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Bondo Pistol Grip (pics)
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:01 pm
by Spuddin
Here's a few pics from my weekend project. I wanted a custom pistol grip for a shoulder fired launcher im building so i tried bondo. It's pretty hefty and solid. I wont know how well it holds up until i get the gun finished and shoot it a few times. It's about 1 inch thick. Cost about $5 bucks to make. It took a full (small) can of bondo.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:04 pm
by Jared Haehnel
Thats a very nice idea/tutorial...thanks for posting it. It looks great!
It would be interesting to see how it holds up.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:54 pm
by scottcrete
spuddin.. that looks nice.. it almost looks like you modeled it after that thing you adapt paint spray cans to spray guns with found at walmart.. the pistol grip you made looks almost just like it..
I like you work...
great job.
did you know you can cast parts from plaster paris.. and then do basically the same thing.. (like say you find a toy pistol grip you like) well you can copy it that way..
but anyways.. like i said
great work.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:18 pm
by Davidvaini
another way you can make a pistol grip is to put epoxy in a plastic zip lock bag and squeeze it to the shape of your hand... that way you can a nice ergonomic grip. Shown below is a picture of one:
after some sand paper...

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:38 pm
by Necrosis
Instead of making it out of bondo, why did you not make it out of the wood you cut out?
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:00 pm
by Spuddin
well Necrosis i guess cause this is a bondo tut, not a wood tut. i've made lots of wood grips but now i wanted to try bondo, so many more materials a person could use, this one just happens to be "bondo".

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:01 pm
by MaxuS the 2nd
Because it's new and fantastic, but good point.
I might try this later, my epoxy is completely transparent when cured so I think I'll give this a go.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:31 pm
by jimmy101
Spuddin and Davidvaini:
Both grips looks darn good. I think I'll file this link under "handy techniques I don't need right now but probably will someday".
BTW, Bondo is cheaper in the big cans (well duh). Check near the painting supplies in your local hardware store since there is a bondo used for wood repairs and you can usually get big-ass cans for a more acceptable price.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:41 pm
by STHORNE
very nice job. question though, how come you didn't pre-make finger slots in the original mould to save you filing time? lazy? lol
anyway. job well done. hope everything turns out o-k.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:15 pm
by Hailfire753
Great tut! Also, nice pics scott! This will be useful later, so I am glad for the "my posts" tab in spudfiles.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:28 am
by experament-u2
brilliant work chaps
Spuddin you have inspired me
and Davidvaini that is a nice way to spice up a boring grip
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:47 am
by flamerz14
Wow, NICE! 8) seriously. I haven't seen anything called bondo so far in my hours of browsing ye old hardware shoppe. What's the stuff used for? Can I use anything else instead?
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:03 am
by Jared Haehnel
Bondo is used as a body filler for vehicles... It consists of a putty and a hardener. If you type it in online you'll find it. At least here in the US its a fairly common product.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:16 am
by flamerz14
I see.. could i use other materials like wood filler or silicone?
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:38 am
by Jared Haehnel
Experiment with it...thats half the fun of spudding...
Silicone may work but I think it would be too soft for what you wanted. Your best best is some sort of epoxy, even a block of wood and a dremel or some sand paper....depending on the wood filler it probably wouldn't work...