So, I'm working on a USGI fiberglass stock right now and figured maybe there are some people interested in ways of 'beatifying' the old buggers. It's still a wip so more to come!
First I glassed in my Sadlak rail backplate after upsizing the holes and sanding away as much paint as possible:
I sanded the interior of my forestock down to the fiberglass, wiped it down with acetone and commenced my fiberglass lay up. I laid the fiberglass up on some plastic sheeting, put a couple layers, some resin, couple more and then more resin. I then folded the other half of my plastic sheet over top. Used something like a 7/8-ish long socket and rolled it around, spreading the fiberglass evenly through the layers and removing all the air pockets. Then I used a paper template that I traced from inside my stock to cut the fiberglass to size with a sharp box cutter. End results:
As far as the weave pattern went, in relation to length of the stock, I went parallel then 3-4 at 45 degrees and repeated. I figure reinforcing it is mostly for the torsional load put on it if I use a sling, hence the 45 degrees to parallel.
Next were the fun switch hole and op rod spring guide pin. Again, took off as much paint as I could. Then I guesstimated a proper size of insulation foam to stick in the selector switch hole (didn't bother with guide pin hole). Built up a wall with green painters tape (the lime green stuff works better than the darker green tape from my experience) and away I went!
After round 1:
After round 2 and some sanding and dremel work:
This is where I'm at so far. Still needs another lay up or two of fiberglass and some air bubbles need to be filled with some more JB weld. After that I'll take it out for a range test. If all is well, then I'll proceed to the paint prep. The metal parts of the stock need to be reparkarized, so I've stolen the butt plate and rear sling point off my chicom stock. To my amusement they fit quite nicely. You'll need the chicom lower screw as the sling threads are different from the USGI ones. Just need to drill out my from sling plate now!
Couple things I'm wondering:
1) Is it taboo for the gc to touch the stock at all aside from the fb? ex if the fiberglass is too high and contacts the bottom of the gc
2) How thick is Krylon Camo paint? Will it pretty much render the grips useless if more than a couple layers are painted on?
Of course any comments, questions or criticism are welcome! Rock on!
First I glassed in my Sadlak rail backplate after upsizing the holes and sanding away as much paint as possible:
I sanded the interior of my forestock down to the fiberglass, wiped it down with acetone and commenced my fiberglass lay up. I laid the fiberglass up on some plastic sheeting, put a couple layers, some resin, couple more and then more resin. I then folded the other half of my plastic sheet over top. Used something like a 7/8-ish long socket and rolled it around, spreading the fiberglass evenly through the layers and removing all the air pockets. Then I used a paper template that I traced from inside my stock to cut the fiberglass to size with a sharp box cutter. End results:
As far as the weave pattern went, in relation to length of the stock, I went parallel then 3-4 at 45 degrees and repeated. I figure reinforcing it is mostly for the torsional load put on it if I use a sling, hence the 45 degrees to parallel.
Next were the fun switch hole and op rod spring guide pin. Again, took off as much paint as I could. Then I guesstimated a proper size of insulation foam to stick in the selector switch hole (didn't bother with guide pin hole). Built up a wall with green painters tape (the lime green stuff works better than the darker green tape from my experience) and away I went!
After round 1:
After round 2 and some sanding and dremel work:
This is where I'm at so far. Still needs another lay up or two of fiberglass and some air bubbles need to be filled with some more JB weld. After that I'll take it out for a range test. If all is well, then I'll proceed to the paint prep. The metal parts of the stock need to be reparkarized, so I've stolen the butt plate and rear sling point off my chicom stock. To my amusement they fit quite nicely. You'll need the chicom lower screw as the sling threads are different from the USGI ones. Just need to drill out my from sling plate now!
Couple things I'm wondering:
1) Is it taboo for the gc to touch the stock at all aside from the fb? ex if the fiberglass is too high and contacts the bottom of the gc
2) How thick is Krylon Camo paint? Will it pretty much render the grips useless if more than a couple layers are painted on?
Of course any comments, questions or criticism are welcome! Rock on!
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