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Pro Bed 2000

Jud96

Jud96

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I ordered a 16oz kit of Pro Bed 2000 for a couple of my personal rifles I have to bed here soon. I’ve never used this stuff before and previously I’ve stuck to Devcon and have used Marine Tex as well. I am debating on returning this stuff or sitting it on the shelf and just ordering more Devcon. Initially I thought it was worth trying out, but I’ve been thinking more on it and wanted to ask for some opinions and expertise on this stuff.

I don’t know any smiths that use Pro Bed and most of the reviews and information I’ve found seems to be from DIY guys and not many professionals that I’ve seen. At first I thought I’d give it a go, but now I’m kind of on the fence about it. Can anyone give me any details on how the shrinkage compares to Devcon and/or Marine Tex? Also, does it powder out after a couple years of use in magnums or competition rifles and need re-bedded? Most of the things I’ve read about it is how easy it is to work with and that it sets up well without air pockets or voids but no information on shrinkage or strength after it has cured. Thanks guys!
 
AlNyhus said:
Pro Bed is all I use. It has excellent longevity and stability.

There's a pillar bedding job resting in Pro Bed on my work bench right now. -Al
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How does it compare to Devcon or Marine Tex for shrinkage and long term durability?
 
There's s lot of Devcon products...not sure which you want to use. Marine Tex has excellent long term durability.
 
AlNyhus said:
There's s lot of Devcon products...not sure which you want to use. Marine Tex has excellent long term durability.
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How does the Pro Bed compare to Devcon 10110? That is what I am the most familiar with. Thank you
 
Jud96 said:
How does the Pro Bed compare to Devcon 10110? That is what I am the most familiar with. Thank you
Click to expand...
It's been a while since I've used 10110 but I don't recall any long term issues with it.

I can't abide the mixing ratio of 10110 at 9:1 (wt) or 2.5:1 (volume). Ditto for Marine Tex at 6.3:1 (wt) or 5:1 (volume). But that's just a personal thing. ;)

The first few times using Pro Bed, it might seem a bit 'thick' until you get onto it. I mix it, then warm it up with a hair dryer on my mixing board until it gets less viscous. Then, into a 20 ml. cath tip syringe and apply it into the stock. The syringe gives much better control. Other times, I'll leave it thick and encircle the action screw holes with it. A lot of this depends on if the receiver is a round bottom or a flat bottom. Round bottom receivers want to displace the bedding from under it to up around the sides as the receiver goes into the stock. Flat bottoms...not so much. You can 'high spot' the bedding on a flat bottomed receiver, especially if the compound is too viscous (among other reasons). Back to the hair dryer comment.

Marine Tex, Devcon 10110, Pro Bed (and others) are all quality products that will give great results if everything else is correct. It's the little quirks of each and the feel we develop for them that make us like or dislike them. If you've got a feel for 10110 and have been happy with it's performance, I'd say you're in good shape.

Just my 2 cents worth. :) -Al

PS: If you wish to rehome that Pro Bed rather than returning it, feel free to PM me with the details on price, etc.
 
AlNyhus said:
It's been a while since I've used 10110 but I don't recall any long term issues with it.

I can't abide the mixing ratio of 10110 at 9:1 (wt) or 2.5:1 (volume). Ditto for Marine Tex at 6.3:1 (wt) or 5:1 (volume). But that's just a personal thing. ;)

The first few times using Pro Bed, it might seem a bit 'thick' until you get onto it. I mix it, then warm it up with a hair dryer on my mixing board until it gets less viscous. Then, into a 20 ml. cath tip syringe and apply it into the stock. The syringe gives much better control. Other times, I'll leave it thick and encircle the action screw holes with it. A lot of this depends on if the receiver is a round bottom or a flat bottom. Round bottom receivers want to displace the bedding from under it to up around the sides as the receiver goes into the stock. Flat bottoms...not so much. You can 'high spot' the bedding on a flat bottomed receiver, especially if the compound is too viscous (among other reasons). Back to the hair dryer comment.

Marine Tex, Devcon 10110, Pro Bed (and others) are all quality products that will give great results if everything else is correct. It's the little quirks of each and the feel we develop for them that make us like or dislike them. If you've got a feel for 10110 and have been happy with it's performance, I'd say you're in good shape.

