TargetTalk

I see that the laminated Rink grip are more expensive than the walnut version.

Anyone could tell me the benefit of the laminated version compared to the walnut version ?

The "benefit" is aesthetics. If you like that sort of thing. I have heard people argue ( marketing hype?) about stability and resistance to warping but that is clap-trap. Unless you leave your pistol in the rain and sun.

As I understand it the laminated grips due to the cross lamination, resist distortion caused by fluctuations in humidity. But I live in a tropical area and I've never seen or experienced distortion in the walnut grips on my pistols.

Perhaps someone else can shed more light on the topic for you.

Laminated stocks were popular for target and varmint rifles, for many years, before the introduction of synthetic stocks. This was because of the change in accuracy and bullet impact caused by a change in the fore end pressure on the barrel (In non free floated stocks), and to a lesser extent, the change in action bedding, caused by atmospheric changes. The action bedding issue was adressed by the introduction of "pillar bedding", which is the addition of metal sleeves over the action screws, to allow a solid metal-to metal contact between the action and floorplate on bolt action rifles. This is also used with synthetic stocks.
Paul

The reason laminated wood materials are thought to be superior to natural solid wood is definitely dimensional stability. Wood swells and shrinks depending on it's moisture content. The swelling occurs primarily in the across-grain direction. In a solid piece of wood, all of this swelling is in the same direction, so for example, the grip would swell in thickness more than height if that was perpendicular to the grain. In a laminated grip, each layer in the laminate stock is oriented with the grain in different directions. This results in the expansion/contraction oriented in all directions, rather than just in one. So the overall change in volume might be the same but the laminated grip would swell more equally in all directions, and to a much smaller degree.

The important thing to note is that the expansion is very slow due to the length of time it takes mositure to penetrate the material. The grip will only perceptibly change dimensions on a timescale of seasons, so in winter the grip will be thinner and in summer the grip will be thicker. In a laminated grip, the seasonal variation in dimensions will be less than a solid grip.

Also important to note is that the amount change in dimension is relatively small for a small piece of wood that is exposed only to air, only maybe a few percent. This is well within the range of adjustment of the grips we use, and is far less than the variation in the size of our hand depending on diet, activity, injury/inflamation, and temperature.

I use Rink grips in both solid and laminate, and cannot tell the difference. Except that the blue laminate one is ugly.

Ricardo

ricardo wrote:I use Rink grips in both solid and laminate, and cannot tell the difference. Except that the blue laminate one is ugly.

They are now blue-orange-brown what is even worse !

Thanks for all the valuable info.

The other point of difference between solid and laminate construction (made I believe by Richard H on another thread) is that the laminate is less susceptible to breakage. For example, if the grain orientation in the thin section of the grip which extends over the thumb joint is at right angle to the grip, this section can be easily snapped off. I can see this in my IZH 35 Rink grips where the extension is thin and lacks flexural strength because of the grain orientation.

ricardo wrote:I use Rink grips in both solid and laminate, and cannot tell the difference.

You own the two versions Ricardo. Is it for the same pistol ?

If it is, what about the weight: I do not know what kind of wood is used for the laminated grip, but often laminated wood weight is lower than plain wood and walnut is not a lightweight wood. So is the weight oof both version the same or is the laminated grip less heavy than the walnut one ?

Fred, I take it from your post, that laminated pistol grips are laminated "cross grain" much like a sheet of plywood. Laminated rifle stocks, are laminated with all the grain running lengthwise, and only the heartwood side alternated on each laminate, to equalize any tendency to warp. Most of the laminated stocks I've built, were alternating 1/16" layers of walnut and maple, which gave quite an attractive contrast, especially around the wrist of the stock. Another benefit to the stability of laminated stocks, of either type, is the moisture barrier provided by the glue lines.
Paul

Except that the blue laminate one is ugly.

But blue is the most accurate color!

I discussed with Thomas Rink (he speaks English very well) and he told me that the difference between laminated and walnut is mainly aesthetic, no real technical benefit.

Laminated is 25% heavier (about 40g) than walnut.

Hey

I shoot only RINK grips on my target guns.

I have tried tha laminated on my LP10 and it is fantastic, but I also tried it in (ugly) blue on my Pardini HP .32 S&W and guess what, it cracked

The blue laminated which I did try out was NOT cross-grain-glued so the strenght of a simple plywood was not pressent in this grip. The local distributor did replace the grip with a wallnut grip, and it was all OK.

Now you proberly say that it was a single problem, but no!! Had the same experience on my Unique DES 32 no less than two times with the blue grips!!
And at the same time, a shooting friend of mine had the same problem on his Unique.

Now I am currently having 6 guns with RINK grips and I would not have any other grips!! The RINK grips are in my oppinion simply the best on he market!!!