Bedding compound

blazinbilly

blazinbilly

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Used some Gilbert bedding compound on last rifle. Came apart nicely but 4 days later the epoxy is still slightly tacky. Any solutions for this? Have fired the rifle and stays put. Seems to be doing the job but worried it might move in time.
 
It appears your mix was not correct... not enough hardner of not mixed thoroughly enough. It will not get better with age.

Dig it all out and rebed it. I like Brownell's Acra-Glas or Acra-Gel, a product designed for firearms 60 years ago ... Used it exclusively for over 50 years.
 
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Guntech is probably correct that it needs to go, but before carving it all out you could try wiping it with isopropyl alcohol and a cloth to see if you can get the stickiness to go. If that doesn't work then you are carving it out anyway.


Mark
 
Reminds me of the last 5 minute epoxy I used, it had turned in to 30 minute rubber. Not good.
Heat will quickn the curing time even on a bad mix. But depending on what it is and time, I'd dremel it out and do it over.
 
Always mix by weight and stir three times as long as you think you should, by the clock. Some companies, like Brownells, will not give this information most likely because they don't have a clue about this. Ya I know, no one has ever had a problem doing it their way. I don't know how many thousands of gallon of epoxy went through our shop so I have seen pretty much everything.
If the sticky part is actually where it touches the action then you are looking to redo it. If it is sticky where it was only exposed to air then what you have is called an amine blush. You can remove it mechanically or with water and a bit of soap.
 
I should add, my favourite bedding compound is Marine-Tex, If you can find it. Some guys I know in the USA have access to some long term stability testing and it was the winner. Good to know after using it for years. And, you can buy epoxy and mix your own.
 
Ian Robertson said:
I should add, my favourite bedding compound is Marine-Tex, If you can find it. Some guys I know in the USA have access to some long term stability testing and it was the winner. Good to know after using it for years. And, you can buy epoxy and mix your own.
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Another vote for Marine Tex Gray, NOT White. Easy to work with and gives great results. I've tried Devcon and original JB Weld, they were ok but I would choose Marine Tex over both. If you happen to use something else, don't use any sort of quick set/5min epoxy. Bedding isn't something to try and rush. Take your time and do it to the best of your ability.
 
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I’ve had good luck with JB Weld, I get the fast drying stuff as the regular stuff will run out a bit quick, or mix regular stuff and wait around 10-20 minutes before putting it in the action when it’s starting to thicken a bit. Maybe done 5 or 6 rifles this way if not more.
 
Budweiser360 said:
Another vote for Marine Tex Gray, NOT White. Easy to work with and gives great results. I've tried Devcon and original JB Weld, they were ok but I would choose Marine Tex over both. If you happen to use something else, don't use any sort of quick set/5min epoxy. Bedding isn't something to try and rush. Take your time and do it to the best of your ability.
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Never liked any quick set products. When I'm confident it's all good and I feel the need to speed up the curing time, I used a light bulb ( not LED ;) ) or a hair dryer. Up the temperature about 5 degrees, 10 max.
 
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