Author Topic: Grind to fit recoil pads  (Read 2007 times)

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Offline LONGTOM

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Grind to fit recoil pads
« on: February 02, 2010, 02:40:52 AM »
I don't get into this thread much so if this has been discussed before please forgive me and point me in the right direction.

I have been wanting to install a SIMMS LIMBSAVER on some of my bigger HANDIs.
Old shoulder injuries are starting to take their toll.
I have a stationary belt/disc sander in my shop and a Miles Gilbert Recoil Pad Installation Fixture on the way.
What I need to know is what grit to use and am I better off useing the belt or the disc.
Also my sander seems to turn at a pretty high rpm.
Will this work?
Seems like it might just try to melt the rubber instead of remove it.
Any help would be appreciated.



LONGTOM
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Offline Tommyt

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2010, 04:12:14 AM »
LT
 I would and I'm sure they tell you to  cover the stock but
I would Try the Blue Painters tape they cover it with Good Duct tape
SO as you sand you hit the Duct tape first
I don't think the speed will matter as much as the Pressure you apply
I think speed will help
JMHO

Tommyt

Offline Huffmanite

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2010, 05:42:24 AM »
longtom, 
I've used my bench belt sander to grind to fit a few recoil pads.  Don't remember using your brand of pad. Usually had a new 120 grit or higher belt on it when fitting the pad.  Sanding belt can heat up rubber, causing it to melt, but if you move lightly across rubber and don't stay on one area too long, not a problem.  I assume mounting pad on stock is with 2 screws.  Suggest you mount pad on butt and then rough in the pad to the wood, being mindfull of the slope of stock as it continues thru pad.   When roughing in, don't try to get pad level with the wood to avoid hitting wood with the belt.  Then use something to mark outline of butt on back of pad.  Remove pad and then continue your grinding, being careful to grind the pad with correct angles/contours of the butt of stock, till you are near the line you've traced on back of pad.  Example: lets say the bottom edge of the stocks butt has a 5 degree angle to it as it continues from the wood and goes thru the pad.  So, if you want to follow the slope of the wood thru the pad, allow for it when grinding pad.  When you get close to line you've traced on back of pad, reinstall pad check your work, remove pad and continue grinding.  May want to do this reinstall and recheck a couple of times to get fit you are happy with.  As for the so called final finishing/sanding of the pad, I have used either a block of wood with sandpaper wrapped on it or one of the "mouse type" electric sanders.  Do tape off the wood next to pad to protect it if you do the final finish/sanding with pad installed.
 

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2010, 05:49:25 AM »
LT, the Miles Gilbert fixture is what I use, it works excellent, I just followed the Limbsaver instructions, freezing the pad before the WD40 final finish is the secret to a nicely finished pad.  ;) I used this method on a Pachmayr Decelarator also.

Tim

Note the video at the top right. 

http://www.limbsaver.com/2010/products/firearms/recoil_pads/grind/index.php
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline LONGTOM

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2010, 07:14:02 AM »
Thanks for the replies guys.
I will be trying this as soon as the Miles Gilbert fixture arrives.
I have an old stock to experiment on.
Just can't see paying the local $80.00 and I supply the pad if I can learn to do it myself.

Tim:
I did note the video section at top right.
Is there suppose to be a video of how to do a pad?
If so, I didn't see it.



LONGTOM
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"THE TREE OF LIBERTY FROM TIME TO TIME MUST BE REFRESHED WITH THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS AND TYRANTS".
THOMAS JEFFERSON

That my two young sons may never have to know the horrors of war. 

I will stand for your rights as my forefathers did before me!
My thanks to those who have, are and will stand for mine!
To those in the military, I salute you!

LONGTOM 9-25-07

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Offline LONGTOM

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2010, 07:46:10 AM »
Would really love to watch the video.
Dial up.
5 days & 9 hours.
Maybe I can buy the video.



LONGTOM
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"THE TREE OF LIBERTY FROM TIME TO TIME MUST BE REFRESHED WITH THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS AND TYRANTS".
THOMAS JEFFERSON

That my two young sons may never have to know the horrors of war. 

I will stand for your rights as my forefathers did before me!
My thanks to those who have, are and will stand for mine!
To those in the military, I salute you!

