Author Topic: Removing pillars from a bad bedding job (Read 571 times)

stratocaster · « **on:** August 01, 2003, 04:47:57 AM »

I just pillar bed a stock and am not overly thrilled about how the tang piller came out - it is slightly crooked. I used thoes Remington grooved pillars that Brownells sells and bed them with AcraGlass gel. Is there any way to remove these (heat maybe) and be able to salvage the pillars or am I stuck drilling these out? The stock is a synthetic B&C stock.
Thanks

John Traveler · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2003, 04:59:06 PM »

To remove those pillars, I would lathe turn some punches with brass bar stock to a tight sliding fit in the holes. Leave a solid shoulder to press out the pillars. Use a propane torch to (CAREFULLY) heat the punches and transfer enough heat to the pillars, and then hammer them out. Epoxy resins and glues tend to release when heated up to about 400-500 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can also use standard steel punches. Just make it a tight sliding fit to transfer heat quickly.

You should be able to then drill out the holes to a larger diameter, and then re-glass bed them again.

HTH
John

longwinters · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2003, 05:16:23 PM »

Hmmmm, I think I would send it to John and let him do it. :? Sounds like a job for someone who is better qualified (and has a whole lot more nerve) than me. :bye:

longwinters.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2003, 09:00:44 PM »

Johns just about got it... You will need dome heat though as the epoxy will also make a physical lock by flowing into the grooves in the pillar. I use the long aluminum nails used to hold guttering up as heat transfer punches. The are easy and cheap and the aluminum transfers heat faster that almost anything else. Also they handle hammering well. Don't get carried away, if the pillars won't move add more heat.. don't get a bigger hammer!

stratocaster · « **Reply #4 on:** August 02, 2003, 02:53:40 PM »

Thanks guys....your ideas worked!! I ended up using a deck bolt with a slightly smaller OD than the pillar ID hole. I put the stock in a vise, slid the deck bolt throught the pillar's bolt hole and then elevated the bolt with a block of wood. I heated the bolt with map gas until cherry red and then knocked out the wooden block so the heated part of the bolt fell into the pillar. With a pair of pliers, I started working the bolt in a circular motion until the accraglass began to soften. I simply kept working the bolt until the pillar came loose from the stock.
I can't thank you guys enough! I can now re-used the pillar rather than waiting a week for a new one from Brownells (which I already ordered, and it will be here Thusday). I'll re-set the pillar tomorrow and finally be able to get this 280AI to the range!