I just finished milling up a set of Ruger Mk III pistol grips and took some photos along the way.
This is actually the second set I have made, but this is the first set where I used my ShapeOko to do all the work. The first set was mostly hand worked.
Step one is to create a pair of blanks that are 2″ x 5″ x 5/16″ thick. This is done in the normal wood shop way (planer, table saw, etc.)
Next I clamp a blank in a vise on the mill and mill out the pockets required for the left hand grip. There are three different pockets on the back of the left grip. I also mill two locating holes to fit over the dowels on the jig I built.
The back of the right hand grip is much simpler – it only gets the location holes in it.
The blanks get attached to the jig with double sided tape and the screw holes and counter bores get milled out.
After boring out the holes, I fasten the blanks down with a couple of brass screws. Just double sided tape is not adequate to hold down the blanks during the next part of the process. (As I found out the hard way.)
I change the tool to a 1/4″ end mill and mill the profile into the blanks.
I have some fuzzies there – looks like I need to sharpen the bit.
Then I chuck up a 1/4″ ball end mill and run the surfacing pass.
About half done there.
And then we are finished!
Hit them with some sandpaper, a little finish and done!
