I stippled the m&P With PICS!

[Nav195]

last night I posted a question if any one knew how boresight did their awesome stipple job. refer to thread here. https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=55744

Well this morning I thought ill just give it a shot. I practiced on the fat backstrap with it on the gun first. Then when I liked what I saw I switched it. I think I figured out what worked for me.

used a $5 soldering iron from wal mart. about 1.5 to 2 hrs of time
-I started making the holes with the iron, but I didnt do it so uniformed like I did my glock.


- I started kind of making taps in the polimer, then more of a light scratch or like a sketching pattern to break up the holes.


-I did notice that the backstrap was a bit softer than the actual frame so I had to hold the iron on for a bit longer.

-I drew a line with the iron to out line the border of slide release to make it look more clean.

- notice in some pictures I left directly under the triggergaurd alone so it doesnt rub the soft skin on the side of my knuckle raw. I also left under the beavertail alone.
take your time get the same consistancy over the whole suface.

The iron
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/my%20firearms/1f92790c.jpg


The practice ( I stopped at this point and went to the med backstrap)
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/my%20firearms/3aecf966.jpg

Before
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/my%20firearms/MP.jpg

Process
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/my%20firearms/cbe083b7.jpg

After
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/my%20firearms/92a841f8.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/my%20firearms/8dd59160.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/my%20firearms/1a0ba5ed.jpg

After Magpul Dynamics handgun 1
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/untitled.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/nav195/8745db22.jpg

[Sam]

Congratulations. That is awesome work. I'm too chicken to try.

[Rated21R]

Looks pretty dang good. Nice work.

[Gatekeeper]

Very nice work!!
How do you like the "feel"?

[jaxman7]

That looks pretty good! I wish I would've thought about going in at different angles before I did mine. Are you considering doing a border like Ben's work as well? I have got all the stuff needed. (I think) to do it but I haven't worked up the nerve to do it yet.

[ruckusjuice]

That looks really good.

[Oscar 319]

Congratulations. That is awesome work. I'm too chicken to try.

That's what I'm thinking too.

[jaxman7]

PMAGS make for good practice. In my opinion the back strap is good practice but the plastic is much softer than the gun itself and requires something harder to practice on like a PMAG. Plus if you screw that mag up no big deal.



That's what I'm thinking too.

[mattpittinger]

Great idea practicing on the additional back straps, that is what I did. Only I destroyed two back straps before I got it where I wanted it.

I have noticed that the softer back strap looses it's "roughness" faster than the rest of the frame. Has anyone else encountered this, and if so did you just redo another back strap or just touch up the one you already have?

[Nav195]

Very nice work!!
How do you like the "feel"?

So far I like the feel. It feels like a new gun. When I did the glock I thought that was a good aggressive texture but the M&P feels way better. The glock was also my first time. The M&P is my second time. Ill run it tomorrow or saturday. I left under the trigger gaurd and under the beavertail untouched, I dont think I would like the texture rubbing the soft skin on the inside of my middle finger knuckle raw. If I feel I need it than ill go back and stipple it.

[Nav195]

Are you considering doing a border like Ben's work as well? I have got all the stuff needed. (I think) to do it but I haven't worked up the nerve to do it yet.

I did the border as you see it pictured. I cant rememebr exactly but I think its pretty simular to bens.

[CougarBlue]

Looks fantastic. You did a stellar job!

I've seen others that look like a hot nail was jack hammered into the frame. I really prefer the random angles and depths that you were able to achieve.

[jaxman7]

Hey Nav, what I was referring to was the border that Boresight does with their work that involves a depressed ridge along almost the entire perimeter of his stippling. Like I said I am chicken about doing it yet b/c that's got to be a pain to get right and look right!


I did the border as you see it pictured. I cant rememebr exactly but I think its pretty simular to bens.

[Nav195]

Hey Nav, what I was referring to was the border that Boresight does with their work that involves a depressed ridge along almost the entire perimeter of his stippling. Like I said I am chicken about doing it yet b/c that's got to be a pain to get right and look right!

I see what your saying now. I just looked online at boresights. mine doesnt have that defined depressed/recessed border. To be honest didnt look at boresights border when doing mine, wish I did a bit more. but mine works.

[longball]

Great job and congrats. I would love to rework the grip on mine but I don't have the huevos to take after my piece with hot metal.

[Pumpkinheaver]

Looks good!

[ROCKET20_GINSU]

That looks terrific! I really like the way your M&P came out. I am inspired...I may go and pick up an iron tonight to try out! I think i'll practice on my glock case first though...

GU

[MookNW]

I think i'll practice on my glock case first though...