LONGTOM 9-25-07

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2010, 07:56:39 AM »
The install video is in the goldish tab to the right of Download pdf, but looks like it's a moot point since you can't download it.  :-\

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2010, 03:01:05 PM »
OK, I'm dumb here. :P :-[  What is a Miles Gilbert fixture? ???  DP
RIP Oct 27, 2017

Handi's:22Shot, 22LR, 2-22Mag, 22Hornet, 5-223, 2-357Max, 44 mag, 2-45LC, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, 280, 25-06, 30-30, 30-30AI, 444Marlin, 45-70, AND 2-38-55s, 158 Topper 22 Hornet/20ga. combo;  Levers-Marlins:Two 357's, 44 mag, 4-30-30s, RC-Glenfields 36G-30A & XLR, 3-35 Rem, M-375, 2-444P's, 444SS, 308 MX, 338Marlin MXLR, 38-55 CB, 45-70 GS, XS7 22-250 and 7mm08;  BLR's:7mm08, 358Win;  Rossi: 3-357mag, 44mag, 2-454 Casull; Winchesters: 7-30 Waters, 45Colt Trapper; Bolt actions, too many;  22's, way too many.  Who says it's an addiction?

Offline quickdtoo

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Offline LONGTOM

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2010, 06:59:18 PM »
That time frame was to download & save the video.
I let it run most of the day and was able to watch it.
Man I hate dial up!

Doesn't look so hard, just go slow.
We'll see.
Won't be the first time I have messed something up.
Might have to get a couple of belts for my sander.



LONGTOM
NRA Benefactor Life Member
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"THE TREE OF LIBERTY FROM TIME TO TIME MUST BE REFRESHED WITH THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS AND TYRANTS".
THOMAS JEFFERSON

That my two young sons may never have to know the horrors of war. 

I will stand for your rights as my forefathers did before me!
My thanks to those who have, are and will stand for mine!
To those in the military, I salute you!

LONGTOM 9-25-07

Offline gunnut69

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2010, 06:56:55 AM »
The fixture will make it a bunch easier but care must still be taken. Use a courser grit to get to a general shape and 200+ (fine) to do the last bit of the grinding. The secret is that heat build up is less with the more agggressive coase grit allowing quick removal and finishing is completed quickly with the fine paper as there is little to remove. The limbsaver pads are even more sensitive to heat buildup than the Pachmeyer version with the soft plastic contruction. Pachmeyers have steel washers embedded around the screw holes and they limit how much the pad can be reduced in size by grinding. If a washer is ground into the rubber is NOT bonded to it and it WILL show. The Limbsavers don't have this washer and so are a bit more flexiable as to size. The super soft pads can collapse and the surface pinch the sholder if recoil is extreme and the shooter has little clothing covering the shoulder. I had it occur once on a shotgun used for defense. I solved the problem with the application of a soft leather face glued to the pad. Stickiness of the material's face can be a problem in a quick use situation. Both the pinching and the over stickiness problem could likely be solved with a material called 'Slick Ease'. It is a 2 part (primer/application material) that stiffens the surface of the pad a bit and cuts out the stickiness. Applied to the top of the pad (heel of stock) it keeps that part of the pad from catching on clothing as the gun is mounted.. It also helps with the pinching problem..
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2010, 07:21:14 AM »
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Rangr44

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #13 on: February 04, 2010, 02:48:30 AM »
The advice to use a coarse grit ( I use a 60-80) for the bulk of the rough/first shaping should be well taken.

I've been using a sanding disc mounted on a hand drill to contour pads & buttplates for 40 years, well before the days of "fixtures", and can tell you that there was definitely a learning curve before no gaffes were made.  ::)

Also please take special note of huffmanite's reference about extending the stock/wood lines (top/bottom/both sides) straight through the pad/plate.
NOTHING looks more amateurish, than a pad whose bottom line vectors away from the stock line - be sure to obtain a long enough oversize pad/plate.

.
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Offline Tommyt

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Re: Grind to fit recoil pads
« Reply #14 on: February 04, 2010, 03:28:50 AM »
Tim you are one mean Learning /Knowing On top of it Man
Your everywhere and while everywhere
your spuing  Knowledge
Tommyt

Limbsaver has their own pad coating now.  ;)

Tim

https://www.limbsaver.com/store/product.php?productid=16227&cat=262&page=1