glass beading a synthetic stock

Joe Portale · October 12, 2001, 09:58 PM

Hi,

I'll bet this has been beaten to death on this board, but it needs to be asked. I have a rifle in a synthetic stock that is simply begging to be bedded. How does the glass bedding compound stick to the synthetic material? I have heard that after a short time the reciever and glass bedding goo seperate and the good results are lost.

Is there another method to insure good adhesion besides roughing the stock material up?

DeBee · October 12, 2001, 11:38 PM

I can offer up two tips:

Degrease the stock thoroughly. Synthetic stocks come out of a mold with release agent all over them- some residue may remain... I recommend laundry detergent in hot water followed by acetone (inletting only naturally)- You can replace the "lube" on the outside of the stock with ArmorAll.

Make a "stippling burr" by slightly bending a small 1/16" ball engraver bit about 1/2" from the tip and install in your trusty Dremel. Lightly stipple contact surfaces where the epoxy will go-- more precise than roughing up.

Good luck-- should stick.

George Stringer · October 13, 2001, 08:42 AM

Joe, in addition to what DeBee said, where possible I put a few small holes in the stock for the bedding to fill. This helps more than any other method I've found. George

Dfariswheel · October 13, 2001, 02:25 PM

In the early days of epoxy, people sometimes had trouble getting it to stay stuck in wood stocks. The problem was, everybody was so used to making absolutely smooth cuts in the inletting, they also made smooth cuts for the epoxy. Now we know to make rough cuts. Drilling holes and undercuts, even leaving a few splinters in place will help bonding.
On synthethic stocks, making holes and undercuts are necessary insure a good bond.
Worse of the bunch are the actual plastic stocks, made of fiber reinforced polymer. Epoxy just doesn't bond well to those, so you'll need the "locking" holes and undercuts.

October 12, 2001, 09:58 PM	#1
Joe Portale Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 1999 Location: Tucson, Arizona Territory Posts: 715	glass beading a synthetic stock Hi, I'll bet this has been beaten to death on this board, but it needs to be asked. I have a rifle in a synthetic stock that is simply begging to be bedded. How does the glass bedding compound stick to the synthetic material? I have heard that after a short time the reciever and glass bedding goo seperate and the good results are lost. Is there another method to insure good adhesion besides roughing the stock material up? __________________ Joe Portale Tucson, Arizona Territory "Even now in heaven there are angles carrying savage weapons". - St Paul

October 12, 2001, 11:38 PM	#2
DeBee Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 1999 Posts: 408	I can offer up two tips: Degrease the stock thoroughly. Synthetic stocks come out of a mold with release agent all over them- some residue may remain... I recommend laundry detergent in hot water followed by acetone (inletting only naturally)- You can replace the "lube" on the outside of the stock with ArmorAll. Make a "stippling burr" by slightly bending a small 1/16" ball engraver bit about 1/2" from the tip and install in your trusty Dremel. Lightly stipple contact surfaces where the epoxy will go-- more precise than roughing up. Good luck-- should stick.

October 13, 2001, 08:42 AM	#3
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Joe, in addition to what DeBee said, where possible I put a few small holes in the stock for the bedding to fill. This helps more than any other method I've found. George

October 13, 2001, 02:25 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	In the early days of epoxy, people sometimes had trouble getting it to stay stuck in wood stocks. The problem was, everybody was so used to making absolutely smooth cuts in the inletting, they also made smooth cuts for the epoxy. Now we know to make rough cuts. Drilling holes and undercuts, even leaving a few splinters in place will help bonding. On synthethic stocks, making holes and undercuts are necessary insure a good bond. Worse of the bunch are the actual plastic stocks, made of fiber reinforced polymer. Epoxy just doesn't bond well to those, so you'll need the "locking" holes and undercuts.