The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Tyler Durden on February 18, 2012, 12:38:21 PM
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Hi all,
I fiddled around the other night with some old blue jeans. I also had some white denim jeans that I also cut up. The layers were epoxied together, blue, white, blue, white, blue white.
There are plenty of videos on youtube on "how to make micarta".
I think I might try making my own 1911 grips.
The only downside was the smell of the epoxy was all through the house. :-\
Have you tried making your own micarta?
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If you really want to start from scratch, first you need to create a universe.
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If you really want to start from scratch, first you need to create a universe.
It doesn't have to be as big as this one, though...it just needs to be big enough to eventually produce all the stuff needed to make micarta.
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Hi all,
I fiddled around the other night with some old blue jeans. I also had some white denim jeans that I also cut up. The layers were epoxied together, blue, white, blue, white, blue white.
There are plenty of videos on youtube on "how to make micarta".
I think I might try making my own 1911 grips.
The only downside was the smell of the epoxy was all through the house. :-\
Have you tried making your own micarta?
What do you mean downside?
Most of us took up model building in the 60's just for the on going glue smell, and in the 70's we expanded into air brushing the models. I still think a friend of mine that went into custom painting of vans and rods did it just for the fumes ;D
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What do you mean downside?
Most of us took up model building in the 60's just for the on going glue smell, and in the 70's we expanded into air brushing the models. I still think a friend of mine that went into custom painting of vans and rods did it just for the fumes ;D
Hell, I know a guy - let's call him Geo...Jeff... Bob - who sniffs the dry erase markers in the offices I he works in. ::)
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What do you mean downside?
Most of us took up model building in the 60's just for the on going glue smell, and in the 70's we expanded into air brushing the models. I still think a friend of mine that went into custom painting of vans and rods did it just for the fumes ;D
We had a guy we called Swervo, spent his entire carer in the corrosion shop as a painter. Got pulled over for suspected dui a couple times leaving work because of how he drove.
Let us know how the grips turn out, might be something to try.
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Hell, I know a guy - let's call him Geo...Jeff... Bob - who sniffs the dry erase markers in the offices I he works in. ::)
Guys like you that are the reason we need an MSDS sheet for White-Out at the office!
:D
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Hell, I know a guy - let's call him Geo...Jeff... Bob - who sniffs the dry erase markers in the offices I he works in. ::)
Guess what we learned the other day just by sniffing as we wrote (true story): Someone in our Twin Cities office bought us scented dry erase markers ;D Chocolate Mint smells like something else brown, but the Licorice, Cherry, Blueberry, Lime, and Grape are pretty cool 8)
The IT dude has 48' of white board in his cage room, and he is one happy camper right now! Of course IT folk are all just a little twisted, so it is hard to tell if it is the markers or crossed wires.
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When I was married I found out they have scented nail polish.
WTF, they aren't supposed to be up your nose .
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I guess it's okay if I drift my own thread...
I have a pregnant dog in the house:
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/gryphon1994/photo-14.jpg)
^^^ Look for the spinal columns and skulls in the pic. The vet said 7 puppies for sure, maybe 9?
It was confirmed Friday morning when I took her to the vet. She started getting sick and couldn't keep anything down Thursday, before I started fiddling around with the epoxy. I thought maybe she had just eaten one of my socks which she couldn't bring up.
With her throwing up, I couldn't sleep Thursday night, so I was like, "Well, while I am up, I might as well do something productive."
So I started cutting up a bunch of fabric, denim and old sheets I had around.
So...anywhooo....now that I know she is pregnant with supposedly at most 10 days left before giving birth, I reckon it is probably a good idea to NOT make her breathe those epoxy fumes.
I have had this female for just a little over a month. She was another one of my Craig's List finds. The previous owners make it sound like the father (sire) is a St. Bernard....bummer.
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How are you applying pressure and are you heat curing?
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How are you applying pressure and are you heat curing?
To the puppies? You cad!!!!!! ;)
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Now I think we have just experienced the largest thread drift ever from the OP...
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Now I think we have just experienced the largest thread drift ever from the OP...
No ... I believe just recently we did pretty damn good over on the motorcycle thread. Four pages of coming and going, and MB still hasn't answered the question. I can't blame him, because if you weren't there from the beginning you can't figure out what it was about ;D
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How are you applying pressure and are you heat curing?
well...I was "clamping" them between two, two by sixes, by screwing them together. The first or top two by six, I drilled about six holes all the way through, face to face of the 2X6. The drilled holes were just a big enough diameter to let a 3 inch deck screw through. At first I drilled both boards at the same time, but on clamping up my first piece, I discovered I drilled too far in the second board to get enough threads to grip on a few of the screws. I used fender washers so that the pressure would be spread out and the bugle head shape wouldn't split the top board.
On the second glue up, I didn't drill into the bottom board. So I was about done "clamping" it up and all of a sudden.... CRACK!
