Stippling and Carrying

[Redneck19]

So, how does stippling work from a comfort standpoint on a cc gun? I use a Crossbreed Supertuck.

[awm14hp]

no issues for me IWB with all my GLK with either stipple or 3m floor tape

[Guns-up.50]

I have a m&p9 stippled and a g17 rtf2 no problems if you run into an issue just put on an undershirt works for me.

[Magic_Salad0892]

I hate it. Uncomfortable, but I don't wear undershirts.

[Magsz]

Conventional stippling will tear up t-shirts and CAN cause abrasion against bare skin. It mostly depends on the following:

Type of holster.
Type of stippling.
Type of undergarment worn
Position of Carry

A good, competent Stipple artist will have perfected a pattern that is abrasive yet grippy without too many sharp points that will tear apart clothes.

Choose a professional and get it done right. Ben at Boresight comes to mind.

[markm]

My unstippled M&P 45 OWB under a T-shirt irritates me if I'm moving around a lot.

As pointed out... it depends on how aggressive the stipple job is.

[Redneck19]

Choose a professional and get it done right. Ben at Boresight comes to mind.

What's the general consensus on DIY vs. paying to have it done?

I'm in love with a job done by Stephen H on a G34 that I saw on lightfighter, but obviously he's professional.
I've seen other guys on here that seemed to do alright by themselves.

I'm still trying to build up the courage to actually do it, figuring on starting with an old A2 grip, or a Pmag...

Also, I do wear an undershirt with this rig.

[markm]

What's the general consensus on DIY vs. paying to have it done?

If you have half a brain and can sit still for the time it takes to stipple.... it's very easy.

I find most stippling to be excessive and obnoxious... but i had a 10 year old G22 that was as smooth as a bar of soap from the years of carry. I did that one and it came out pretty good.

[Magsz]

What's the general consensus on DIY vs. paying to have it done?

I'm in love with a job done by Stephen H on a G34 that I saw on lightfighter, but obviously he's professional.
I've seen other guys on here that seemed to do alright by themselves.

I'm still trying to build up the courage to actually do it, figuring on starting with an old A2 grip, or a Pmag...

Also, I do wear an undershirt with this rig.

There is a HUGE difference between garage "stipple artists" and guys that stipple thousands of guns a year ala Ben at Boresight or Bowie at Bowie Tactical Concepts.

1. They're not using a factory soldering iron tip.
2. They know at what rate they can burn and deform the plastic.
3. They know what temperate to melt the plastic at.
4. Their patterns do not have a defined POINT to it meaning they are less likely to tear apart clothing.
5. They put a large amount of time into ensuring that after texturing the pattern (or lack thereof) is EVEN across its entirety. I dont know about you but i like a certain degree of consistency. Half of the home stipple jobs i see here and on other sites have serious depth problems either too little or too much in random places.
6. The detail work is amazing. No rough edges, clean lines, no burrs and an overall PROFESSIONAL appearance to the thing.

Now there is more to the entire package but let me just say one thing. I personally do not care what my pistol looks like. If my M&P's were shaped like big elephant penis's i would still shoot them. It is not a fashion contest BUT functionality IS important to me and having some hack...um..hack on my pistol is not my idea of cool. There are WAY too many "professionals" on this site and others pawning off their "art" to people that simply dont know any better. A soldering iron and time do not make you a professional.

Educate yourself, find out what degree of texturing you want and then either decide to go for it yourself or seek out a true master craftsman.

Here's an example. Would you have a guy that owned a couple of files and some punches stipple or texture your expensive 1911? Probably not, at least i hope not. You would seek out a qualified professional to do the work for you so that you were ensured maximum function for your dollar.

The same applies for a plastic pistol regardless of its lesser cost.

All stippling is NOT the same.

[markm]

You make some good points.... but...

I bought the wood burning kit from harbor freight. In that kit there are several tips that you can mess with. One of those tips i cut jagged and asymetrically to create a barky finish that came out great.

Just buying a plain soldering iron is not optimal... I agree.