Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
I recently bought an XR3 grip frame for my Rugers from a seller on TRF. These John Wayne type grips came on the frame. I was told they are some sort of polymer.
What I'm curious about is what they are made of. It's not just run of the mill plastic. They are solid, cut from a solid chunk rather than molded, and the mottled color goes all they way through.
They also have a definite pungent odor. It's a cross between vanilla, and moth balls. I've never smelled any form of plastic that smelled like this.
Does anybody here have any ideas what they might be made of?
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
That odor thing is strange! Combo of vanilla and moth balls??? I can't even feature that. If they weren't so purdy I'd say Dr. Frankenstein cooked something up.
A man's heart devises [or schemes] his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Rod WMG wrote:That odor thing is strange! Combo of vanilla and moth balls??? I can't even feature that. If they weren't so purdy I'd say Dr. Frankenstein cooked something up.
Rod,
I know, it's throwing me too. But somewhere back in the recesses of my brain, back in with the dust bunnies there's something about something made with something that has the moth ball odor. I just can't pull it out.
On my other computer tower I have a 6 page article about John Wayne's Catilin <sp> grips. I've got to burn it on a disc to bring it over to this computer. The old monitor is too dark to read anything easily. That might have an answer.
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
When I smell something odd around plastics, I often think of that smell as an indicator of instabillity, or decomposition. I have some old screwdrivers that smell bad, and their handles are changing color. This article may shed some light on your situation:
> The "mothball" smell from films from the 20's and 30's is a result of a
> plasticiser - monochloronapthalene - used in the manufacture of
di-acetate
> film base. Monochloronaphthalene was apt to diffuse from the film base
over
> time resulting in a less flexible and slightly shrunken film, not so
good.
> Why some films are more prone to this than others is perhaps not so much
a
> mystery, as a result of slight variations in manufacturing from batch to
> batch and storage conditions at various times in the film's life. This
> makes predictions rather difficult.
>
> Eventually (I think some time in the mid to late 1930's) the plasticiser
> was replaced, most probably by triphenyl phosphate (which is still used
> today), although I have no accurate records of this.
>
> The shrinkage and loss of flexibility are fairly serious issues if you
wish
> to use the film. Most equipment is just not designed to deal with any
> degree of shrinkage. Transporting a shrunken brittle film through this
> equipment can cause major damage (tearing, scratching, puncturing etc).
>
> I have not seen any research on a direct link between the naphthalene
odour
> and vinegar syndrome although diacetate films do suffer from this mode of
> decomposition (although anecdotally it seems they are less prone, has
> anyone got any info on this???). However, again anecdotally, it seems
that
> it might be possible that changes in the acid content of the film base
may
> encourage the plasticiser to leave, this occurs in the loss of triphenyl
> phosphate in decomposing film base.
>
> What can be done. I'm not really sure of the best way to proceed here.
> Hmmmm.... I'll stick my neck out and say that maybe nothing should be
done
> to remove the smell! We are possibly dealing with an equilibrium between
> the monochloronaph(let's call it MCN!) still in the film base and the MCN
> in the surrounding environment. By maintaining a higher concentration of
> MCN in the film can environment, the desire of the MCN in the film base
to
> diffuse is reduced (Fick's Law is in there somewhere). Thus keeping more
of
> the MCN where it can do its job. This is assuming that the MCN isn't
> hydrolysing or changing in some way and it is entirely a vapour pressure
> issue. However if anyone has heard otherwise I'd love to know so I can
> learn.
>
> Certainly low temperature and low relative humidity storage will help!!!
> This will lower the rate of acid formation (if this is a contributing
> factor) and will also lower the rate of diffusion.
>
> At least you can be sure that your films are safe from moths!
>
> mick
>
> Mick Newnham
> Engineering and Research Group
> Preservation and Technical Services Branch
> ScreenSound Australia - the National Screen and Sound Archive "
Shawn
"That's right, Billy, I'm good with it. I hit what I shoot at, and I'm fast!"-Lucas McCain, c1882.
That's the chemical I was thinking of but couldn't remember it. Thank you for the article. I don't think these grips are "old", but the material they are made from could be.
Ben,
Those are some really incredible grips. The monogram set makes me want to buy a 1911.
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
Their grips use phenolic resin ( which has an odor like you described ) as the binder for the Micarta.. the grips made with paper laminations wont show then laminations like the ones made with linen or canvas laminations, which could explain why you don't see laminations in yours.. dunno .. just a guess
"IT IS MY OPINION, AND I AM CORRECT SO DON'T ARGUE, THE 99 SAVAGE IS THE FINEST RIFLE EVER MADE IN AMERICA."
WIL TERRY
You might be right about the phenolic resin. However I still don't think they are micarta. I used a 15 power loop with a strong light and there is no layers, small or large. Also the light shines through like an opaque rather than a laminated solid. Also there is very tiny bubbles in the material, so it must be a casting.
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
If they are a solid material without layers, I think it is probably Corian. It is a man made material that is used for counter tops and shower stalls because the color goes all the way through. It is really good for things like handgun grips because if it is burned, scratched or chipped you can sand it and still have color.
They could also be Buffalo Brothers grips at www.buffalobrothers.net
The finger notches look like one they do that is supposed to be a John Wayne style.
All it takes for tyranny to succeed is for good men to do nothing.
Meeteetse wrote:If they are a solid material without layers, I think it is probably Corian. It is a man made material that is used for counter tops and shower stalls because the color goes all the way through. It is really good for things like handgun grips because if it is burned, scratched or chipped you can sand it and still have color.
They could also be Buffalo Brothers grips at http://www.buffalobrothers.net
The finger notches look like one they do that is supposed to be a John Wayne style.
Meeteetse,
I think you found them. The set I have is identical to the shape and visual appearance of the ones in the Buffalo Brothers grip site. I could even see the tiny surface bubbles in their photo.
Their web site says the grips are made from polyurethane. I wonder if that stuff has this kind of smell?
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
Did you try looking at the inside of the countersunk hole where the threaded portion of the grip screw is? That looks like a surface that is cut but not polished. You might be able to tell more with your loop by looking there.
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Rusty wrote:Did you try looking at the inside of the countersunk hole where the threaded portion of the grip screw is? That looks like a surface that is cut but not polished. You might be able to tell more with your loop by looking there.
Rusty I did. I looked as deep into the screw holes and the grip locating holes as I could and there is no layers, just a machined hole.
This stuff feels sorta softish to the touch, but it's not. Matter of fact I think it's deceptively hard. I can't wait till I actually get to the range and see how they feel shooting.
Griff,
That sites got some really interesting stuff don't they? I don't know about the C&B's, but I saw some of their other grips that looked interesting.
Doc,
That is a good idea. If I decide to keep and use them I'll have to think on that.
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
.***