The board had split right down the middle.
and with the epoxy quickly hardening up, I was like :o
I ran around the house and found a few clamps.
It turned out just fine. I let it out of the clamps after two hours.
As far as heat goes, NO! I am not supplying any heat. It produces heat on its own. The three glue ups I have done so far have been warm to the touch like 6 hours after the initial glue up/clamp up.
I think for next time though, I will probably just start out with two pieces of 3/4" thick plywood, probably 2 squares, about 14 inches by 14 inches, or maybe 16 inches by 16 inches. Then, instead of cutting the fabric into skinny 3 inch by 10 inch long strips, I will cut them into 12 inch by 12 squares. I would still use screws, though to clamp it together, with maybe a 2X4 on edge clamped across the top as like a clamping caul to ensure that the middle gets pushed down tight. I am thinking that a 12 inch by 12 glued up square of "micarta" would give me more options as far as orienting the "grain" of the grips any particular direction and/or to maximize the number of grip panels and minimize the waste.
But I will have to see how my first glue up looks, before I blow any more time, material and money on this.
Just scouring the web I have found several good websites/links, but they all seem to eventually trace back to one man, Argentinian knife maker Ariel Salaverria:
http://www.aescustomknives.com/docs/tutorial5.htm
http://www.aescustomknives.com/docs/tutorial6.htm
that last link there shows his rag twisting technique which gives the zig zagging damascus steel look to the finished product.
This guy has 666 pics uploaded to his photobucket site, which I have linked as a slideshow. Go grab a coffee or a beer and watch this:
http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x45/shadetrees/?albumview=slideshow
So I might try that too, and make a clamping jig out of a piece of channel iron, oh, about 4 inches wide.
I have been using wax paper and cellophane to keep the epoxy from glueing the whole sha-bang to the 2X6's. That would be really, really, bad.... >:(
If this produces good results, I might just break down and buy two steel plates, at least 3/8" thick, then some grade 8 bolts, drill matching holes all around the perimeter. Insert the bolts, tighten the nuts down, then weld the head of the bolts to underside of one plate. Then when it comes time to clamp them together, I will fire up the air compressor and use my air ratchet to quickly cinch everything down.
But, like I said....I will have to see how my first glue up looks, before I blow any more time, material and money on this.
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FYI: You can drop the whole micarta/epoxy mess into a ziplock bag and press that (also, do a flat surface on the bottom and add a few layers of towel/rag on top THEN press with a hard item like more wood/concrete, heat cured puppies or your truck. Works awesome.
Andy
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cool!
Thanks!
Speaking of puppies (thread jack in progress)....I was sitting on the sofa this morning with Luna next to me. I heard her grunt. Looked down, and there was this little sack, like a water balloon, which contained a paw and a tail.
:o
WOW!
So that was at about 5 AM St. Louis time.
She has pushed out two more since then.
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/gryphon1994/ffc457a5.jpg)
this one is latched on pretty well:
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/gryphon1994/f2a1bd73.jpg)
Anybody want to buy a slightly used sofa? So much for that whelping box I made her. ::)
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/gryphon1994/aeb21bc8.jpg)
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Tyler, Go with clamps directly over the "micarta" if you use steel plates.
If you bolt them around the perimeter they will still bow in the middle.
It sounds like you are the victim of "Heck, I could make that". ;D
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well, I need something going on, on the side, just to dabble in to see if it would take off business wise...maybe enough to make it worthwhile to say claim going to major matches on the business taxes. ;D
I had made some steel targets, and advertised them here in this forum's classifieds. Meh! Nobody seems interested in buying anything right now. I had also posted them on the Brian Enos forums. That thread had something like 722 views, but I only had one buyer...a set of 6 targets, $180 shipped.
Fooey! :-\
So like maybe 400 to 600 people actually looked at the ad, maybe, and only one frickin' buyer. Ugh....
Puppy #4 popped out at about 10 AM.
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It sounds like you are the victim of "Heck, I could make that". ;D
Ahh...jeesh... You should have seen me earlier in the week when I was researching PlasmaCAMs or CNC plasma tables. I came across some homemade plasma CNC tables. "Hmmn....Yeah, I could make that."
Fiddling around with micarta and epoxy seems like the cheaper option.
I have got one or two other design ideas for these micarta grips, so we'll see....
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Ahh...jeesh... You should have seen me earlier in the week when I was researching PlasmaCAMs or CNC plasma tables. I came across some homemade plasma CNC tables. "Hmmn....Yeah, I could make that."
Fiddling around with micarta and epoxy seems like the cheaper option.
I have got one or two other design ideas for these micarta grips, so we'll see....
A guy I worked with built his own mini CNC milling machine.It really isn't that complex, just 3 calibrated threaded rods , one for each axis of travel.
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Heat-cured, pressurized puppies in a ziplock bag and home made micarta grips........................... ??
.............or was that homemade puppies and heat-cured micarta......
:o :o :o :o
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Heat-cured, pressurized puppies in a ziplock bag and home made micarta grips........................... ??
