Use or Abuse?

[Major]

Reading this thread is painful.....lol

I treat mine like they were made of GLASS and can't bear the thought of them getting scratched or dented. I'm kind of obsessed.....just the way it is with me and my GGTS's.

What's funniest is I went from hardcore skeptic to bat$h!t crazy about them in about a week.

I definitely fall into this category. Certain things that were built for heavy duty use but hold a special place for whatever reason are inevitably "wasted" in many peoples mind in my hands. My wife refers to the "tools" of my former profession and my GG's as my shrine. Yes I use them but I suppose I was OCD even before they coined the terminology.

I have a few PV's that I carry when I am out and about but the idea of my GG's hitting the pavement and rolling around gives me shudders. I am mostly home bound these days so I get to use my GG's more than I used to would have been. But after any extended session, it's break 'em down, clean, polish and return to their place of prominence in my humble abode.

I am sure once I get my UFS, #1376 will see more use but when/if #008 finally gets here, I have zero illusions it will do much of anything but getting pampered and polished. Kinda like my S&W 4006 that saved my bacon more than once. To anyone else it may just be a tool but to me, it holds a special meaning for me no one else could really appreciate.

 

[Major]

I have one I use everyday and 4 that i keep on display. To keep them all looking like new, The best polish I've found is called Flitz. Its non abrasive and buffs really well. Once polished, i apply Flitz wax which is a carnuba/beeswax combination. This gets rid of the slickness and eliminates fingerprints. I heard of Flitz from a guy that conserves antique guns for the Smithsonian. It works beautiful on brass as well which is what he uses it for

I dabble around with other products but in the end, Flitz is my go to polish of choice for both my GG's and my firearms. I'm sure someone will come up with a better moustrap so called but until then, Flitz is where it's at for me.

 

[Zoranth]

Everyone loves a .40... Well, except the bad guys on the receiving end

 

[Major]

Everyone loves a .40... Well, except the bad guys on the receiving end

As they used to say in the 90's "Word my brother, word"...

 

[fright88]

Para, I have a philosophy about tools:
#1 priority... the materials used to make them (significantly more important when dealing with a cutting edge tool)
#2 craftsmanship/beauty A tool should be beautiful, it should make you want to use it,it begs to be picked up, the more you enjoy using it the more effective you become with it.
#3 price, a well crafted tool that meets those top two criteria is going to be more expensive than a tool that doesn't meet those criteria. But if used (properly) will outlast and outperform any tool that doesn't measure up.

So I use my tools, yes they might be worn and scratched, but It's increased my pleasure in life. There is also something about holding an old worn tool, that makes you think about the craftsman who gave it that wear . I've got dents, dings, and scratches, and every single one of them got me where I am today, and wouldn't trade any of them

Amen Brotha!! Ok I have one ding I would trade in but I think most do.

As for my post don't get me wrong all of my GG's have special meaning to me and are very valuable but life is to short to keep stuff on a shelf and not use it IMHO. As for my loaner GGTB well I would easily trade everything I own to keep my loved ones in good physical health and that GGTB has helped me convert my mom, my dad, my sister, And 2 close friends to vaping.

Heck before I had to put my vette in storage I drove it to work every day.

 

[Major]

You make an excellent argument for regular use Fright my friend! How can you place a value on helping a loved one? You can't.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Fright, my first GGTS (an all aluminum one) is happily being vaped on by one of my best friends Can't put a price on those.

 

[atavanhalen]

One for home and one for out and about, the out and about one has been dropped on pavement once but it landed in a good place where the weight was evenly distributed so it didnt get messed up, I am not verycareful with that one but my 333 has only been used a few times and only stays at home. Oh and my out and about got a light sandblasting to help with fingerprints and scratches.

 

[Poppa D]

Mine is used daily, I worry about losing it, not using it. It rides in my pocket, or in a cup next to my drivers seat. I clean and polish it as needed with a baby wipe and mothers.
I bought it because it's SS, and it's a GGTS. I expect it to take the life I live the way I live. So far it's tough as hell, and holding up fine.

