JB Weld or Glass Bedding or Standard Epoxy

[KRex]

I got a stock to replace the Military stock on my Mauser K-98. Due to variences among actions there are some minor spaces @1/16" or less. The action fits the inletting but there are some Gaps that I would like to Fill -In. Should I be concerned over these small Gaps or Just leave the Issue alone ? Most glass bedding kits are $40 + and I only need a Small amount ... Would JB weld or Standard Home Depot Epoxy work ? and should I Pillar Bed the rear Action Screw ?

This is my 1st "Project  Stock" so some assistance from experienced people would be appreciated.

I've finished a LOT of stocks with complements from Gunsmiths so all I need is a Little push...

I haven't put the action into the stock yet. It's a Bishop Stock fitted with BRUNO Action and was an 8mm. I've got a K98 Action and  an Israeli 308 Barrel (Fully Ckecked by a Gunsmith). It will need a recoil pad,Swivels, and I want to install a Grip Cap Plus Forend Tip. The stock is the Weatherby/California Style with the square Forend rather than a round forend.

THANKS
K.Rex

[SHOOTALL]

How does it shoot ? if good why mess with it ?

[KRex]

I haven't put the action into the stock yet. It's a Bishop Stock that was fitted with BRUNO Action and was a 8mm. I've got a K98 Action and  an Israeli 308 Barrel (Fully Ckecked by a Gunsmith). It will need a recoil pad,Swivels, and I want to install a Grip Cap Plus Forend Tip. The stock is the Weatherby/California Style with the square Forend rather than a round forend.

[SHOOTALL]

sounds nice. My thoughts were useless then.

[burntmuch]

Ive only done one bedding on a rifle. So take this with a grain of salt. I tried Akraglass SP? bedding kit. It was real thin. It ran out of some of the gaps I was trying to fill. I then tried Devcon steel epoxy. It worked great. A little thicker. Plus it was 5 bucks. Thats my 2 cents. Good luck

[kyelkhunter3006]

I've used both before.  The 5 minute epoxy/JB works for small gaps and for bedding action lugs and stuff.  If you have a larger area to do, I'd look at the Midway catalog for something thicker that won't run.  Of course, if you use the regular JB, not the JB Quick, you can let it stiffen up a little bit before putting it in the stock to keep it in place.

[Huffmanite]

I've done a fair number of stocks and prefer the 5 minute J.B. Weld to use for bedding/filling gaps.  However if the gap you've mentioned is big enough to be easily visible, then I'd probably glue in a piece of similiar wood to deal with the gap.  Fortunately, wood working is a hobby of mine and have what I need to do a decent job.

[rebel49]

Krex
Brownells sells small batch quanitys of Accuglass Gel which is thicker than the standard Accuglass. You don't need a whole kit to do one rifle stock. Get their walnut dye also and it will blend the Accuglass in so it isn't so noticable.
Rebel49

[Mckie Hollow]

I've used the JB Weld Industrial stuff. It is slow setting and does not run as much as the quick set stuff. I think that it has steel in it. I thought that it did a very good job for bedding. Someone would have to show Me the differance between this stuff and the epoxy made for bedding. Years ago, I got some Acra Glass Gel and it didn't set up right. I think that it was past it's shelf life.

[Silvertp]

I got a stock to replace the Military stock on my Mauser K-98. Due to variences among actions there are some minor spaces @1/16" or less. The action fits the inletting but there are some Gaps that I would like to Fill -In. Should I be concerned over these small Gaps or Just leave the Issue alone ? Most glass bedding kits are $40 + and I only need a Small amount ... Would JB weld or Standard Home Depot Epoxy work ? and should I Pillar Bed the rear Action Screw ?

This is my 1st "Project  Stock" so some assistance from experienced people would be appreciated.

I've finished a LOT of stocks with complements from Gunsmiths so all I need is a Little push...

I haven't put the action into the stock yet. It's a Bishop Stock fitted with BRUNO Action and was an 8mm. I've got a K98 Action and  an Israeli 308 Barrel (Fully Ckecked by a Gunsmith). It will need a recoil pad,Swivels, and I want to install a Grip Cap Plus Forend Tip. The stock is the Weatherby/California Style with the square Forend rather than a round forend.

