Release agent removal

[RedSkyFarm]

Hi all. I recently bedded my rifle using Acraglass (red). It’s a Wetherby Vanguard with a composite stock. Bedding turned out fine, but the clean up was time consuming as far as removing the release agent. I’ve bedded wood stocks in the past and the release agent wasn’t bad to remove. Was wondering if you guys had any tricks/techniques to speed up the release agent removal? Thanks for any ideas I could use in the future.

[Roughedge]

Brownells sell a cleaner but I use lacquer thinner.

[RedSkyFarm]

Lacquer thinner won’t hurt the composite material??

[T. O'Heir]

The release agent shouldn't stick or be difficult to remove. It should come off easily. Mineral spirits or regular solvent, like Hoppes, should do the job though.
Any composite stock that would be damaged by solvents isn't any good. Mind you, a lot will depend on what materials are in the stock. Lacquer thinner can dissolve some resins or plastics.

[tangolima]

I suppose it is release agent on the stock, not on the metal. I like using masking tape for the purpose. But that's for the future.

My favorite solvent is denatured alcohol.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Oliver Sudden]

Did you read the instructions that came with the Acraglass?

[Roughedge]

You do a quick wipe, don't soak it.

[Don Fischer]

Paste car wax works well and wipes right off.

[5whiskey]

Pam cooking spray is a great release agent. Comes of quickly with hot water and dawn dish soap. Or simple green. I never had an issue with getting release agent on a stock to need to clean the stock. Release agent goes on the receiver last I checked you want your bedding compound to NOT release from the stock...

[RedSkyFarm]

Yes, I did read the instructions. I probably put the release agent on a little more than was necessary. It had gotten on the textured part of the stock. Making it a little harder to just wipe off. Mineral spirits did the trick. Thanks all for the responses.

[Catman42]

if you use the very very very thin plastic wrap between the stock and the glass bedding you need nothing else. when the glass is dry the stock will pop right out. the plasic wrap is so thin it wont cause a problem. just trim the edges and buff them smooth. their you are a easier way to do it.

[RedSkyFarm]

Thanks Catman. Sounds like a good idea to try on my next one.

[Unclenick]

Hmmm, I don't think kitchen plastic is thin enough that I would feel I had solid contact between the stock and receiver with the gap it would create. Anything over about a fifth of a mil is more than I'd want.

[HiBC]

I'm assuming Brownell;s blue liquid release agent.

I could be wrong,but I think its PolyVinylAlcohol. Sometime in the last century,a couple of decades before Millennials were invented,there was a Mountaineering sort of outfitter store called Holubar. Holubar had a subsidiary named Carikit.

Carikit was about sew-it-yourself coat,vest,sleeping bag,and other gear.

You can imagine the home stitcher having difficulty installing high fill Canadian goose down in all the baffles and pockets.

So Crikit packaged the down in number coded blue plastic bags.You load them as you sew.

Then the sleeping bag or coat went into the washing machine. The PVA bags melted and dissolved away,releasing the down.

So...my point is,have you tried a toothbrush and water? Maybe with some Bon Ami?

See if it works.
If you have it,the Brownells release works good. So often,its dried up.

Johnson's paste wax has been reliable for me.

Be careful about anything that remains oily. Some improvise release agents can inhibit the curing of the resin. Maybe silicone .

It comes to mind that maybe hairspay works,but don't take my word for it. Do a test before you risk a bedding job.