View Full Version : Laser stippling?
So, there are lots of cool videos on YouTube of polymer stippling done with lasers. I'm a little OCD and have never cared for the sort of organic look of traditional hand stippling but the laser work brings a level of precision that might convince me to get it done.
Does anyone know if there is a local shop that offers this service? I know Damage Factory does (or did) some stuff with lasers but I don't think their setup was ideal for doing the kind of work I'm looking for.
Thanks.
Just looked at some examples. Wow. I'd totally go for this depending on cost.
Just looked at some examples. Wow. I'd totally go for this depending on cost.
I think I saw some pricing from one source that was around $140.
Just trying to see if I can find a place locally so I don?t have to ship.
Saw lots of cool designs. Seems more like pin striping for guns than it does making them grippy though.
San Antonio Laser Engraving was the first company I heard of that did this type of work. I seem to remember they charged $140 and that’s a good deal IMO. They offer training classes, so I’d assume there’d be a chance someone in CO can do it. SAE said the turnaround time is fairly short as the process doesn’t take hours like hand stippling does.
https://salelasers.com
Great-Kazoo
11-23-2018, 10:07
I have a 19 that was laser "stippled" by a friend in NoCo, nice job. Is more like a wave pattern than stippled, actually nice comfortable grip.
Well, I have one frame in a local shop for some laser texturing. I?ll post pictures and details once I get it back.
In the mean time, I felt daring and ambitious so did another frame myself. Nothing too fancy. Just removed the finger grooves, double undercut the trigger guard, and gave it some texture.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181220/dba553aff1d43f56fc6e55551c0a8fa9.jpg
Damn ray that looks really good!
Thanks. This is my winter project. Last expensive piece I need is the barrel then the rest is just small parts. Well, until I decide to mount an RMR.
Thanks. This is my winter project. Last expensive piece I need is the barrel then the rest is just small parts. Well, until I decide to mount an RMR.
Are you looking for a fancy barrel? Or a standard run of the mill one? Love that undercut and texture job, what?s your secret?
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5
Are you looking for a fancy barrel? Or a standard run of the mill one? Love that undercut and texture job, what?s your secret?
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5
It will be getting a fancy barrel. Just because.
As far as my frame work, there is no secret. Watched some videos, did a little practice on some old magazine bodies I had laying around and then just went for it.
So, I picked up the frame that I was having some laser work done on. This wasn?t a fancy job but the price was reasonable and since I wasn?t looking for a full blown custom job it fit the bill. This was done on a stock, Gen 3 frame and didn?t require and prep work. The texture is some sort of dot type pattern I believe but looks very similar to a checkered type finish. It gives a much better grip than the factory provides but isn?t rough on the hands. I think it would be very serviceable on a daily carry piece without being overly aggressive and without breaking the bank.
If you like the work give Shooter Ready a call. The turnaround time was very reasonable and while it was a little more than the cost of a set of stick on grips these won?t ever peel or need to be replaced.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181227/75d8b5223cdd739b09d61234a5fedf2e.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181227/142106906652912c7fc862111724c382.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181227/70e25c67d740165f2194ecbc76a075ad.jpg
Just to confirm, this was laser and not traditional stippling?
Just to confirm, this was laser and not traditional stippling?
Yes. Shooter Ready up on the north side of town has a new machine and is in the learning stage. He showed me a basic one he had done and let me handle it. I liked the look and feel and when he threw me a price I left one of my frames with him to do something similar.
Like I said, it?s a basic job that doesn?t require any sanding or other type of preparation to the frame. The frame is stock and is simply chucked up in the laser machine and cut. The front and back straps sort of look a little funky from different angles since the laser texture is applied directly over the existing factory texture but it feels good in the hand and since the frame isn?t sanded smooth first it saves quite a bit of time as well as cost.
He is working on doing fancier stuff but the basic pattern I had done with no frame preparation is very serviceable.
This particular frame is getting built into a basic long slide pistol and I just wanted a better grip while keeping it simple and functional and I feel this job met my requirements.
He showed me one he was working on with a similar texture but done on a frame that had been sanded smooth first and it was pretty nice.
Yes. Shooter Ready up on the north side of town has a new machine and is in the learning stage. He showed me a basic one he had done and let me handle it. I liked the look and feel and when he threw me a price I left one of my frames with him to do something similar.
Like I said, it?s a basic job that doesn?t require any sanding or other type of preparation to the frame. The frame is stock and is simply chucked up in the laser machine and cut. The front and back straps sort of look a little funky from different angles since the laser texture is applied directly over the existing factory texture but it feels good in the hand and since the frame isn?t sanded smooth first it saves quite a bit of time as well as cost.
He is working on doing fancier stuff but the basic pattern I had done with no frame preparation is very serviceable.
This particular frame is getting built into a basic long slide pistol and I just wanted a better grip while keeping it simple and functional and I feel this job met my requirements.
He showed me one he was working on with a similar texture but done on a frame that had been sanded smooth first and it was pretty nice.
It seems that shooter ready is using an Nd:YAG laser from what I can tell by their web page.
From the pictures it is hard to tell if they are melting the plastic or ablating it with the laser.
Now I am completely intrigued as to how they are doing it.
It's magic.
Seriously, all I know is lasers burn or melt plastic. Maybe.
Swing by and check out his setup some time. It's a big, fancy sumbitch.
Also, you're more than welcome to look at the frame he did for me in person. I only have one kid living in Longmont right now so I don't get up there as often as I used to.
Finally got this one all together almost.
Just need to snag a set of tall sights for it and then it will make its maiden journey to the range.
It will eventually end up with an RMR as well.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191101/b75753da708d394912942228293be23d.jpg
Time to start back into my long slide project now.
Finally got this one all together almost.
Just need to snag a set of tall sights for it and then it will make its maiden journey to the range.
...
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/176038-Trijicon-suppressor-height-night-sights-NIB
Thanks. Saw those the other day. I was thinking of just going plain black without dots or tritium just to keep things simple with the future optic plans.
Well I found a set of OEM Glock suppressor sights on sale cheap so now it?s all done except for the optic.
Just need to make time to put some rounds through it.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191122/657965c50ac6a668b860b4cf4a8cd62a.jpg
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