I picked up an old carbon steel K40...

[whidbeydh]

...and gave it a facelift.

Before I sent it to http://www.blacknitride.com/ This is basically the same as Melonite, Isonite, and Tennifer...


[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2479.jpg"]
Checkered front strap

[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2485.jpg"]
Smoothed out and dehorned

[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2481.jpg"]
Checkered the little parts

[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2477.jpg"]
Stippled the grips

After it came back, which only took 9 days for a full turnaround...

[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2512.jpg"]
Cleanly packaged

[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2516.jpg"]
Checkering turned out clean, especially for my first attempt.

[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2517.jpg"]
All smoothed out

[URL="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u279/whidbeydh/IMG_2514.jpg"]

I'm very pleased with how it all turned out and could not be happier with the service that I received from H&M Metal processing.

I had it finished in satin.

Oh yeah, I took it out and ran 150 rounds through it with no issues. Typical Kahr...

diy checkering, checkered front strap, kahr K40

[wyntrout]

Very nice! That's a great improvement over bluing... looks and protection from corrosion. And... your checkering is exemplary!

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

I love everything about it. That front strap checkering is beautiful.

You done really really good on that. Very nice.

[ruf45]

Looks great. Good job on the checkering,really adds to the gun

[LorenzoB]

Very nice work! It's like a brand new gun. I really like how the dark wood looks against the black too. I like that front strap checkering.

[jocko]

damn those grips are awesome. Where did they come from???

[CJB]

Very Tasty!~

[jocko]

I love everything about it. That front strap checkering is beautiful.

You done really really good on that. Very nice.

don't u do that ol greatone??/U have the skills. Practice on a car bumper. Hell do some CHAIR STIPPLYING

[Tinman507]

Boss,

You willing to give it a shot? I'll send you my K9 lower. Have at it.
Lemme know if you're interested in experimenting.

[Bawanna]

I have limited brain capacity. I'd love to learn how to checker metal and be able to do stippling like that but without a fully functioning brain it's probably not in the cards.

I've been told it's easier to checker metal than it is to do wood but darned if I can grasp it. Never tried, wouldn't know where to start to make it that perfect.

I better stick to wood.

[whidbeydh]

damn those grips are awesome. Where did they come from???

Thanks!

The grips are the non-checkered ones from Kahr, I cut the pattern and stippled them with a dremmel tool.

[jocko]

move over Bawanna. we have anuuter grip worker coming on board. That is really nice work..

[whidbeydh]

I have limited brain capacity. I'd love to learn how to checker metal and be able to do stippling like that but without a fully functioning brain it's probably not in the cards.

I've been told it's easier to checker metal than it is to do wood but darned if I can grasp it. Never tried, wouldn't know where to start to make it that perfect.

I better stick to wood.

Patience was the most valuable tool. I watched a few videos and read a few tutorials then just shot from the hip(with the correct tools) and did it, freehand at that.

It was pretty easy, I learned a lot and look forward to doing it again.

[whidbeydh]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words.

[Bongo Boy]

Very, very nice. I also like everything about it--the finished job looks like a real gun and is just beautiful. It's timely for me, too, since I've been eyeballing my K40 with a view to a front strap job--just in the past few days. Just a little scary, not having done it before.

I can see trying it on a piece of scrap metal first, but that generally doesn't keep one's attention like doing it on an irreplaceable part.

Wow...for me and my tastes it just says, "Yes. The way guns are supposed to look."

[RRP]

Patience was the most valuable tool. I watched a few videos and read a few tutorials then just shot from the hip(with the correct tools) and did it, freehand at that.

It was pretty easy, I learned a lot and look forward to doing it again.

That is beautiful work, Whidbeyh. I never would have guessed it was your first attempt. Very well done, indeed. It makes me itch to locate a project gun, even though I've never done such a thing.

Would you be willing to post links to the video and tutorial resources you found most helpful?

I'm fantasizing about a winter project.

