Split foregrip

BoogieMan · April 29, 2013, 07:32 PM

Bought my son a Browning Gold 12ga used. At some point the walnut foregrip has split but is still in 1 piece. I dont want it to split the rest of the way. I was told there is a fiberglass kit I can use on the inside of the foregrip. Can someone tell me what its called or even provide the link on Midway or Brownells. All I can find are glass bedding kits.

Scorch · April 30, 2013, 12:08 AM

You can buy an Acraglas kit at just about any sporting goods store in the country. Mask off any areas you don't want glued. Mix it up 5:1 and apply it to the crack surfaces. Clamp, and let it sit overnight. Generally, for forearm repairs, I also use glass cloth on the inside of the forearm (stop by Home Depot and buy a small piece). Once it's set and hardened, you can sand off the excess and it's stronger than before.

mete · April 30, 2013, 02:18 AM

IIRC the earliest production of thre Rem 1100 had a problem of splitting forends. Later production added a fiberglass layer to re-enfoce them.

BoogieMan · April 30, 2013, 06:14 AM

I have regular fiberglass resin (polyester) is that any different than acraglas? As far as availability, the 3 LGS's and Dicks that are in my area do not carry it. On Midway and Brownells there are lots of glass bedding kits but no (that I found) acraglas resin. Would a epoxy resin work better than the polyester?
Im not trying to overcomplicate this, I just dont want to have a crap repair either.

**4V50 Gary** · April 30, 2013, 08:04 AM

What Sorch suggested. Open the crack with a wedge, apply epoxy and clamp over night. I used leather to pad the wood forearm on a Browning clone (treated the wood exterior and leather with Johnson floor wax) and then had two pieces of wood (one on each side of the vise) to hold the stock overnight. Came out fine. I've sanded the stock and restained it and am now slowly apply Tru Oil.

Scorch · May 1, 2013, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Would a epoxy resin work better than the polyester?

Acraglas is just a fancy epoxy resin. It is popular because it is sold in kits by Brownells, but any slow-cure epoxy resin will work fine. Go down to HD or Lowes and find a good one.

Polyester resin will typically not penetrate the surface of the wood, so it will not give a good bond.

Dixie Gunsmithing · May 1, 2013, 06:58 AM

One would think that Browning would have learned from the Auto-5.

The trick is, inletting a shallow band on the inside of the forearm, and epoxying in some fiberglass cloth, like stated above. Then, you refinish the forearm back to factory looks. The problem is, that no matter how well you do it, you'll still notice where the crack was, even though its filled in. However, its either this, or a new forearm, that might crack too.

The cracking is generally from the forearm not being held tight enough against the frame by mag tube cap, and the forearm being made from thin wood.

nanewt02 · May 2, 2013, 09:37 PM

one thing ive had luck with in addition to using a wedge, put glue on the surface of the crack and use a shop vac on the other side to "pull" the glue through

**4V50 Gary** · May 3, 2013, 05:10 AM

Just remembered something. On some guns the split starts and won't affect anything and stops growing. The Rem 1100/11-87 have such a cut on its receiver. Some shotguns have a precut stress relief on its forends for the same reason. The Beretta 92 pistol has a precut stress relief slot in the slide.

So, contact Browning and ask them.

ChasingWhitetail91 · May 3, 2013, 07:53 AM

Couldn't you clamp it with a little wood glue, re-finish it, and keep it in a more humid area.

blfuller · May 9, 2013, 01:52 PM

Super glue works really well for cracks in wood. Apply the glue into the crack and push the crack closed and hold until set You will probably need to reinforce it on the inside with some epoxy and fiberglas cloth.

April 29, 2013, 07:32 PM	#1
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Split foregrip Bought my son a Browning Gold 12ga used. At some point the walnut foregrip has split but is still in 1 piece. I dont want it to split the rest of the way. I was told there is a fiberglass kit I can use on the inside of the foregrip. Can someone tell me what its called or even provide the link on Midway or Brownells. All I can find are glass bedding kits. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

April 30, 2013, 12:08 AM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	You can buy an Acraglas kit at just about any sporting goods store in the country. Mask off any areas you don't want glued. Mix it up 5:1 and apply it to the crack surfaces. Clamp, and let it sit overnight. Generally, for forearm repairs, I also use glass cloth on the inside of the forearm (stop by Home Depot and buy a small piece). Once it's set and hardened, you can sand off the excess and it's stronger than before. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

April 30, 2013, 02:18 AM	#3
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	IIRC the earliest production of thre Rem 1100 had a problem of splitting forends. Later production added a fiberglass layer to re-enfoce them. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

April 30, 2013, 06:14 AM	#4
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I have regular fiberglass resin (polyester) is that any different than acraglas? As far as availability, the 3 LGS's and Dicks that are in my area do not carry it. On Midway and Brownells there are lots of glass bedding kits but no (that I found) acraglas resin. Would a epoxy resin work better than the polyester? Im not trying to overcomplicate this, I just dont want to have a crap repair either. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

April 30, 2013, 08:04 AM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,845	What Sorch suggested. Open the crack with a wedge, apply epoxy and clamp over night. I used leather to pad the wood forearm on a Browning clone (treated the wood exterior and leather with Johnson floor wax) and then had two pieces of wood (one on each side of the vise) to hold the stock overnight. Came out fine. I've sanded the stock and restained it and am now slowly apply Tru Oil. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

May 1, 2013, 06:58 AM	#7
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	One would think that Browning would have learned from the Auto-5. The trick is, inletting a shallow band on the inside of the forearm, and epoxying in some fiberglass cloth, like stated above. Then, you refinish the forearm back to factory looks. The problem is, that no matter how well you do it, you'll still notice where the crack was, even though its filled in. However, its either this, or a new forearm, that might crack too. The cracking is generally from the forearm not being held tight enough against the frame by mag tube cap, and the forearm being made from thin wood.

May 2, 2013, 09:37 PM	#8
nanewt02 Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Posts: 249	one thing ive had luck with in addition to using a wedge, put glue on the surface of the crack and use a shop vac on the other side to "pull" the glue through

May 3, 2013, 05:10 AM	#9
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,845	Just remembered something. On some guns the split starts and won't affect anything and stops growing. The Rem 1100/11-87 have such a cut on its receiver. Some shotguns have a precut stress relief on its forends for the same reason. The Beretta 92 pistol has a precut stress relief slot in the slide. So, contact Browning and ask them. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

May 3, 2013, 07:53 AM	#10
ChasingWhitetail91 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 336	Couldn't you clamp it with a little wood glue, re-finish it, and keep it in a more humid area. __________________ Abraham Lincoln made all men free, Samuel Colt made them equal.

May 9, 2013, 01:52 PM	#11
blfuller Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Location: Washington State Posts: 246	Super glue works really well for cracks in wood. Apply the glue into the crack and push the crack closed and hold until set You will probably need to reinforce it on the inside with some epoxy and fiberglas cloth.