 

[gredie]

I'm using my GGs daily and permanent, but only indoor because i worry about loosing or scratching them and they're a bit to heavy for my pockets in the motorbike jacket. So i have my GGTS at home and my GGStealth and the GGTB at the office.
The GGSlim will be my GG for on the way when they'll be available again.

 

[dspin]

Well, if I can't have shiny, I don't want it. Hence the reason I buy new. I abhor scratches. My newest SSGGTS stays home and is used on my day off. It now sports a brass tube and 24ct gold plated tip. It was used alot yesterday along w/my other 2. My nickel and SS go everywhere with me and are constantly used. They are never stood on end except to photograph. They are always laid down on a microfibre cloth or put away in said cloth and holder. In the car one lays on sheepskin seat cover. Do I enjoy my GG's - yes, do I use them constantly - yes. Are they some of the shiniest and best kept around - yes. Can one use them hard and still be kept nice - yes. If I would drop one, dent it, bad scratch, etc - I would have to get rid of it and buy a new one or buy replacement parts.

 

[whiskey]

First couple of days I carried around a cloth to keep my Stealth shiney...LOL...after taking it on the road with me a few times I stopped being gentle...I figured I am going to use it & enjoy it...after I add the UFS to it , same goes. I hope when I get my UFS, that I can dig up that assembly Video..LOL....

 

[Major]

Don't worry about that Whiskey! You just keep the hot avatars coming and we'll get you the link to anything you need!

 

[Zoranth]

Videos are great or you cold use the Illustrations as well. Download and print them for quick reference.

GG Illustrations

First couple of days I carried around a cloth to keep my Stealth shiney...LOL...after taking it on the road with me a few times I stopped being gentle...I figured I am going to use it & enjoy it...after I add the UFS to it , same goes. I hope when I get my UFS, that I can dig up that assembly Video..LOL....

 

[RippleInStillWater]

Everyone loves a .40... Well, except the bad guys on the receiving end

You mean a Tall Boy?!?!? Does anyone even remember those huge old Schlitz cans??? I'm so old.....

 

[Major]

Yes I do Ripple but you are aging yourself with that one bro!

 

[Poppa D]

Hams, grainbelt, lol.
From the land of sky blue waters.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Ha! I was referring to me having given myselft bump, dents, dings and scratches... NEVER would I let that happen to my GGTS

It's well used, well loved, works hard (even when I am not) and has some surface flaws, and lives in my pocket. The real trick to owning a GGTS is not dropping it, or knock it over. Mine has hit the wood floor a couple times. Still makes me cringe But I'd have the same issue if I dropped any of my tools.

 

[MrKrinkle]

My GG has kissed the concrete slab of oops and survived to tell of it.... Like anyone else we all want our very pretty and very expensive GG devices to stay like new but if you actually use the device ..... poop happens its just the way it is... I work outdoors and am on the move all the time and I purchased the GG because of the obvious reasons but also because its durable and can be abused without really causing to much damage... I have some surface blemishes if I wanted it to be perfect again all I would really need are a new top cap for the GG and one for the iAtty but is not needed and to be honest I think of them as custom marks that identify it as my GG it earned its battle wounds and still vapes like a steam engine....

 

[schaedj]

When I first got my GG (original aluminum #169), I spent hours polishing it, and it drove me crazy that I couldn't keep it shiny. I have what gun nuts refer to as "acid hands". My friends won't let me touch their guns. The oils from my skin corrode metal like steel wool. I can't wear a watch because it tarnishes in a couple of weeks and then starts to chew up my wrist. After a couple of months I gave up. Now the bottom half my GG is dark gray, and you can't read the logo anymore, even when I do try to polish it up...

... But it still works like new. All of the electrical contact is on the inside of the tube at the bottom, so as long as I keep shinig the underside of the button, it keeps pouring out vapor.