[whidbeydh]

No Problem.

http://www.blindhogg.com/gunsmith/checkering.html

http://www.guntechtips.com/1911frame1/1911frame2.htm

http://ontargetcgw.com/basefile/diy-check.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZvhpLzzg-0

This one you kinda have to dig around to find it. First go to the progress link, then the it's in the sistema project under September 30th.
http://www.roderuscustom.tzo.com/

Important tools

Checkering file, I used the 25 LPI.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/files/metal-checkering-files-prod488.aspx

I bought all three of these files, but used the fine one the most.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/files/medium-file-sku080648602-701-2880.aspx

I could not have done it without this product. The Dykem was also very good for smoothing and blending, it shows you where the high and low spots are.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/machinist-accessories/dykem-steel-blue-layout-fluid-sku262100004-5807-13898.aspx

I also bought these, and used them quite a bit, but not entirely necessary if you already have good files, if you don't, I can't recommend these enough.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/files/professional-gunsmith-needle-file-set-prod5748.aspx

I spent a lot of money on the tools, I get to keep them for next time though...

And, once more, patience!!! Gotta walk away from it when you get tired.

Good luck, I can't wait to do another. I'm already searching out my next project. Probably gonna be a full 1911 overhaul, if I can find a good one for the right price...

[whidbeydh]

Very, very nice. I also like everything about it--the finished job looks like a real gun and is just beautiful. It's timely for me, too, since I've been eyeballing my K40 with a view to a front strap job--just in the past few days. Just a little scary, not having done it before.

I can see trying it on a piece of scrap metal first, but that generally doesn't keep one's attention like doing it on an irreplaceable part.

Wow...for me and my tastes it just says, "Yes. The way guns are supposed to look."

I hear you on the "real gun" look. I beat myself up over what finish to get for the better part of 2 weeks. I don't care for the dipped in plastic look of the spray and bake coated guns. I was very close to using one of the Nickel platers but the turnaround was 6-12 weeks wherever I called.

I could not be happier, as of now, with the black nitride from H&M Metal Processing. I mailed it on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and got it back on the following Thursday.

The only downside is the gun has to be completely disassembled, Shouldn't be to big of a deal for somebody with the jewels to checker a front strap though...

[RRP]

Thanks for taking the time to post your learning resources, Whitbeydh. You've shortened our learning curve, considerably. I appreciate it.

I've bookmarked this thread, for future reference.

[Bongo Boy]

All I can say is bless you for being too impatient to nickel plate it--what an awful thought!

I've removed the tac rail and trigger guard finger hook from a Sig P220 before, and that took some courage to take a grinder to perfectly good P220. But a significant difference you have quite a bit of time and material to make corrections. With the front strap, that very first cut sort of sets the tone for the rest of the job.

I'd like to pattern the K40 front strap after this one, actually--with substantial uncheckered space left at each end of the checkered area.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/TG0004.jpg

[Bug Splat]

OP, that is VERY impressive! I have to give you a hand for attempting that. I would love to try checkering myself someday. Great job.

[whidbeydh]

I'd like to pattern the K40 front strap after this one, actually--with substantial uncheckered space left at each end of the checkered area.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/TG0004.jpg

I wanted to try that too. I was going to file off the bottom few lines but was so happy with it I decided not to.

What would be extremely difficult, is to try to just cut the checkering into the metal, insetting it into the front strap, without being able to file off and clean up all of the overruns from the files, rather than just doing the checkering and blending down everything else to make the checkering stand proud.

[Bawanna]

I would think that would be very difficult cutting those vertical lines and ending right at that bottom border. Top is tricky enough but a bad angle to work the bottom.

I know with wood checkering they make pull cutters just for that scenario, perhaps they make something for metal as well.

I'm gonna try it some day, if there are enough days.

[whidbeydh]

I would think that would be very difficult cutting those vertical lines and ending right at that bottom border. Top is tricky enough but a bad angle to work the bottom.

I know with wood checkering they make pull cutters just for that scenario, perhaps they make something for metal as well.

I'm gonna try it some day, if there are enough days.

It could be done, it would just be maddening...

I hear ya on the "if there are enough days"...

[jocko]

doesn't take guts to do it but I think it takes balls. Just sayin

[Bongo Boy]

Top is tricky enough but a bad angle to work the bottom.

I know with wood checkering they make pull cutters just for that scenario, perhaps they make something for metal as well.

Ah yes I see your point. The best solution I can think of offhand would be to modify a file for the purpose--maybe even sawing a 1/2" piece of the file off and building a handled holder for that short piece, probably to hold the piece of file at a 45 deg angle from the extension/handle. Have to use a cutoff wheel and a flood of coolant to saw the file piece off.

Even then, no room to get a straight, smooth pull on the tool.

Will have to think about this--do I really need frontstrap checkering, or should I be building a shed or something instead? :)