The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - AR Thumbhole from fiberglass & styrofoam?

backbencher · June 16, 2013, 04:51 PM

Making it cheaper than I can buy it is the idea.

Ze Jermans for $570

Kiwis for $525 ish

Bell & Carlson discontinued.

I'm trying to reinforce an AR lower that will be built out of glued together plastic bricks such as Legos or MegaBloks. If I can build the stock out of fiberglass cheaper than I can out of plastic bricks, I'm for it - but no way can I use some fancy boat quality foam.

If I'm reading some of the above posts correctly, the way forward is - build my stock out of cheap styrofoam, cover it in something impermeable, wrap it in fiberglass cloth, then slather it in resin & let it dry. THEN - pull the styrofoam out? And replace with a filler - either spray in foam (like house insulation?) - light, or fiberglass mat & more resin - heavy. Or Bondo, perhaps?

We're not doing a .458" SOCOM here, nor a .308". Cheap & easy - not fast or pretty. If it cracks a couple thousands rounds down the line, you build another one.

Effort Thumbhole

June 16, 2013, 04:51 PM	#10
backbencher Member Join Date: February 5, 2006 Posts: 17	Making it cheaper than I can buy it is the idea. Ze Jermans for $570 Kiwis for $525 ish Bell & Carlson discontinued. I'm trying to reinforce an AR lower that will be built out of glued together plastic bricks such as Legos or MegaBloks. If I can build the stock out of fiberglass cheaper than I can out of plastic bricks, I'm for it - but no way can I use some fancy boat quality foam. If I'm reading some of the above posts correctly, the way forward is - build my stock out of cheap styrofoam, cover it in something impermeable, wrap it in fiberglass cloth, then slather it in resin & let it dry. THEN - pull the styrofoam out? And replace with a filler - either spray in foam (like house insulation?) - light, or fiberglass mat & more resin - heavy. Or Bondo, perhaps? We're not doing a .458" SOCOM here, nor a .308". Cheap & easy - not fast or pretty. If it cracks a couple thousands rounds down the line, you build another one. Effort Thumbhole