Breakfree CLP disolving epoxy bed?

[bluebayou]

The epoxy bedding on my Savage is sticking to the recoil lug after being bolted together more than 24 hours or so.  It leaves a sticky residue on the recoil lug and the underside of the chamber.  I am pretty liberal with the CLP.  Could this be reacting with the bedding or is this because I had problems on the initial bedding job and probably ended up with a bedding/release agent/bedding sandwich in there?  If I put the rifle together dry it isn't as pronounced but it still gets sticky.

[Nobade]

Yes, Break Free and other cleaning agents will attack many bedding epoxies. What kind of epoxy do you have the rifle bedded with? Acra Glas is particularly prone to this.

[gunnut69]

I've not noticed any problems with acra glass in my rifles but usually don't apply excess lube. Nobade, what other brands/types of cleaning solutions have you had this problem with?  Was this with the standard AcraGlass or the gel version..  In my past experience acraglass was pretty much unaffected by cleaning solvents when properly mixed and cured.

BlueBayou- was this a recent bedding job? What release agent was used?

[Nobade]

Shooter's Choice will also do a number on bedding epoxy if left in contact with it over time. I've seen others, but couldn't swear what the compoud was since it was on customer's guns. Often times when the action comes out of the stock the bedding is gummy or looks like ants have been eating on it. As for the regular or gel, it shouldn't matter since the gel is just the normal stuff with cab-o-sil added to it to make it thicker. And as you mention, it is possible the epoxy was not fully cured or had release agent mixed into it. Sounds like bluebayou needs to dig it out and start fresh.

[bluebayou]

It is the Miles Gilbert kit.  I used the release agent in the kit.  This is a recent job, call it a month old.  I laid epoxy, it set up, and then I found air pocket in it.  I used more epoxy on top of the first pour.  I guess that I know in my heart of hearts that the bedding needs to be redone.  The epoxy is hard (can't dent with fingernail, but can with screwdriver) as opposed to the bedding in my Remington that is hard like glass.  I can wipe it off, but after being assembled with the action wiped down with CLP, it has a film of.......chewing gum consistency on the lug. 

[gunnut69]

Did you thoroughly clean the bubble(I use a mototool to roughen the bubbles surface) before poring the second batch? Have to agree with NOBADE here, sounds like a do-over..to me. The Midway stuff I've never used. Does the release agent form a skin as it dries..  The other thing that comes to mind is the mix ratio. Bedding compounds can be a bit cantakerous about being mixed in the wrong proportions..

[BoarHunter]

For bedding, rail mount and many oither stuff I use epoxy loaded with metal particles (sold in hardware store like Devcon or Araldite, cold solder ...). They are harder then regulare epoxy and do not seems affected at all by cleaning products.

[gunnut69]

Actually acraglass and most other bedding compounds hcan also be used with fillers (steel, aluminum dust etc.). The material it's embedded in would still be the same and would likely also be affected although perhaps at a slower pace. I plan a little test.. I don't have a test cube of re-enforced bedding but will add it..

[Dee]

I wonder what both manufacturer's would have to say about this problem?

[gunnut69]

brownells says 'we guarantee acraglass 100%'. I would ssume bedding disolving would be a fault.. Although nearly anything can be destroyed by some chemical.. Applied at room tempurature acetone will disolve wood...

[Dee]

I didn't know that.

[gunnut69]

I sometimes use acetone to clean oil soaked stocks. Left in too long the celulose will be damaged and the wood gets brittle and very light in weight.