- Location
- SE corner Sk
No, more like what potashminer is talking about. I'm not very familiar with epoxie, haven't done any projects involving the stuff.
What is a good bedding product?
- Thread starter MilitaryCollectorMark
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
What does "VIA weight" mean?? I am not familiar with that term.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I used to be able to buy the Acragel and Acraglas kits locally. I think were advertised as "two gun kits" - not sure - has been years. I was too cheap to toss out the left overs after doing a rifle - as I recall, was still good even a year later for next one. But is a limit - I do not really know how long - based on experience with Devcon, I would now prefer to buy not much more than I can fore-see using in a year or two - very much, to me, a "false economy" to think you are going to buy 10 years worth, and save a buck - you will be tossing out most of that, as unusable, if not used up in some much shorter time frame - 2 years???
I meant "by weight" ~ used the term wrong
I had one that had crystalized on me, or was starting to,acraglas does have a shelf life.
Devcon is epoxy based, just with A LOT of metals in it!
SomebodyTookMyName
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Saskatchewan
My two cents- I've used all the previously recommended products here with the exception of MarineTex, and Devcon gets my vote- specifically the #10110 Plastic Steel Putty (A) which you can order from Acklands/Grainger/Bumper-to-Bumper or most other automotive parts dealers. It's pricy, but well worth it for the volume and quality.
I like the Devcon because it's about the consistency of peanut butter and just as sticky, so you don't have to worry nearly as much about it running places it's not supposed to. The runny liquid epoxies have always proved a pain for me, particularly on the more involved bedding projects like M14's (back in "the day" a few years back). Devcon doesn't have the tendency to run down screw holes or find its way into trigger groups.
Devcon cures harder than Acraglas or Bedrock and it lasts way longer- in my experience, Acraglas loses its hardness after a few years, and is also very sensitive to oils/solvents.
JB Weld works, but as other have mentioned, it's picky with synthetics, which Devcon isn't.
Devcon can be picky about mixing ratios, but I just use my digital powder scale to measure by weight, and have never had an issue.
I like the Devcon because it's about the consistency of peanut butter and just as sticky, so you don't have to worry nearly as much about it running places it's not supposed to. The runny liquid epoxies have always proved a pain for me, particularly on the more involved bedding projects like M14's (back in "the day" a few years back). Devcon doesn't have the tendency to run down screw holes or find its way into trigger groups.
Devcon cures harder than Acraglas or Bedrock and it lasts way longer- in my experience, Acraglas loses its hardness after a few years, and is also very sensitive to oils/solvents.
JB Weld works, but as other have mentioned, it's picky with synthetics, which Devcon isn't.
Devcon can be picky about mixing ratios, but I just use my digital powder scale to measure by weight, and have never had an issue.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Sometimes - like when trying to glue a sleeve for the rear action screw on a Mauser - you want some very runny stuff - to go down into that small crack beside the tube. Other times want the gel stuff - like to fill gap for recoil lug that has been gouged out - do not want that to run any more than can help it - else end up with voids, etc. I never found a product suitable for both - original Accraglas with option to mix in fibreglass floc to make thicker was close - but still pretty "runny", compared to the gel.
That's the beauty of using fillers ... you can mix different fillers with different properties to the viscosity & proportions needed. I've only used microfibres (flock) and silica, but there are a few more available.
Check out the West System epoxies on Lee Valley - I use their fillers with the G2 epoxy (because west system epoxy is horrifically expensive) but works just great.
One of these containers: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...ves/glue/101704-fillers-for-west-system-epoxy only says 1.7 oz ... but it is about a liter by volume - it will last longer than I will.
- Location
- SE corner Sk
That's the beauty of using fillers ... you can mix different fillers with different properties to the viscosity & proportions needed. I've only used microfibres (flock) and silica, but there are a few more available.
Check out the West System epoxies on Lee Valley - I use their fillers with the G2 epoxy (because west system epoxy is horrifically expensive) but works just great.
One of these containers: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...ves/glue/101704-fillers-for-west-system-epoxy only says 1.7 oz ... but it is about a liter by volume - it will last longer than I will.
