Good epoxy and release agent for re-inletting a stock smaller

[Ardent]

I have a Rem 700 stock that was inletted for a detachable mag system (ie. material removed/bottom metal area expanded). It is a very nice stock, and I'd like to bring it back to standard by filling the expanded area. I will be simply clamping standard bottom metal into the epoxy filled stock and and then letting the epoxy cure in shape. I will need a really good release agent/epoxy combo given the amount of surface area in contact with the epoxy. Suggestions? I'm more predisposed to epoxies and release agents available in hardware and marine retailers (like JB weld and Pam spray for instance) than purpose built gun bedding kits that I find unnecessarily pricey and the same stuff available industrially for much less. If this is misguided, by all means let me know. Appreciate any advice here, cheers!

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

I bought a pint tin of mould release from CANUS Plastics in Ottawa for $25 and a tub of walnut brown microballoons for $10. They do mail order.

 

[Ardent]

You throw in the microballoons for colour eh? I've heard of that. I need black for mine, though I was planning on painting after it might as well be the right colour underneath. The balloons dissolve into epoxy no problem?

 

[darxtar]

Brownells Acraglas Gel. They ship to Canada. It comes with black and brown dyes and release agent. About 15 bucks. Probably the best stuff around.

 

[KodiakII]

Microballoons or microshperes also act as a thickner for the epoxy. you can turn it to a putty like mass if you add enough.

 

[Camk]

just go to the paint store with a film canister and get some black pigment they use for tinting paint ....its free

 

[Ardent]

Microballoons or microshperes also act as a thickner for the epoxy. you can turn it to a putty like mass if you add enough.

...I like it.

 

[bluedcanoed]

Microballoons or microspheres are typically added to expoxy resins to add bulk, to thicken the mixture and to make it easy to sand for fairing or leveling projects. As such it is not especially strong - it's a filler only and shouldn't be used, for example, to back up recoil lugs etc.

Bob

 

[KodiakII]

mix in some aluminum filings...used to be able to buy it.

 

[Why not?]

The easiest release agent to use, and one of the best, is Johnsons Paste Wax.
I have bedded dozens of rifles using it and never had a problem.

Marine-Tex Grey will do what you want it to. You can thicken it with a bit of fiberglass flock that you can get from any fiberglass shop. You won't need much to make the stuff like putty that will hold its shape while it cures. It can then be filed and sanded to match the contour of the stock.

Ted

 

[Ardent]

Thanks Ted, I think I'll do just that.

 

[Wrong Way]

I use epoxy putty....quite often sold as "tube" of the two components which you cut a chunk off of then work like play-do. Commonly available is grey (epoxysteel I think) and white (marine) Pretty much the same stuff.

It has a decent open time, and once curred is really strong, yet workable with sharp tools.

For a release agaent I use two: Minwax furniture paste wax for areas that can be reached with a cloth to apply, or a product from lee valley called waxalit which you can spray on (complex areas)

Just remember, no matter how much release agent you put on the metal, if the epoxy is allowed to wrap over or into a fixed part...the action aint coming out.

 

[Ken T2]

Johnson's Paste wax as mentioned is probably the best release agent.Avoid the spray on release agents.I prefer Brownell's steel bed but Devcon steel putty should work as well.Dyes should work with the steel bed or putty but it still looks like bedding material.