Is it possible to shrink Luger wood grips?
 

Is it possible to shrink Luger wood grips?
I cleaned a set of grips with Murphys oil soap and rinsed with water. Let them dry for a week and put a coat of boiled linseed oil on them. They turned out good but now hang way over the front grip strap and I can hardly get them on.
Any tips to shrinking them would be much appreciated?
Thanks,
Mike Z.

Mike, I have never noticed them getting slightly larger by using Murphys and water - in fact what you do is what i do...

There are good reasons some of us don't fool around with original artifacts.

Are they original grips? I've never seen an original pair swell after soaking them, but have experienced this with inexpensive woods, which soaked up moisture.

Try gently heating them to see if they dry out thoroughly. Heat will shrink wood to a degree.

If you heated the grips while in the Murphys soap, it may have resulted in more absorption of the soap emulsion resulting in less "evaporation" after removal. You might try heating the grips in clear water, this will remove any soap still in the wood and allow for the grips to dry, and hopefully return to their original size. Just a thought, and would be my next move.

Jim

They are the originals at least #ed and proofed.
Thanks Guys

I messed about with a pair of original grips several years ago, but they belonged to a crummy P.08 shooter that I was using to "experiment" on it.
I would think twice before doing the same thing on a good pair of original grips.

IMHO

Sergio

I agree

Berry them in silica desiccant for couple of weeks. This should slowly remove excess moisture without damaging wood. Or you can try quick method using microwave in defrost mode.

wet wood...
 

best thing to do is nothing.. they will return to their original moisture state within a few days.. watch your humidity forecast... and set out on dry days, seal in Tupperware on wet ones.. you'll be surprised at how fast they change... best to all, til...lat'r...GT:thumbup:

If your grips swell for more than 4 hours..seek help!

Funny one Jerry! :)

G.T. has hit this one right on the button. Moisture of any sort will interfere with the dimensions of most woods, to whatever degree. The coat of boiled linseed oil seals out moisture, but if the wood is not totally dry when the finish is applied, then the oil tends to seal the moisture in! Along with a little patience, a warm, dry place will do the job, although the finish will impede the process slightly.

I had good results. I heated them as suggested in the oven at 200 keeping a close eye on them.
I let them sit all day while at work and now they fit good, Go on easy and they have a little overhang the front grip straps but that's the same as before.
Thanks to all that had replied much appreciated.
Mike Z.

Mike

I'm really glad for you that you managed to fit them back.
I think it has been a lesson for the future.

Sergio

put in a closed environment
 

Hi Rich, take the grips off the frame, put in a Tupperware bowl with lid, also place a small cup/shot glass of water in the center of the bowl, careful not to spill ....:eek:.. you don't want water and grips to touch!! seal the bowl with all inside, and check twice a day. If the grips are still undersized, put back in bowl, replace the lid, and wait a day or two longer?... Sooner or later the artificial environment will hydrate the wood to a higher that normal level, but once in the air, they will assume whatever winter, or summer, humidity that is normal... :cheers:.. good luck, til...lat'r......GT

Long time since I look at this here forum. Still same subjects. Years ago I published here a fool proof grip cleaning method that I have used about 30 years. It was here in the forum archives for years---may still be---I don't know how to find it. It even contained pictures. Bottom line----the only place water is good on wood is old ship wrecks!! Use paste paint and varnish remover. Let girps soak in a plastic container over night (ususaly is long enough). Clean off varnish remover with tooth brush and then paper towels soaked with acetone. Maybe tooth brush again and final liberal application of acetone. Some times the grips swell a bit. Couple days later they look sooo good and fit same as before. Leave the soap to Mrs Murphy!!!

Here's the link. It is an excellent, well written resource that I have bookmarked.

Thank you, Art, for the time and effort you invested in sharing your method.

Link> http://www.lugerforum.com/gripclean.html

Another approach for drying grips. Wrap them in a couple of layers of paper towels, and then put that into a black plastic bag. Put the bag on the dashboard of a car.

The heat and sunlight will help "sweat" moisture and oils out of the grips.