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What is "Laser Etching" and how does it work?
We use a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser which produces a very intense inferred beam to make images on our gun grips. The process is different for different grip materials.
Laser etching images on AlumaGrips sets GunGrips.net apart from most of the rest of the industry. AlumaGrips are anodized with a "hard anodize" process which make them very resistant to wear and scratches. Scrimshaw artist have great difficulty scrimming images in the hard anodized coating on AlumaGrips. The CO2 laser easily burns through the top surface of the anodized coating to expose the anodized aluminum below. By adjusting the power to the laser, we can even achieve shades of gray in many cases. Typically, the laser removes less than 0.001 inch of material from the surface of the AlumaGrips, so to the touch, one can hardly feel the image from the rest of the grip.
Laser etching images on Polymer and Micarta grips is an entirely different process. In this case, we use the laser beam to vaporize the grip material so we can fill it with an appropriate ink or paint. In this case, we etch or vaporize the image area to a depth of about 0.015 inch.
How durable is the image on your grips?
The laser etched image on AlumaGrips is very durable because it is in fact the absence of the hard anodize finish. Even if the image could wear, it would only expose a deeper layer of the anodized aluminum. One would need to wear away the hard anodized coating of the rest of the grip to make the image disappear, not likely in our lifetime.
The laser etched image on Polymer and Micarta grips is also very durable because the image is contrast with an ink or paint below the surface of the grip. Since it's difficult to reach down into the area of the image it is also difficult to wear it away, but not impossible. To add another layer of protection, in June of 2005, we began adding a "clear coat" of enamel or Polyurethane to polymer and Micarta grips. Customers who do now want this added protection can ask us by e-mail or phone to leave it off.
I ordered the wrong grips
We want to keep all of our customers happy, so our policy for return products is pretty liberal. We think 30 days is long enough for you to try on the grips and make sure you like them. If you ordered the wrong grips, selected the wrong option, or made some other mistake that makes the grips undesirable, you can return them for replacement within 30 days of our date of shipment. We will replace them for 50% of the original cost or you can just return them for a refund (30% restocking fee will be deducted from your refund). For replacements, please include payment of 50% of the original price plus $7.00 Shipping and handling. Personal check or money order is OK. Describe in a letter (or e-mail) what needs to be corrected and we will remake your grips, incorporating the changes, and send you a new set. After 30 days we do not accept returns.
I do not like my grips, what can I do?
We want to keep all of our customers happy, so our policy for return products is pretty liberal. We think 30 days is long enough for you to try on the grips and make sure you like them. During the first 30 days after the date we ship your grips, you can return them to us for a refund (30% restocking fee will be deducted from your refund). After 30 days we do not accept returns.
Can you split a set and make just one panel for me?
The short answer to this question is "No". The color of the etched anodized area of AlumaGrips will vary somewhat from one anodized batch to another. For that reason, we do not "split" sets to make a single panel for our customers. The answer for polymer grips is similar except it is not the etched area that isn't always the same, rather it's the raw material the manufacturer used to make the grips. It isn't consistent enough to split the sets.
Who does laser etching of images on grips?
Laser etching gun grips is relatively new to the industry. A few people are making grips with laser etched images on them. The companies come and go as each tries to carve out a profit. We don't keep track of them, but doing a search on the Internet will help you find them. www.GunGrips.net is the only company we know of who offers fully customized gun grips at a reasonable price.
Do you make the grips and can you make a set for my gun?
We do not manufacture grips. We purchase the grips wholesale and add our standard images or the artwork submitted by our customers. We do our best to keep the prices in line and often, customers find that they can purchase grips with their image laser etched on them for less than they can purchase the bare grips at retail.
Can you put any image on any grip?
We'd like to say "yes", and most the time we can. We have had to turn away a few images that we could not do for technical reasons. The most successful images are those with stark contrast between black and white, large photos 3 X 4 inches at 600 dots per inch or from a digital camera 8 X 10 inches at 72 dots per inch or greater. We refuse to do porn, and we reserve the right to judge what is and is not porn. We maintain a large library of Police badges and patches as well as Military emblems etc. If you do not have a really good photo of what you want, send what you have and we may be able to find it in our archives.
How long does it take to receive my order?
