Bedding Compound Removal ????

[elkaholic]

Well, after years of bedding rifles, I got in a little too much of a hurry and managed to stick some bedding compound to my action. What is the best way to remove this without scratching my action or worse?.....Rich

 

[J E Custom]

Well, after years of bedding rifles, I got in a little too much of a hurry and managed to stick some bedding compound to my action. What is the best way to remove this without scratching my action or worse?.....Rich

It happens to everyone. Try a wood tung depressor, I use them to mix the bedding compound
and if I get some on the action I use the tung depressor to scrape it off. the wood is tough but
wont scratch the action.

To help prevent this I normally coat the entire action with wax before bedding. I use the wax as
a release agent.

J E CUSTOM

 

[elkaholic]

It happens to everyone. Try a wood tung depressor, I use them to mix the bedding compound
and if I get some on the action I use the tung depressor to scrape it off. the wood is tough but
wont scratch the action.

To help prevent this I normally coat the entire action with wax before bedding. I use the wax as
a release agent.

J E CUSTOM

Hi Jerry......Nope, it's worse than that! The compound is set up.....Rich

 

[bigngreen]

I use a wood dowel and tap it with a hammer to chip it of. A soft wire wheel in a dremel works very well also and leaves the finish alone.

 

[elkaholic]

I use a wood dowel and tap it with a hammer to chip it of. A soft wire wheel in a dremel works very well also and leaves the finish alone.

Maybe I'll try the dremel......Rich

 

[Pdvdh]

Hi Jerry......Nope, it's worse than that! The compound is set up.....Rich

The last bolt action rifle I glass bedded was a Mauser brand rifle back in 1976. It had a nice wooden stock in caliber .222 Remington. Mostly used it to hunt red fox back in Michigan. The fore end of the stock never did release from the barrel. The butt and pistol grip separated from the barreled action thru the magazine box cutout, as I recall. Last I ever used that rifle. Took it to a gunsmith to get it restocked and his gun shop burnt down while my rifle was there. I concluded that this particular rifle and I were meant to part ways...

 

[elkaholic]

The last bolt action rifle I glass bedded was a Mauser brand rifle back in 1976. It has a nice wooden stock in caliber .222 Remington. Mostly used it to hunt red fox back in Michigan. The fore end of the stock never did release from the barrel. The butt and pistol grip separated from the barreled action thru the magazine box cutout, as I recall. Last I ever used that rifle. Took it to a gunsmith to get it restocked and his gun shop burnt down while my rifle was there. I concluded that this particular rifle and I were meant to part ways...

That sounds like a "YOOPER" rifle Paul!

 

[Bullet bumper]

Shave of as much of the compound as possible without touching the metal work . Then experiment with different solvents to see what softens it .
Then using that solvent soak and scrape gently with a hard wood scraper .
If you used anything with epoxy in it it may be hard going and you could try Dynasolve CU-6 to soften epoxy .
Heat can also soften epoxy .

 

[J E Custom]

Hi Jerry......Nope, it's worse than that! The compound is set up.....Rich

Try Freezing it overnight. This is the best way to remove a stock that has been bedded to a barrel.

The coefficient of expansion of the bedding is different that the metal parts and sometimes it releases its self in the freezer.

After freezing use the tong depressor to scrape it off.

Hope this helps.

J E CUSTOM

 

[elkaholic]

Thanks for all the info guys! Now I'll remember why I was so careful previously.......Rich

 

[idahoelkhunter]

Maybe somebody can confirm this. I used to live on a boat and did ALOT of fiberglass work. A heat gun was my best friend when working with stubborn epoxies and resins. Again, seek confirmation first. I would contact the manufacturer.

 

[Gary Kaney]

+ 1 on what J E Custom said.

 

[elkaholic]

I think I caused a little confusion on what the problem was? The stock was removed, but it had chunks of bedding stuck on the action. I used a soft wire wheel on a dremel and being careful to not apply much pressure, it came off without removing the bluing on the action.......Rich

 

[Buttermilk]

Glad you got it off.

Certain epoxies can be softened quite nicely when in contact with Methanol alcohol and sometimes gasoline.

Learned this the hard way when running methanol in two stroke Banshees with epoxied ports.