Just my 2 cents worth. :) -Al

PS: If you wish to rehome that Pro Bed rather than returning it, feel free to PM me with the details on price, etc.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the detailed information! How does the shrinkage of Pro Bed and the longevity of it compare to Marine Tex and Devcon? Thanks again!
 
I have used it on all my F/Class Rifles to date.
It is easy to work with, slower set up time. Clean up about the same as Steel Bed and Devcon .
It is holding up very well over a two year period.

I used a lot of Devcon Steel and Titanium on Service Rifles in years passed. I thought it was good but pricey.
 
Two Time HM LR said:
I have used it on all my F/Class Rifles to date.
It is easy to work with, slower set up time. Clean up about the same as Steel Bed and Devcon .
It is holding up very well over a two year period.

I used a lot of Devcon Steel and Titanium on Service Rifles in years passed. I thought it was good but pricey.
Click to expand...
Great to hear! Any comments on the shrinkage of Pro Bed compared to the Devcon you have used before?
 
Jud96 said:
Thank you for the detailed information! How does the shrinkage of Pro Bed and the longevity of it compare to Marine Tex and Devcon? Thanks again!
Click to expand...
I have absolutely no way to accurately measure shrinkage. The mfgs. technical data sheets give some guidance on shrinkage numbers...to a point. All epoxies have some shinkage. In general, the slower the cure time, the less it shrinks. The issue is what's considered as being the cure time. It's kinda' like what the definition of 'is', is. :D

With Pro Bed, I can take it to the mill at 48 hours of cure time and it sounds different than at 16 hours cure time. A pretty dirt clod way of quantifying it, I know. I take them apart after 16-24 hours, do a clean up, radius all the edges and holes, then bolt 'em back together for another 48 hours. Probably not needed but they last a long time this way.

There's a Model 70 that could come out of the bedding this afternoon. Since it's Easter...I might wait until Sunday to do it. :)
 
Jud96 said:
What makes you like it over the other two mentioned?
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Finishes mucho mucho better, it looks slicker than owl shit. I’ve screwed up a couple bedding jobs (my fault) and having to mill it out and rebed, it’s pretty damn tough. I personally think it’s more rigid than steel Devcon (only used steel) and marinetex. Shrinkage, they’re all gonna shrink to a certain extend but, in my experience it is very very good with probed - the recoil lugs that are undercut in a lot of actions stay true and tight as an accountants wallet. Letting a barreled action sit upside down in a bedding job after clean up with little to no downward movement is pretty common with Probed. It also “flows” really well, it’s the easiest of the three to work with imo. It’s all I use anymore.
 
I did an unscientific test with 3 different bedding compounds a few years ago here’s the results
Marine tex Locktite Devcon
12-17-19 .0193 .0224 .0263
12-22-19 .0191 .0223 .0266
12-26-19 .0221 .0210 .0203
1-3-20 .0222 .0210 .0203
1-7-20 .0223 .0210 .0205
1-18-20 .0224 .0211 .0204
1-21-20 .0222 .0210 .0202
I sandwiched all 3 compounds between two parallels with a .020 shims and recorded the dimensions over the dates listed.
 
B Nettesheim said:
I did an unscientific test with 3 different bedding compounds a few years ago here’s the results
Marine tex Locktite Devcon
12-17-19 .0193 .0224 .0263
12-22-19 .0191 .0223 .0266
12-26-19 .0221 .0210 .0203
1-3-20 .0222 .0210 .0203
1-7-20 .0223 .0210 .0205
1-18-20 .0224 .0211 .0204
1-21-20 .0222 .0210 .0202
I sandwiched all 3 compounds between two parallels with a .020 shims and recorded the dimensions over the dates listed.
Click to expand...
Good test. If they all cured in a .020 gap, looks like the first two shrunk while curing, devcon shrunk after curing but they all ended up very close to the original thinkness. Odd that marine tex got thicker. The problem with many tests is they machine a block of epoxy and measure it over time. That ignores all the shrinkage that happens while curing.
 
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