Glass Bedding

publius · November 10, 2010, 09:33 PM

How do some of you get that pretty, completely filled, smooth coverage on your glassing jobs? I have used the Brownells acra-glas in the past and mix with the wooden tongue deppresser and try to apply it evenly with voidless coverage and have only been able to get ugly, stringy, coverage with open voids throughout?

hoghunting · November 11, 2010, 12:16 AM

You might be mixing it too vigorously and getting too many air bubbles. Or you are just not using enough Acra-glas. I mostly use the Gel when bedding.

Scorch · November 11, 2010, 01:17 AM

Sounds to me like you are trying to just barely fill the space to be bedded. There is often a lot of room in a factory stock that needs filling for the job to be done right.

I usually mask off any areas I don't want resin on with good quality masking tape, use paste wax as a release agent on all exposed areas and metal parts, add floc or fibers to the resin before I add hardener and tap it on the bench to release as many air bubbles as possible, then mix the hardener in as smoothly as possible. I position the action screws in place so that all I have to do is tighten them as needed. I pour the mixture into the stock where I want the resin to be when I am done, let it spread by itself, then slowly put the action in place, and slowly tighten the action screws, making sure to wipe up all the excess resin that gets squeezed out as I tighten the screws. There are usually some small voids caused by bubbles, but no gaping canyons if I have done my part.

publius · November 11, 2010, 01:36 AM

Thanks guys. I think I haven't been using enough b/c I was afraid of it running everywhere. I think I need to use clay to make dams to keep the acraglass where i want it and to use plenty in these spaces.

Buzzard Bait · November 12, 2010, 10:31 AM

i use play dough for damming up where I don't want it to go and jb weld is my favorite bedding material but I have seen pics of some beautiful work that makes me wonder if they mill or somehow cut the edges smooth

bb

natman · November 12, 2010, 01:56 PM

1) Use Acraglas GEL for bedding. It's the consistency of peanut butter and will stay where you put it. Acraglas is for when you want it to run and penetrate into cracks.

2) Use more.

Slamfire · November 12, 2010, 04:19 PM

There are certain applications that Acurglass works well because it flows, such as filling cracks.

For most of my work I prefer two part epoxies that have the consistency of peanut butter.

Marine Tex works well. You can find this in Marine Boating stores.

AcuraGlass gel is good.

I have outstanding success with the Devcon Stainless Steel Putty and Aluminum putty. Once these harden you have to grind them out. Rock hard.

Bisonite works well in certain applications. During its exothermic stage it flows then it thickens. Bisonite is as rock hard as Devcon once it cures.

T. O'Heir · November 13, 2010, 09:40 PM

"...only been able to get..." Two applications.

Quick Karl · November 15, 2010, 01:01 AM

Try using Marine Tex - you can look it up on Google to see how many rifle builders use it.

November 10, 2010, 09:33 PM	#1
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	Glass Bedding How do some of you get that pretty, completely filled, smooth coverage on your glassing jobs? I have used the Brownells acra-glas in the past and mix with the wooden tongue deppresser and try to apply it evenly with voidless coverage and have only been able to get ugly, stringy, coverage with open voids throughout? __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

November 11, 2010, 01:17 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Sounds to me like you are trying to just barely fill the space to be bedded. There is often a lot of room in a factory stock that needs filling for the job to be done right. I usually mask off any areas I don't want resin on with good quality masking tape, use paste wax as a release agent on all exposed areas and metal parts, add floc or fibers to the resin before I add hardener and tap it on the bench to release as many air bubbles as possible, then mix the hardener in as smoothly as possible. I position the action screws in place so that all I have to do is tighten them as needed. I pour the mixture into the stock where I want the resin to be when I am done, let it spread by itself, then slowly put the action in place, and slowly tighten the action screws, making sure to wipe up all the excess resin that gets squeezed out as I tighten the screws. There are usually some small voids caused by bubbles, but no gaping canyons if I have done my part. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 11, 2010, 01:36 AM	#4
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	Thanks guys. I think I haven't been using enough b/c I was afraid of it running everywhere. I think I need to use clay to make dams to keep the acraglass where i want it and to use plenty in these spaces. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

November 12, 2010, 10:31 AM	#5
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	yea i use play dough for damming up where I don't want it to go and jb weld is my favorite bedding material but I have seen pics of some beautiful work that makes me wonder if they mill or somehow cut the edges smooth bb

November 12, 2010, 04:19 PM	#7
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	There are certain applications that Acurglass works well because it flows, such as filling cracks. For most of my work I prefer two part epoxies that have the consistency of peanut butter. Marine Tex works well. You can find this in Marine Boating stores. AcuraGlass gel is good. I have outstanding success with the Devcon Stainless Steel Putty and Aluminum putty. Once these harden you have to grind them out. Rock hard. Bisonite works well in certain applications. During its exothermic stage it flows then it thickens. Bisonite is as rock hard as Devcon once it cures. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading. Last edited by Slamfire; November 12, 2010 at 07:56 PM. Reason: word change

November 11, 2010, 12:16 AM	#2
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	You might be mixing it too vigorously and getting too many air bubbles. Or you are just not using enough Acra-glas. I mostly use the Gel when bedding.

November 12, 2010, 01:56 PM	#6
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,607	1) Use Acraglas GEL for bedding. It's the consistency of peanut butter and will stay where you put it. Acraglas is for when you want it to run and penetrate into cracks. 2) Use more.

November 13, 2010, 09:40 PM	#8
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...only been able to get..." Two applications. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 15, 2010, 01:01 AM	#9
Quick Karl Junior member Join Date: June 10, 2008 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 36	Try using Marine Tex - you can look it up on Google to see how many rifle builders use it.