The main issues in delivering your grips is if we have them in inventory and what part of the country you live in. We keep an inventory of over 400 of the various styles of AlumaGrips and a similar inventory of polymer and Micarta grips. If we have the grips you ordered in stock, we usually ship by Priority Mail within 7 days of receiving your order. When we do not have the grips in stock, our suppliers most always cooperate by shipping the grips to us within 2 weeks of our special order to them. One more important issue is "our 30 day deadline". When you purchase your grips on line, all you have really done is AUTHORIZE GunGrips.net to collect the amount you charged from your account. We do not actually collect from your account until after we ship your grips. If we do not collect in 30 days, the bank closes the charge and we can no longer collect the funds. For this reason we have a real incentive to ship your grips in 30 days or completely loose the sale unless you will reorder.
What happened to the ability to post on the "Testimonial Page"
In a word "Hackers". Our Testimonial Page was open to anyone who wanted in. Some "people" began making posts on the page with links to sites that were intended to load our friends computers with virus or other sites malicious intent. They became so frequent it was a hassle to keep removing the post, so we just discontinued it. When customers send us e-mail with comments and time permits, we still add the messages to the Testimonial Page.
How much does it cost to get my image laser etched on grips?
Any of our standard images can be laser etched on any set of grips we sell for $40.00. Most images sent to us by our customers cost the $40.00 to laser etch on grips we sell. If you want any image laser etched on grips you did not purchase at www.GunGrips.net, the cost for most will be $65.00.
Which Guns will the Hogue Aluminum Grips for the Beretta 92 fit?
We took this information from the www.Berettaforum.net. It gives a detailed explanation of what the grips fit and what they do not. Our thanks to both Hogue inc. and the Beretta Forum.
The information below is pasted out of our knowledge base. A lot of you know this but for those with questions.
Will fit 92F, 92F-S, 92G, 92D, 92 Centurion, 96, 96D and M-9 The Beretta 92 series pistols are high capacity (double stack magazine) pistols. They are very high quality and are produced in Italy and the United States. This pistol is the official handgun on the U.S. military. Because it is a double stack pistol the grip frame is very wide so the grips we make are as thin as possible. Rubber wraparound measure .160 thousandths of an inch thick on each side. Wood grips are slightly thicker.
Grips also fit Brigadier, Centurion, Elite, and Elite II models.
Grips also fit 92d and 92g models. D Models - Double action only, no safety lever (slick slide)G Models - Double/single action, with external ambidextrous decocking lever,
rotating firing pin striker. Trigger bar disconnect and a spring loaded safety return.
You use the stock screws to install grip but must not use the star washers.
We also sell replacement screws for the 92. They are available slotted or hex head in Black or satin chrome finish. Look up part numbers below.
Taurus makes a gun very similar to the 92 but it requires a different grip. #99
-Our grips will not fit:
The CHEETAH
The COUGAR this model uses #91
The Model 92 Vertec
The Compact 92 this model uses #93. #93 will not fit type M (type M is a single stack) ours will only fit the double stack
-For Beretta 950 the only grip that will fit is the Handall.jr
-Taurus has changed the design of grip screws on full size pistols. Prior to approx. ‘97, pistols used 4 frame screw bushings using screws of Beretta design. Three of four bushings were omitted and now Taurus screws are machined to the size of the previous bushing and screw in one unit. The fourth (top left) screw bushing is still present and doubles its’ purpose as a spring retainer. Old style screw bushings can be purchased from Taurus and used to allow use of Beretta design grip screws on current pistols.
More information on the Model 92 can be found HERE
Beretta - 17601 Beretta Dr. Accokeek, MD 20607 (301) 283 2191 - www.beretta.com.
 What happened to the New Ruger Vaquero grips?
Ruger has apparently added not just the New Ruger Vaquero to their line, there is also a New-New Ruger Vaquero. It appears to us that after they released the New Ruger Vaquero in 2005, someone decided they should use up the grip straps left over from the original Ruger Vaquero, so they started adding them to the New Ruger Vaquero. Problem is, the grips for the New Ruger Vaquero no longer fit. The grips for the original Vaquero would fit if they had the back sides machined out to accommodate the internal safety device, but so far, no one is making grips with that feature. Our customers could not figure out which gun they own and neither could we until it was discovered that the gun is a New-New Ruger Vaquero. We finally had to give up and removed the New Ruger Vaquero and the New-New Ruger Vaquero from the list of guns we support.
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