Brownells BRN-180 Build: Part 14, Cheek Riser
When I embarked on this build journey, I knew I would be turning this build into a beautiful wood hybrid. And after I finished the walnut handguard cover and walnut grip, I really wanted a walnut piece at the rear of the pistol to tie together the overall look. And I decided I wanted a wood cheek riser.
I had already purchased this midwest industries folding receiver extension. I loved the look of this receiver extension, and I decided even though I planned to mount a cheek riser on top of it, I would just buy it and figure out how to mount something to the top later. I also purchased the mod1 tail hook from gearhead works (which was nearly impossible to find) and I think the overall combination will look awesome.
I decided the best way to get the easiest and best overall luck, would be to follow the pattern I had done with the walnut hand guard cover; so before turning to the walnut, I took a bunch of measurements and went over to the computer.
I used a CAD program called Fusion 360 (I am self/YouTube taught) to draw up my version one prototype.
After getting the CAD drawing dialed in, I took the design over to my 3D printer (I use a Prusa Mk3 S+ 3D printer, and print nearly everything in PETG) and printed version 1. I’ve been choosing to print all of these prototype parts in a dark brown color PETG filament so I can better see what the finished product will look like once I shape it out of walnut.
After printing version one, I noticed right away there were things I wanted to change about it. The first thing I noticed was it was too tall and too short in length. I also knew I wanted to play around with the angles on either end of the cheek riser.
I was able to hold the 3D printed part behind the receiver extension to get a better idea of the height I wanted for version two.
After taking some more measurements, I went back to the computer and spent more time drawing versions two and three. I trimmed down the overall height and length and them and messed with the angles at each end. The versions two and three were nearly identical with the only difference being one had symmetrical angles at each end and the other was asymmetrical with one angle being steeper. I wanted to be able to see the difference and see which I preferred, so I printed them both at the same time.
Version two and version three were looking very good and were much closer to the final product that I was looking for. What I noticed about each was first, I preferred asymmetrical angles with one end being steeper than the other; and secondly I noticed it was looking good in the height department however, it needed to be just A few millimeters longer. So I went back to the computer and drew up version four. Version four was the proper height and the proper length, with asymmetrical angles at either end. I took version four to the 3D printer and printed it out.
After test fitting version four, I found it to be absolutely perfect. It looked really good on the receiver extension, and at one point I taped it on and felt it against my face and it felt great.
I decided to take a small scrap piece of walnut over to the oscillating sander to see if one of the drum sizes would work for the inner radius of the cheek riser. I learned the 1” diameter drum was perfect for the inner radius I was looking for.
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