That's really good to know. Looking on Lee valley website, https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/supplies/adhesives/glue/20011-g2-epoxy?item=56Z7203
It's $36.00 for 12 fl. oz. Is this the correct stuff? It says in the description that it can be flexable. Or is their a different type?
Like this? https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/supplies/adhesives/glue/101701-west-system-epoxy-number-105-resin?item=54Z2010
There are 4 or 5 kinds of epoxie they sell, at different price points and cure/thickness
- Location
- SE corner Sk
yea - G2 that's the stuff. ....
The west system has a much better reputation ... it's just VERY expensive.
Yes, the kit is 130 or so dollars.
I’ve bedded a couple of hunting rifles with Devcon epoxy-steel because that’s what the gunsmith who worked on my target rifles used.
I’ve also used West system epoxies and fillers to work on other applications (boats and oars) and now that it’s been mentioned for bedding rifles I wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
You can also find west system at marine supply stores for a bit less than you pay at Lee Valley.
If you want really good penetration with the epoxy in a wood stock you can mix the glue, brush a little bit of the liquid into all the nooks and crannies of the stock, and then stir in the filler powders rest of the liquid epoxy to the putty consistency you need.
Chemical bond between the brushed in stuff (even if it's a different mix and partly cured) and the putty is better than letting the brushed in stuff cure and then sanding for a mechanical bond. And the brushed in stuff in a wood stock essentially makes the putty bedding mix "one" with the wood of the stock.
Whatever you do end up using, avoid any form of 5-minute epoxy. One epoxy manufacturer told me that the 5 minute formulations tend to absorb moisture from the air and break down fairly quickly.
I’ve also used West system epoxies and fillers to work on other applications (boats and oars) and now that it’s been mentioned for bedding rifles I wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
You can also find west system at marine supply stores for a bit less than you pay at Lee Valley.
If you want really good penetration with the epoxy in a wood stock you can mix the glue, brush a little bit of the liquid into all the nooks and crannies of the stock, and then stir in the filler powders rest of the liquid epoxy to the putty consistency you need.
Chemical bond between the brushed in stuff (even if it's a different mix and partly cured) and the putty is better than letting the brushed in stuff cure and then sanding for a mechanical bond. And the brushed in stuff in a wood stock essentially makes the putty bedding mix "one" with the wood of the stock.
Whatever you do end up using, avoid any form of 5-minute epoxy. One epoxy manufacturer told me that the 5 minute formulations tend to absorb moisture from the air and break down fairly quickly.
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I just tried the Devcon on a rifle. It seemed to work well and a bit easier to work with having a thicker consistency. I used Kiwi neutral shoe polish as a release agent. It worked good too but having a heck of a time cleaning that polish off of everything. Anything help dissolve this chit?
Some of these exotic products suggested are a real pain in the ass in the future if you need to alter or bed a different action... some are super hard to remove compared the Brownell's AgraGlass and AcraGel products... one reason why I have used them for so long... easy to use to start with, extremely low shrinkage on curing and easy to remove in the future.
yea - G2 that's the stuff. ....
The west system has a much better reputation ... it's just VERY expensive.
IIRC, the West System was developed for marine applications aka fabrication and repair.
From what I can gather, guys also use West System products in aircraft...
I don't think you will find any aircraft users to be using it for anything in the least bit structural. We used to buy drums when we were in the stock business.We used MGS335 which is a certified epoxy for aircraft. Biggest problem with devcon steel etc that it is very heavy stuff when you are trying to make competition weights.
Two thumbs up for West system!
I ran out of west system hardner, so had wHeeler epoxy kit left over from a friends estate, couldn't believe how well it worked, has everything in the kit from flock and 2 different dyes, a bunch of mixing containers, popsicle sticks. Work extremely well!
I ran out of west system hardner, so had wHeeler epoxy kit left over from a friends estate, couldn't believe how well it worked, has everything in the kit from flock and 2 different dyes, a bunch of mixing containers, popsicle sticks. Work extremely well!
