallions?

http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5920&ppuser=7765

Sorry I don't know how to directly post pics here. But you can see were I am at. I believe I will leave them in the semi gloss sheen condition.

Lookin good.

Sorry that is a before pic here is an after, smoothed up and a little more brown. I don't have the gun with me, working out of town.


An after pic

[img]http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5922&ppuser=7765[/img]

Still can't get the pics to work

Even better.

Thanks s4s4u!

You did a real nice job on your grips....

Thanks James, one of the perks of being a broke biologist is that you must learn how to do custom stuff yourself!

Slowly but surely she is coming out real nice and on a budget.

Gun new $480
Throats reamed $40
grips refinished (in supplies) $20
Quality holster by Simply Rugged (Who I highly recommend) $85
Poorboy trigger job + ~2000 dry fires(great trigger now) Free

Not counting reloading stuff, that is a separate hobby, I have just under $600 In a firearm that is very functional and looks great!

Next is a packing version 4 5/8 45colt to match.

I'd say it's a big improvement. Nice job.
Steve