Author Topic: glassbedding breaking down (Read 550 times)

Old Moss · « **on:** September 06, 2010, 05:48:25 PM »

I just pulled out a Ruger 77 I had glass bedded with Miles Gilbert Glass bedding compound from Midway. Right at the back end of the tang I noticed the glass bedding compound had degraded "crumbled" into a little pile of epoxy sand. I cleaned it away and noted it left a hole into the bedding compound.

Has anyone else ever seen this happen? What causes it and what do I need to do to fix / prevent it?

I use CLP break free oil, Gunslick foaming bore cleaner and regular Hoppes #9. I have used Rock bed and the above chemicals on several guns and never had this problem before.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

Thanks Old Moss

moorepower · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2010, 12:55:06 PM »

Not to doubt your mixing abilities, but are you sure it was 100% mixed?

Old Moss · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2010, 06:31:00 PM »

I have been glass bedding for many years now, so of course the answer is "no" I am not sure and that was my first thought and still high on my list of causes.

I also wonder if I may have gotten a contaminate mixed in by accident. I try and keep things clean and organized but often a distraction comes along.

I pulled the action and except for another small pencil eraser size spot near the middle guard screw all is solid and well glassed with clean smooth surfaces and edges. I will take my time, clean out the bad spots, very well and then retouch up those areas.

Any other Ideas you folks may have please let me know. Thanks Moorepower.

Old Moss

Mckie Hollow · « **Reply #3 on:** September 11, 2010, 01:53:43 AM »

Shelf Life?

Old Moss · « **Reply #4 on:** September 11, 2010, 05:48:03 AM »

Didn't think about that one!

Any other ideas or recommendations? It seems to have cleaned up OK all hard and solid at this point, just cosmetic imperfections around the back edge of the tang. since it was shooting really well I may not miss with it, until I see a change in how the gun shoots.

What do you'll think? Old Moss

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 11, 2010, 12:52:40 PM »

You might also consider curing time. Some bedding compounds get too hard if they cure too fast. This is partially regulated by tempurature and the thickness of the glass at that point. Its what I first thought of when you said the problem was at the rear of the tang. Is the other spot also in an area of thin bedding? I'm not familiar with the Miles Gilbert material so can't say for certain but most epoxies (or polyesters) are pretty much immune to the solvents we use around gunstocks. Another thing is if the material was colored it may have hidden a bubble that finally broke and the thin covering became the dust.

Old Moss · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2010, 04:32:15 PM »

Thanks folks appreciate the info what i have found out so far that after I cleaned the two broke down spots which turned out to be cosmetic areas and not effecting the actual bedding of the action everything else was solid. So I thought back and to make the compound thicker I did use the powdered thickener (micro tiny beads/balloons) that come with the Bedrock kit. I probably did not mix it well enough and had a couple of bubbles that were made of of this fine powdered thicker that then broke down after the bedding hardened.

No matter how many guns one has worked on or how old you may be there is always a new experience (good/bad) waiting around the bend. Thanks again and I will always mix a little more thoroughly next time.

Old Moss