Madhouse Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 I picked up a stripped Foster Industries frame and a non-descript complete parts kit ($475 total). I'm mostly doing this to gain a better knowledge of the inner-workings of the 1911. The first thing I tackled was fitting the slide to the frame. I put quite a bit of time in filing, stoning, sanding the slide rails on the frame. Once I got the slide on the frame (with some pretty good force) I started lapping it with some Brownells lapping compound. This didn't take too long, really, and I have what I think is a very smooth match, a nice hand-fitted slide. I like the way that came out. The second task was trigger smoothness. Using a Brownells trigger track stone, some sand paper, and much time I was able to get the trigger tracks quite smooth for the trigger bow to glide in. I had to remove some metal from the trigger opening in the frame, mostly on the top side. I also polished the top and bottom of the trigger for a more slick travel. I need to do a bit more here, I'm not yet satisfied with the full travel. The picture is frame and slide only, after being hand-fitted. I'll update as I go along... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Looks like a lot of fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Nice work so far! You did the slide to frame fit just right, lots of patience! <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Very cool brother, I have 2 kinds of patience.Little and none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tripledeuce Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hint: Try using emory cloth, instead of sandpaper. It gives a better finish, without shedding abrasive. Respectfully Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Microgunner Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Sounds like it'll have every opportunity to be a good shooter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6132expert Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Very cool brother, I have 2 kinds of patience.Little and none. I am the same way.......now if only the rest of the world would realize it I would probably live longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6132expert Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 The sidearm looks good so far. I cant wait to see the finished product! ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 What an awesome project - I'd love to build my own 1911 one day. That's a good looking frame, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolndie7 Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Yeah Ive been wanting to machine my own 1911 frame from a forging for a some time now. Definitely keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I've bee waiting for TM to put out there finished 1911 frame , so I can go down there & pick one up to build a 38 super 1911. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhouse Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Thanks all, it's been fun and frustrating both. Terry, thanks for the tip on the emery cloth. So, I decided to move on from the trigger action, I'll get back to that later. I just need to keep polishing, and that's filler work, so I can do it anytime. I added the ejector, and now the slide has resistance again, so I will have to do some stoning and polishing on that ejector so the slide is smooth again. I heard some good advice, work the part to fit the receiver rather than the other way around - makes sense, I can buy a new ejector if I bone it up. Also I began putting together some of the other components. I put the trigger in place and assembled the magazine release button (3 parts). Man, that thing sucks - you have to put about 10 pounds of pressure on it to depress it, so I'll start cutting winds off the spring until it moves better. I found this was a trick for competition shooters in order to achieve smoother mag swaps. I also started the fire control group parts. I put the extractor, firing pin spring, firing pin and firing pin detent plate in place. When the extractor is not in place, the firing pin parts all slide in well but with the ejector in place the detent plate won't go in, so I think I need to wallow the trough in the extractor where it slides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 (edited) That's a good looking frame, too! Foster is one of those companies that makes receivers for other companies, most notably Caspian Arms. The ones Foster sell are usually blems but the blem is usually extremely hard to find. Foster's receivers are some of the best deals around. Edited October 1, 2014 by 392heminut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Make sure the extractor is in place correctly & the channel for the firing pin stop is aligned with the channel in the slide & extractor . You want it kind of tight. Emery cloth is very good for final polishing , take a week of sanding to take any material off . <laughs> Thats a small spring in that mag. release , cutting a it will be difficult . Polish every moving part , including the out side of the springs . You will find the main spring & its parts will make a big difference when polished . Also the tip of the Hammer spur , including the main spring hole in the Main Spring housing . I could go on for an hour or two . I'm used to making them tight for target use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Ss why did you retire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Ss why did you retire? Because he's old as dirt. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 <lmao> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhouse Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 ss - thanks very much for the tips, I will certainly take the time to polish everything, now that I know One issue I've had, is that when I put the hammer and hammer strut together with the roll pin, the hammer strut is tight as hell - I know it should dangle freely, but I have to manually move it. Any guidance on that? The mainspring was a bear to put in the housing! I had to clamp the housing in my vise and ram the spring in with a screwdriver to get it deep enough to put the retaining pin in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Can you tell where the strut is binding? On the pin or in the hammer's slot? A combo of both? I've used 400 and 600 grit emery cloth to open up both the pin hole and the strut slot in the hammer. Go slow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Brother Larry is a 1911 guru.....Just sayin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhouse Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 The strut has plenty of room in the slot of the hammer, it is defintely binding on the roll pin. I would have assumed the the hole in the strut was a slightly bigger bore than in the hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 The pin for the hammer strut should not be a roll pin! That pin is a solid pin and is a slip fit in the hammer, some 'smiths stake the sides of the hammer to keep the pin from falling out when the hammer is out of the frame. If you are using a roll pin that is probably your problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 The mainspring was a bear to put in the housing! I had to clamp the housing in my vise and ram the spring in with a screwdriver to get it deep enough to put the retaining pin in. Yup, that's how I do them too! <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhouse Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Well, frick. I guess that would be a problem. Thanks hemi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Easy mistake to make brother, it's a learning process. <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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