Epoxy putty as a bedding compound?

[Elkins45]

I went to open my shrink wrapped sealed container of Acraglas gel only to discover it had dried out over the years. I have my M70 ready to bed and am not really a fan of waiting for a container to show up in the mail and I don't think anybody sells it locally.

I wonder if there would be a real downside to using some of that epoxy putty they sell at the hardware store to bed the recoil lug? It seems like it would be just as strong as normal epoxy and it would be a lot less sloppy than liquid epoxy or maybe even the gel.

Anybody ever tried this?

 

[morcey2]

If you can get it, use Devcon 2-ton epoxy. Not the quick set stuff, but the 30-minute stuff. I've used it for one bedding job and it worked really well. I don't know what the shrinkage characteristics of the putty would be, but the devcon is very stable on curing. I've never used Acraglas gel, but it's supposed to have the same consistency. Sportsmans Warehouse here sells both Acraglas and Gel. Work the phones and you might be surprised.

I had the same thing happen to my acraglas. The devcon was recommended on another board and I've used also used it to repair several stocks.

Matt

 

[fguffey]

“am not really a fan of waiting for a container to show up”

I agree, if ‘Acruaglass’ was proud of their product they would post strength, tensile strength etc., I go to Home Depot and choose the kit with the highest strength, I choose not to use the slow set-up time.
The next time I will use the 3M type anchor bolt material, Fasten-all sells it, Home Depot sells a similar material at about half the price in a calking type tube. Reason? I like the high numbers and volume of the tube.

F. Guffey

 

[brickeyee]

Epoxy is relatively dense and heavy, but also thin (as in liquid).

By adding a lighter weight filler (like powdered aluminum) you get a thicker and easier to handle material that is not as dense but still works in the desired application.

Depending on how the resin was thickened it might be OK, but is probably going to add more weight than needed.

 

[Tempest 455]

I recently used Marine Epoxy from Home Depot with good results. Did the job I ecpected it would.

 

[Lucifer_Sam]

The Devcon metal epoxy is recommended by alot of gunsmiths and such. You might try Ace, I kinda doubt any of the big box stores would have it. If I was going to try bedding with a something locally I'd either use JB weld or Glaze Coat. You can get that at Lowes, its a epoxy for covering things like bar tops. Its really strong and durable, the hardened product seems comparable to acrylic in strength and hardness.

 

[hoghunting]

I went to open my shrink wrapped sealed container of Acraglas gel only to discover it had dried out over the years.

I had the same thing happen, so I called Brownells. Technician said to put the container in hot water to heat contents and it would get the buttery texture. It does and still works very well.

 

[morcey2]

Whatever you do, don't forget to be liberal with the release agent.

 

[Skyshot]

I like acraglass for a wood stock but I like PC-7 (sold at Ace Hdwre) for Synthetic stocks.

 

[morcey2]

I like acraglass for a wood stock but I like PC-7 (sold at Ace Hdwre) for Synthetic stocks.

I've got a mex mauser in a synthetic stock that I need to bed, so I may have to try that. Thanks.

Matt

 

[HankB]

If you can get it, use Devcon 2-ton epoxy. . . . I've never used Acraglas gel, but it's supposed to have the same consistency.

Devcon 2-ton epoxy is good stuff for sticking things together (like a wooden buttplate or forend on a wood stock) but it is NOT the same consistency as Acraglas Gel; the gel is thicker.

I've used gel to bed several rifles (a 10/22 in a laminated stock, a .30/06 M70 in a Bell & Carlson synthetic stock, a .375 H&H in a wood stock, etc.) with very good results; in each case I added some very fine powdered aluminum to the mix, which Brownell's says will strengthen the mix. I like Acraglas Gel around the action, and regular Acraglas (which is much more runny, even after you add the supplied floc) for sealing the barrel channel.

You DO need to use plenty of release agent.

As for timing . . . once done, a good bedding job will last a lifetime. Are you really too impatient to wait a couple of days to get the right stuff?

 

[lcclower]

Devcon with steel, Devcon with titanium and J-B Weld all come up over on rimfire.com in discussions of bedding, esp. 10-22's.
Can you use too much release agent? I don't see how.

 

[Skyshot]

I've got a mex mauser in a synthetic stock that I need to bed, so I may have to try that. Thanks.

Matt

Be sure to roughin up the area that you bed in the synthetic stock. Some stocks have a petroleum additive that will cause any epoxy not to adhere. I use a dremel tool to make small cavities for the epoxy to grab on to. PC-7 takes about 24 hours to set completely and I usually separate the action from the stock after about 12 to 14 hours and do my trimming and clean up then. The PC-7 is Very Very hard once it sets.

 

[35 Whelen]

I've bedded with Acra-Glas and Devcon. Both work very well but the Devcon is more expensive.

One thing that MUST be considered when choosing a bedding compound is shrinkage. Most over the counter, run-of-the-mill epoxies have a shrinkage rate higher than that of bedding compounds.

AcraGlas has a shrinkage of less than 1/10 of 1%. Devcons appears to be even less though I don't know how to compare the two. It appears that Marine Tex has a near-zero shrinkage.

35W

 

[Lucifer_Sam]

Remember, the shrinkage rates are even worse if you take them swimming in cold water.