GU
Check the equipment exchange in 3 days. You'll most likely find my XD45 with a fukt up stiple job for cheap!;)

[ROCKET20_GINSU]

Check the equipment exchange in 3 days. You'll most likely find my XD45 with a fukt up stiple job for cheap!;)

FYI, I know ben at boresight solution can "fix" bad stippling jobs, just incase :D

GU

[DevilDog0402]

Nicely done!

[OhioFinance]

Normally not my thing but that was really good work, very uniform and clean. Very nice job.

[willowofwisp]

Looks like a quality job..i give you props for attempting it yourself

[Urabus23]

Looks good! I've been trying to get myself to do my M&P too but I'm still trying to grow a set of nuts big enough for the job.

[gumby223]

Looks good!

[Mitch]

Nice work Nav195! I hope you don't mind if I partake in your M&P stippling success.

For those of you on the fence about doing it yourself remember its nearly impossible to to F-up, but you do need to take your time on the edges and ensure you don't bury the iron too long in one place. Try it on something else first like an AR grip or a backstrap you don't use and you'll see how easy it is. Its worth the time to save a little cash to put towards training and ammo.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii318/uglyfireduck/SDC10384.jpg

[Nav195]

I dont mind^. this really was easier to get the results I wanted than I thought. As I mentioned this was my second time doing this, the first was my g17.

[BLACK LION]

Nice work.

It gets easier every time.

I like that wal mart kit. I looked at the wood burner they have and I am not a fan of the trowel tips and other such nonsense...that tip on that soldering iron is perfect. It does get uncomfortable with the ergos and heat but I found a good kit at the hoby store thats more like a pistol grip, so I may try that out.

Its a disease that is contageous...be well on your journey.

[Alien]

I use a wood burning kit by Walnut Hollow called the Creative Versa Tool. It seems to be a decent bit shorter than most soldering irons, which allows for easier and more precise stippling IMO. It also has a very fine tip that lets you make smaller depressions than most soldering Iron tips will let you make and comes with some other tips as well, including a soldering iron tip. You can find it at Michael's for $30.

http://image.misterart.com/grouppix/528x352/6000/g6068.jpg

[flyfishdave]

Alien is spot on when stating the shorter handle is best for control. Here's a pair of Sig P226 x-5 grips done using a dental waxup instrument. The handle is no bigger than a sharpie and is connected via a thin wire to a ac/dc converter/power supply and makes handling a breeze. With a pair of 3.5x loupes and about 3 hours of work, here’s the finished product:


http://images51.fotki.com/v174/photos/0/1301170/8513794/226X5stippled1-vi.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v527/photos/0/1301170/8513794/226X5stippled2-vi.jpg

Basically kept the same outlines, only extending the area on the backstrap to meet in the middle. Used a very fine tip which made for a fine texture (versus coarse) and also a more tedious process. Feels like 40 lpi checkering versus the 20 lpi stuff - have to keep my hands soft like kid gloves for work.

[jaxman7]

Flyfishdave that looks really good. I've been looking for a tool to make finer stippling marks and this dental waxup instrument may be it. I don't have to be married to a dental hygienist to acquire one of these things do I? Where did you get yours?

[/B]
Alien is spot on when stating the shorter handle is best for control. Here's a pair of Sig P226 x-5 grips done using a dental waxup instrument. The handle is no bigger than a sharpie and is connected via a thin wire to a ac/dc converter/power supply and makes handling a breeze. With a pair of 3.5x loupes and about 3 hours of work, here’s the finished product:


http://images51.fotki.com/v174/photos/0/1301170/8513794/226X5stippled1-vi.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v527/photos/0/1301170/8513794/226X5stippled2-vi.jpg

Basically kept the same outlines, only extending the area on the backstrap to meet in the middle. Used a very fine tip which made for a fine texture (versus coarse) and also a more tedious process. Feels like 40 lpi checkering versus the 20 lpi stuff - have to keep my hands soft like kid gloves for work.

[flyfishdave]

Jax,

I've seen dental waxers listed on ebay and online. Mine came with my student kit at school along with lots of unnecessary crap I never really used - I use mine more for stippling than for waxing crowns and models these days. Most have no need for it after school is over. Most have interchangeable tips from various tip sizes/diameters, paddles/spatulas, etc.

You may also want to ask your local dentist or dental lab to see if they have one they're not using, or you can get one through a supplier. While you're at it, ask for any worn pick and scalers. They work great for gunsmithing.

Dave.

[jaxman7]

Thanks for the info and the tips Dave I'll do some snooping around and see what I can find. I agree on the metal picks. They do come in handy.

[DragonDoc]

Very informative. Thanks for the post and the links from everyone.