.............or was that homemade puppies and heat-cured micarta......
:o :o :o :o
Don't forget the pipe clamps to hold the puppies together, and the ziplock so they don't stick to everything, and the heat for ... what was the heat for ???
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The heat was for the placentas and umbilical cords...hmmnmmmn...yummy...fried placenta.
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Tyler, if no one has told you this before, you are crazier than most of the folks here....
It's you, a couple of guys from the outback, and many one or two more all in a tight group in contention for that title. ;D ;D
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you probably know this, but that was all said in jest.
trying to inject some levity here as I'm stuck helping Luna birth her pups.
#6 was successfully downloaded at about 2:30
a brown one this time.
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you probably know this, but that was all said in jest.
trying to inject some levity here as I'm stuck helping Luna birth her pups.
#6 was successfully downloaded at about 2:30
a brown one this time.
You only thought of it.....that will probably give the Aussies the edge ;D ;D ;D
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WOW!
With each successive puppy, Luna gets even more aggressive with getting the placenta the umbilical cord off.
#7 downloaded at about 4:15 PM St. Louis time.
Anywhooo....back on topic....from another forum, I was asking about grips. It sounds like making them for revolvers would be the way to go, as it sounds like there isn't that much of a market for them yet.
if I were to start a legitimate business (like became an L.L.C.) I have to wonder if I could take my gun purchases off the business's taxes???
;D
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WOW!
With each successive puppy, Luna gets even more aggressive with getting the placenta the umbilical cord off.
;D
She's probably tired! My dog, when I was a kid, chose my bed to deliver at least five litters.
Are you letting her eat the placenta? She needs the protein she gets from all that nasty!
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from doing some google searches, it sounds like eating the placentas causes the mama dog to produce a type of milk called colustrum which according to a few other websites is full of stuff that boosts the puppies's immune systems.
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from doing some google searches, it sounds like eating the placentas causes the mama dog to produce a type of milk called colustrum which according to a few other websites is full of stuff that boosts the puppies's immune systems.
And it gives her energy so she doesn't have to look for food right away and she can tend to the litter.
You said you just adopted her recently. Is this your first litter?
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Yep. So pardon the play by play. It is all so very novel for me.
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Yep. So pardon the play by play. It is all so very novel for me.
Keep the temperature up where the pups are for the next few days and try and spend as much time with mom and the pups to make sure she doesn't stop eating or drinking. The next few days are critical for both the newborns and their mom. Find a large box big enough for mom and kids to get comfy in so you can control the pups for a few weeks.
You have some Veterinary costs that you'll incur in the next month or so for initial shots and such.
Good luck! You've got your hands full but there is plenty of useful information on the web to get you through it!
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Colustrum is the first milk produced. Starts prior to the birth, and continues for a few days to weeks depending on the species. Eating the placenta is a combination of disposing of it to hide the birth from predators and retaining the high nutrition it contains.
We used to have lots of critters out here, and the longer the labor the crankier the maternal unit gets ... kinda like a wife having kids.
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She's becoming more aggressive with each pup cuz she knows what to do. First ones (assuming it's her first litter ever) she is just following instinct and is a little confused over the whole process. Later pups - get them free NOW!!!!
That's the way it went for my dog when I was in HS. Coolest part was when I walked into the room from school and she stood up to come to me - pups hanging off her and all! ;D
Ditto the keep warm and make sure she gets water especially parts.
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thanks guys for all the info.
my aunt and her husband (he's been deceased for a year now) used to raise dogs. so I called her tonight and picked her brain a little bit. I think in 2 weeks when they are due for their first deworming she is going to help me.
puppy #8 just whelped about 15 minutes ago
WOW! kinda cutting it close to the 4 hour mark the vet told me about.
so now I have 4 like black puppies, and 4 brownish puppies.
I am whooped. :o
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Tyler, Go with clamps directly over the "micarta" if you use steel plates.
If you bolt them around the perimeter they will still bow in the middle.....
I could always weld a rib across the top of the top plate.
The other thing I was thinking of was to use something like this:
(http://www.woodcraft.com/Images/products/143569.jpg)
a veneer press screw,
but I think I could cobble something up out of black gas pipe and threaded couplers for a whole lot cheaper, and it would still press down on the center of the top plate.
I also have a heavy duty vacuum pump which I guess the HVAC guys use to "boil" any water out of supply lines. So I could theoretically make a vacuum press, put the whole sha-bang inside a large vinyl bag, seal it up, then suck all the air out of it.
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Never mind the micarta, how many puppies did you finish up with ? ;D
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9 total, one died last night while being born, so it should have been 10. :'(
it sounds like the father/sire was a chocolate lab.
that jives up with their coloring.
5 are solid brownish/grayish. 4 are solid black.
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(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/gryphon1994/c5dce7d2.jpg)
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giggity!
;D
I might be really onto something here with this micarta stuff. Stay tuned next week for a classifieds ad. ;D