How to Stipple a Glock?

To stipple or not to stipple, that is the question!

Well, to help you answer that, I decided to take an in-depth look at How to stipple a Glock, as well as the benefits of doing so.

The process is fairly straightforward. All you need are a couple of cheap DIY tools, a reasonably steady hand, and some patience.

It will also help to have something less expensive than your favorite Glock to practice on first. This is because once you get down to it and complete the real thing, there is no turning back.

What is Stippling?

Stippling is a fairly interesting idea. What you will be doing is melting the exterior plastic of your polymer gun. The reasoning behind it is to improve that texture and create a better grip on your firearm (or firearms accessories). This is carried out by using a heated tool that allows you to engrave dots.

Some shooters will say that stippling is not worth the effort or that it is a waste of time. However, those that put the time and effort in will generally find benefits. That includes a firmer gun grip and a more comfortable, functional feel to their stippled weapon or equipment.

Why Bother to Stipple Your Glock?

When you add texture to any smooth service, it allows you to grasp that object more firmly and securely. That, in turn, increases the control you have over whatever you are griping under both wet and dry conditions.

It can also be a factor in terms of muscle memory. That is because your fingers and hands will find the same place every time you grip your weapon. In short, a better grip will give you more control.

Ease and comfortability in handling a firearm enhances confidence, and in the world of shooting, that is no bad thing at all. Those who are at ease with their weapon and any other equipment handling will surely be more relaxed and perform in a better manner.

What Do You Need to Stipple Your Glock?

Stippling your Glock means you will be making permanent modifications to it. The same stands for any other component or accessory you want to modify in the same way.

This is where the good news comes in. The things that will cost you nothing to complete a stippling project come from within! That is patience, practice, and a desire to alter the texture of your Glock’s grip. From there, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money on the tools required. All you will need is a couple of hand tools which will vary depending on how you want to go about your stippling project.

Examples are a steel punch and/or sandpaper. From there, you will need either a soldering iron or a temperature-controlled wood-burning tool. The ‘heated’ tool chosen needs to be used with interchangeable tips that are suitable for use on polymers.

However, if you want a purpose-made stippling kit (with a practice sheet!), these are available. With that in mind, I will be reviewing a quality stippling kit later on…

Two Points of Stippling Caution!

Heat: Always be aware of the heat that soldering irons produce. The majority of them will reach temperatures of at least 700-800 Degrees F.

Fume inhalation: You will be melting/burning plastic. This creates toxic fumes. Consider wearing a mask that is rated to filter out the fumes. It will also pay you to have a fan turned on, to open windows, or to work outside.