Repair of .32 Ortgies Grip Panel
the1941guy
Member Posts: 4 ✭
I had seen on the web a post about the repair of the wooden lip of the grips on these pistols that suggested using a box cutter knife to square up and slightly indent the ends of the damaged area, and then smooth each area up, and then glue a sliver of wood to replace the broken lip.
I thought about this for some time, and then got the idea that cutting up an expired credit card might be a good substitute for the wood sliver, and also be stronger. I keep my expired cards in the drawer of the table that my printer sits on before I take them to the bank to be shredded. So, I pulled one out and cut out a sliver about 1/8" by an inch.
Then, I rummaged around and found a box knife, and cut away the ends and backside of the damaged area until this area matched the scrap of credit card. Then get some Gorilla Glue and glue the plastic into the area you've made. And let it dry overnight. I found that I'd not gotten one end seated deep enough, so I had to use a scrap of wet/dry paper to level the plastic. Simply rub the grip on the sandpaper. Or to start, wrap the paper around a file so you don't start taking too much off the grip.
You also need to carefully smooth the outer edge to match the rest of the lip that is still good. And it worked perfectly. If you're really wanting to finish the job, get some model paint in brown and paint the plastic to match the backside of the grip panel.
It didn't take long and you don't have to spend the extra 80 bucks to replace the broken grip. If you're old like me, and are on a blood thinner, be extra careful as the wood is hard and the knife could slip and * your finger (s). Best of luck.
Comments
Thank you for the post. Always good to hear about gunsmithing tips.