THANKS
K.Rex

K.Rex...

Based on the fact that you have gotten "complements" on your refinishing Im guessing you take pride in doing things correctly and well.  That said here is my advice. 

Glass bed the entire action, including around the front and rear recoil lugs and along the action or where any gaps are found, and the first few inches of the barrel in front of the action.  I recommend the Acraglas Gel.  If you follow the instructions it should set up well, can be stained to approximate the color of your stock and will provide a solid foundation for a great shooting rifle while also filling in any gaps.  I would do the glass bedding before the other stock work. 

Personally, I would hold off on pillar bedding until or unless you decide the glass bedding is not providing the stability or accuracy you need.  Or maybe you just want to try your hand at pillar bedding.  Pillars can always be added at a later date.

If you shop around you can find small acraglas gel kits w/ 2 oz of resin and hardner.  It is a little more expensive, but it is also formulated specifically for stock/action bedding.  The 4oz total is enough for bedding your action and a few inches of barrel in front of the action.  Plus, there should be a little left over for attaching your forend tip or grip cap.  You can always find uses for left over acraglas.  I can't guarantee that acraglas gel is better than all the others, but can tell you I have bedded dozens of rifles using it and with complete satisfaction.

Sounds like you have a great project. If you are inclined, you could post some pic's and narration of your project as you go.

Silvertp

[gunnut69]

I'd go with the AccraGlass. Most epoxies cure to a hardness that is a little too brittle and sometimes shatters under the stress of recoil. The AcraGlass gel version is my preference. It contains a filler that thickens it but not so thick as to prevent it's flowing into the places it needs to go. The die is a good idea but it used to be included with the kit. I buy the stuff in bulk containers now so don't know. Just ask the customer service folks, they're very helpful and knowledgeable. The Mauser is basically pillar bedded in the front as the bottom metal fits over and around the screw boss for the front action screw. If you check in the military stock there should be a steel tube in the hole for the rear action screw. That is the pillar you need.. the main areas to bed include the rear portion of the barrel(barrel reenforce) and the recoil lug. The lug needs to be tight against the bedding only at the rear and should not touch on the sides, front OR the bottom. Contact in those areas can cause accuracy probelms. Gaps less than 1/16 are pretty small and if you fill them with bedding will show up.. Bedding the barreled action into the stock correctly is the first step and must be done before glassing the action or pillar bedding. Pillar bedding is a method to maintain a good bedding job, not a method of creating such a fit.. It's action is to prevent the wood between the top and bottom metal from collapsing from constant pressure and the effects of recoil.. I used to bed the entire action and it does work but is a lot more difficult for no more benefit. In heavy recopiling rifles I sometimes bed the rear tang and the shoulders in front of it as well as the rear of the magazine box. Coupled with crossbolts this really helps spread the recoil force out and keep the wood from cracking.. Though I must admit its likely more of a fix for poor wood.. If theres anything we can do to help you out just ask..

[squirrellluck]

What ever you do if using accruglass use lots of release agent, don't ask me how I know I will say the happy ending required a large freezer and a mallet.

[nicholst55]

If you're strapped for cash, go to the hardware store and buy some Marine-Tex epoxy; get the gray, rather than the white.  The gray is much, much easier to stain to match your stock.  It should cost you about $10-15 IIRC.  Johnson's Paste Wax or Kiwi Neutral shoe polish both work extremely well as a release agent.  Apply release agent twice.  Apply release agent twice.  Yes, it's that important!

There are videos and articles posted online that cover how to glass bed.  Watch them until you can recite them on demand, then give it a shot.  Good luck!

[AtlLaw]

buy some Marine-Tex epoxy; get the gray,

+1
I been using it for years.  Great stuff.

[stalkingbear]

  I've been doing stocks for YEARS and am hooked on Acraglas Gel. It won't run like the "regular" Acraglas. I make dams of modeling clay where I don't want the bedding compound to get into.