Author Topic: repair crack (Read 624 times)

5.56er · « **on:** January 23, 2005, 01:21:01 PM »

crack under the bolt of a stevens 325-C 30-30 and it goes halfway up the left side of the stock. Is there some way I could make the crack disappear or could i hide it, or make it look natural. help appreciated.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2005, 09:23:57 PM »

If the crack is openable it can easily be fixed. Pry it open use wedges if needed, and use a toothpicj to drizzle in epoxy glue, I prefer DevCon. Use an air blow gun to blow the epoxy to the ends of the crack. Clamp and/or use surgical tubing to close the crack back up and all will be well. If the finish is good you'll need to cover the stock with masking tape to keep the epoxy from destroying the finish. Just leave the area around the crack exposed. A very light pass with steel wool or 220 grit paper and a bit of finish will tune it up. If it's a poly finish it's much more difficult to patch. If the crack can't be opened enough it will have to be injected. Drill imtersecting hole, less than 1/8 inch, thru the crack. This has to be done in several places and such that the entries can't be seen with the metal assembled. Drip the mixed epoxy into the hole and apply a blow gun. the air pressure will force the epoxy back into the cracks smallest recesses. Be careful and try not to use too much pressure as it is possible to blow chunks of wood from the stock at the cracks lip. Use only the slow setting epoxy for the enhanced working time and the improved strength over the 5 mionute kind..

cjcocn · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2005, 01:26:00 PM »

gunnut69

What if the crack is such that, while too small to pry open, there are no places to drill where the holes would be unseen?

I would be willing to refinish the stock, so would it be possible to drill the holes "in the open" and plug the top of the holes with a stainable putty, then apply stain and finish?

Thanks

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2005, 08:04:11 PM »

I'm confused, a state I'm familiar with. You said the crack was under the bolt but on the left side of the stock?? The bolt is on the right side?? The crack doesn't extend thru the stock into the inletting? Are you certain it's a crack and not just a scratch? As a rule cracks folloe the grain and up the side of the stock sounds like it may be cross grain? If the crack is really a crack and it doesn't extend thru into the inletting, I would not worry a bunch. It may be just a scratch and even if a crack is not likely a structural fault. It can be hidden with wood filler or even just steamed and sanded away.

5.56er · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2005, 07:50:19 AM »

it follows the grain and goes up the left side, it starts under the bolt sorry for confusion.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2005, 08:10:29 PM »

Sounds like maybe the stock was twisted. Try opening the crack with a twisting motion. Don't make it worse! If the crack doesn't extend to the inside or thru the stock and doesn't open, are you certain it's a crack?? Perhaps it just a surface check.. Sometimes wood will check or pop open as it dries. These surface cracks won't open and don't go very deep. They really pose little threat to the stocks integrity... Perhaps a little filler is all that's needed..? If you must fill a cut can be made on the outside of the stock, follow the grain using a fine blade exacto and lift a wood chip. The hole is drilled under the chip(try to NOT break the chip off. Insert the glue and force into the crack. If the crack isn't at least a bit loose there won't be much if any glue incursion and little will be solved. At the end the glue is allowed to puddle in the chips slot and the chip is pressed back into it's place and held down with a bit of masking tape. Done carefully and with the rest of the stocks finish protected by tape, refinishing may not be needed!