Stripping Epoxy ?

[atr]

So my front sight on the shotgun was 2 part epoxied on about 20 years ago and the gun has been hammered with 3 inch slugs and buckshot ever since . Finally the sight came loose last week . How do i clean the old hardened epoxy off with using a chemical so harsh it will take the barrel finish off , maybe heat , a soldering gun ? Maybe some not so harsh chemical ? This inside of the sight has to be cleaned of old epoxy also . Any opinions on how to clean the old epoxy is appreciated . I'm then going to fasten the front sight back on and i'm thinking Devcon or JB Weld . Any opinions on that . Thanks guys .

 

[Magellann]

You can carefully sand, file, or use a dremel tool with a small disc to remove the old epoxy, go slow and carefully with a steady hand.

 

[Butcherbill]

I would try a heat gun as well as carefully picking away at it, take an old chopstick and sharpen the end like a chisel. Shouldn't mar the barrel finish, patience and taking your time will be the key.

 

[Trinimon]

Depending on the epoxy used, you should be able to apply some heat with a torch. If your shotgun has a vent rib, you should be able to break down the epoxy without damaging the brazing. If your sight was mounted directly on the barrel, you can get away with more heat. You only need enough heat to get the epoxy to break down to a powdery form.

Mask up the area to prevent accidentally damaging the surrounding finish and clean up the area with a nylon brush, remove masking and wipe down with acetone. Lay out the location for the new sight and mask off the area with some tape. Carefully prep the spot with some fine 200-400grit emery paper and clean up the area and bottom of the sight with acetone before regluing the new sight. If the new sight is made of plastic/polymer, you might want to use isophryl alcohol instead of acetone just to be safe. Do not discard any left-over epoxy, instead, set it aside as a guide to see if the epoxy has hardened.

Clean up any squeeze-out epoxy with some Q-tips dipped in WD-40. Remove masking tape after epoxy has cured.

 

[MC One Shot]

I would try a heat gun as well as carefully picking away at it, take an old chopstick and sharpen the end like a chisel. Shouldn't mar the barrel finish, patience and taking your time will be the key.

X2, a heat gun will break it up so you can remove it. A final clean up with some acetone should remove any residue to clean surface for rebonding. Devcon make excellent adhesives.

 

[P0WERWAGON]

Propane torch

 

[atr]

Thanks guys .