What a pain in the a$# I mean arms!
 

Ok Hugh, you have nothing to fear from me trying to steal business from you! <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> I pulled out my dusty checkering tools and tried my hand at cleanup work. I had an old set of 1911 grips that needed freshening up a bit. Ok 1911 grips are not that bad, but then I tried an old set of Luger grips. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> What a pain! It took me hours making sure that I didn't jump from one line to another. And this with a checkering tool with a guide edge! Bottom line unless I have nothing better to do Iâ??m going to send them to you! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

<img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" /> Doug,

Be patient and practice-practice-practice! And when you have rested a while practice some more. After about 25 years, you will be proficient! Now you see why I charge those big bucks! HA HA

It takes about 4 hours to do one side if starting from scratch. About 2 hours to refurbish a side. What with my breaks for meals, computer time, honey dooz, etc, it takes about 2 days to checker a pair. Then I have to wait for my eyes to uncross before starting on another pair.
<img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Hugh,

I thought you just roll pressed them with an armadillo.

Agree with Doug ! ! ! !

I learned a lot of new (bad) words while trying to master this, and Hugh was kind enough to bail me out of some real trouble spots.

After several disappointing and disgusting failures, I have finally developed a successful process and have refinished 2 pairs which look great.

Having said that . . . . . I do not recommend it to ANYONE. If I compare the cost of sending them to Hugh to my personal work time, I think I saved about $2.00 per hour by doing it myself. Not a good return for the time invested, not to mention the cost of good checkering tools.

Don't go down that road unless you have lots of spare time, great patience, and masochistic leanings.

Hugh does a really great job at a surprisingly reasonable price, and he is a real craftsman.

Luke

To see a pair of walnut grips that Hugh has started the checkering from "scratch" pardon the pun is amazing. The smooth Nill Grips that he COMPLETELY does the checkering on look better than the ones coming from Germany! AMAZING to say the least.

<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

Unspellable: HA HA HA! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Luke & Thor: Thanks! (blush) [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img]