BMR
2 December 2010, 00:59
I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to modify my weapons or other accessories. While recently talking with a shooting friend I was turned on to the use of a wood burning tool to add texture to any plastic part on my weapon. I was shown an AFG which had been textured and loved it. So simple and such a positive grip that I decided to try it for myself.
I picked up a “wood burning tool” from a local craft store for about $25. It basically comprised of a small soldering iron with interchangeable tips. The tips varied in shapes from blade, point, to the round toothed looking one I used for most of the pictured work.
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_WOOD_BURNER_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_WOOD_BURNER_002.jpg
I was a little apprehensive at first, mainly because I was taking a hot piece of metal to plastic components. My main worry was that the tool would actually burn through the plastic very easily and either compromises the integrity of the part or plain destroy it. I was pleased to find that in fact the tool I used merely seemed to redistribute a thin amount the molten plastic into the shape of the bit. Even while trying, I found it very difficult to melt through or dig any kind of hole into the parts I was modifying, my guess I the heat the tool generated was not enough to do so.
I used both pressing, and rolling motions in rows on some parts and found that rolling the bit (when using the round bit pictured below) created the best imprints for me. Using these motions in overlapping rows seemed to generate some clean looking impressions.
I found that melting the plastic would generate some gnarly and sharp points in on the plastic, depending on the amount of grip needed, a simple piece of sandpaper or sanding tool knocked down and smoothed out any unwanted rises.
To me it felt like this method generated a more positive grip than using grip tape, also you don’t have to worry about the tape wearing down or the use of solvents on it.
I have to say that I was very impressed with the ease and results of this technique and will be doing this to more parts in the future.
Thanks to Zero7One for the photo help!
BMR
Here are some of the accessories that I have modified:
Magpul MIAD Grip
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_002.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_003.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_004.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_005.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_006.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_007.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_008.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_009.jpg
Standard A2 Grip
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_002.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_003.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_004.jpg
Magpul AFG
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_AFG_TEXTURE_001.jpg
Magpul MOE RVG
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MOE_RVG_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MOE_RVG_TEXTURE_002.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MOE_RVG_TEXTURE_003.jpg
Magpul PMAG
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_PMAG_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_PMAG_TEXTURE_002.jpg
I picked up a “wood burning tool” from a local craft store for about $25. It basically comprised of a small soldering iron with interchangeable tips. The tips varied in shapes from blade, point, to the round toothed looking one I used for most of the pictured work.
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_WOOD_BURNER_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_WOOD_BURNER_002.jpg
I was a little apprehensive at first, mainly because I was taking a hot piece of metal to plastic components. My main worry was that the tool would actually burn through the plastic very easily and either compromises the integrity of the part or plain destroy it. I was pleased to find that in fact the tool I used merely seemed to redistribute a thin amount the molten plastic into the shape of the bit. Even while trying, I found it very difficult to melt through or dig any kind of hole into the parts I was modifying, my guess I the heat the tool generated was not enough to do so.
I used both pressing, and rolling motions in rows on some parts and found that rolling the bit (when using the round bit pictured below) created the best imprints for me. Using these motions in overlapping rows seemed to generate some clean looking impressions.
I found that melting the plastic would generate some gnarly and sharp points in on the plastic, depending on the amount of grip needed, a simple piece of sandpaper or sanding tool knocked down and smoothed out any unwanted rises.
To me it felt like this method generated a more positive grip than using grip tape, also you don’t have to worry about the tape wearing down or the use of solvents on it.
I have to say that I was very impressed with the ease and results of this technique and will be doing this to more parts in the future.
Thanks to Zero7One for the photo help!
BMR
Here are some of the accessories that I have modified:
Magpul MIAD Grip
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_002.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_003.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_004.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_005.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_006.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_007.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_008.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MIAD_TEXTURE_009.jpg
Standard A2 Grip
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_002.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_003.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_A2_GRIP_TEXTURE_004.jpg
Magpul AFG
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_AFG_TEXTURE_001.jpg
Magpul MOE RVG
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MOE_RVG_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MOE_RVG_TEXTURE_002.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_MOE_RVG_TEXTURE_003.jpg
Magpul PMAG
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_PMAG_TEXTURE_001.jpg
http://zero7one.jalbum.net/BRM%20-%20Textured%20Grips/BMR_PMAG_TEXTURE_002.jpg