Making wood AR15 Pistol Grip

[Usmc0844spare]

I have no idea why, but I am feeling compelled to try and make a wooden AR15 pistol grip.

Being my first attempt, I don't want to spend a lot on fancy "good" wood. Most likely outcome is an abandoned or non-functional end result.

Question is:

What would you all say is the "minimum acceptable" Home Depot obtainable wood for an idiotic project such as this?

[golfish]

I have no idea why, but I am feeling compelled to try and make a wooden AR15 pistol grip.

Being my first attempt, I don't want to spend a lot on fancy "good" wood. Most likely outcome is an abandoned or non-functional end result.

Question is:

What would you all say is the "minimum acceptable" Home Depot obtainable wood for an idiotic project such as this?

Walnut, maybe oak. It might be difficult to find a piece wide enough. You might be better off visiting your local lumber yard for some scrap.

Good luck, sounds like a fun project...

FWIW, you can buy wood furniture for ARs

[Dano3467]

Check local cabinet shops for scraps....

[SVT-40]

Make it out of three pieces of oak and then glue them together.

[Usmc0844spare]

Make it out of three pieces of oak and then glue them together.

Yeah, given the limited tools I have available, I was planning on gluing 2 halves together; chisel out the relief for the receiver mounting boss in each half and then glue together. Carve, shape, and curse from there.

To avoid having to take apart my AR might just take an old A2 grip I have kicking around, fill the mounting slot with JB Weld, pull it out, and have a little faux mounting boss to use instead.

Also perhaps some pre-carving for the channel for the mounting screw associated access hole as well.

[sigstroker]

Walnut, maybe oak. It might be difficult to find a piece wide enough. You might be better off visiting your local lumber yard for some scrap.

Good luck, sounds like a fun project...

FWIW, you can buy wood furniture for ARs

Well, Home Depot is a "local lumber yard". They maintain a "scrap pile" where anyone can just take what they want.

[sigstroker]

It might be semi-cool (how cool could it be in kali?) to carve something with an integrated "fin" that maybe doesn't look so fin-like, yet prevents you from wrapping your thumb around it.

[Usmc0844spare]

It might be semi-cool (how cool could it be in kali?) to carve something with an integrated "fin" that maybe doesn't look so fin-like, yet prevents you from wrapping your thumb around it.

Pfft... I'll be lucky if the thing doesn't turn out looking like a 2x4. You want me to get fin-fancy as well??

[golfish]

Well, Home Depot is a "local lumber yard". They maintain a "scrap pile" where anyone can just take what they want.

Well, Maybe for you it is but I don't consider it a lumber yard.



next

[protohyp]

direction of grain is important for strength especially in the area where the lower receiver gets seated. You may want to make that a little beefier. Honestly I'd go with a Hardrock Maple as and as others have said try to glue up a few solid pieces and then chisel away. Home Depot sometimes has a pretty good selection. I've even made some guitar necks from some really nice fiddleback maple I found there.

[AGGRO]

It might be semi-cool (how cool could it be in kali?) to carve something with an integrated "fin" that maybe doesn't look so fin-like, yet prevents you from wrapping your thumb around it.

Yuck, not a fin

[sbo80]

pretty sure they sell both walnut and oak in 1x2 and 2x2, in short-ish lengths in the dowel rod section. A 2ft length of 1x2 would be plenty to cut some sections and glue together. Then start filing/chiseling/sanding away. Personally I'd be most concerned about getting the screw hole right, at the right angle. That part seems harder than shaping the grip.

[smoothy8500]

They do look cool...

http://www.blackgunswood.com/products.html

[smoothy8500]

[Usmc0844spare]

Personally I'd be most concerned about getting the screw hole right, at the right angle. That part seems harder than shaping the grip.

I've thought about that.

The grip screw hole in the receiver is at a set angle relative to the top edge of the grip. After I carve out the receiver boss relief, some simple protractor work will get me close to that angle, and I will carve out an undersize channel in both grip panels as well, prior to gluing. Later I can open it up with an actual drill.

I don't think that hole is THAT critical, so if it's off a degree or two, I can cheat by opening it up a little more. If I have to do that, simply epoxying in a washer or something will keep it secure when I screw it in. Obviously I'll leave more wood between the screw head and the receiver boss than there is plastic in a Magpul or standard A2 grip, since it will compress where the plastic won't.

Thing I am most worried about right now is the safety detent hole. I can see getting it pretty much done and looking good and then screwing up and drilling that right through the side of the grip or something stupid like that.