Any synthetic Stock Makers out there? Quick question on fill

[AKShooter]

I’ve started making a few of my own stocks. Long story short, made a mold, hand laying carbon, and vacuum bagging to create to half’s I then glue together. Working slick but I hit a bit of a roadblock. So now I’m left with a totally hollow stock. I’m using the West System brand. So now to action area. My first one I used epoxy with a high build filler (mirco beads) I then “molded” area into basic shape, then devcon bedded to fill in the rest with the action. Turned out to be a little heavy, but strong it would seem.

I’m assuming the pros are using something other than epoxy. I have a high-tech specialties stock. Best guess for their action “fill” is a super dense foam of some sort, filled solid then action area machined out. Similar with McMillian, but theirs looks like solid fiberglass.

Can anyone tell me what the hand laid fiberglass/Kevlar/carbon stocks are filled with? At first I was thinking a heavy weight urethane, 8-16 lb.? Filling in this last piece would be huge for me, not planning on doing this for a living, just building personal stocks, attached is a pic of my latest, this one is all carbon fiber. Action area still needs to be filled, molded, etc

 

[jonbearman]

I would call kevin rayhill at stockade stocks. 1-308-432-5114. Speak directly to kevin.

 

[AKShooter]

Thanks, I'll look into it. I'm thinking it might be trade secret, but who knows

At end of the day, I'm thinking I need a pour-able foam that is dense and accepts tooling. I will be installing pillars in either case. My epoxy mix is okay, but weight is an issue. Certainly don't want to be filling barrel channel with it.

Here is a description on 8lb foam

This 8LB density foam is extremely hard and rigid, like that of a soft wood. Your fingernail can penetrate its skin, however it cannot be dented by hand. Uses include casting, carving, sculpting, sign making as well as areas where an extremely durable and rigid foam is needed for support.

 

[jo191145]

Yes high density foam is used inside. You would want to beef it up with the Kevlar at least in the lug area.
I'm sure you want specifics. That I don't have.

How about a soild aluminum action block epoxied into the cavity? Better than foam I would think.

 

[3dogs]

AKShooter What action? John Widden makes an aluminum bedding block that can be epoxied in for Rem and Savage

 

[AKShooter]

I do have a Widden Block, in either case will need to figure out "material" to bulk out action area.

I also have an additional issue of being in Alaska. Can't get the 2 part urethanes shipped, need to find something local.

 

[AKShooter]

Just a couple more progress pics,,,I will say don't do this to save money or time. Not sure how many hours I have in each one, money not too bad, after the initial investment into vacuum equiptment,, many great stock makers out there, I just wanted to give it a go too,

 

[3dogs]

AKShooter

I know what you mean about getting supplies in AK, I've just moved outside myself, from Homer, have you tried any of the boat builders in the Anchorage
area for the 2 part urethane

 

[AKShooter]

There was a place in town, but the moved to the valley, They have some 3.5 pound stuff. Also some stuff they call non-expanding urethance tooling foam. They keep bankers hours, need to figure out a way to leave work for the 2 hour round trip.

Ya, hazmat sucks, can't order duracoat, powder, primers, ammo

The west sysytems with a filler will work, but really want to do it right, I'm putting this in a 2000 or so barreled action (my first custom gun), want it to be right I guess, I'll post pics when I get it all together

 

[Rustystud]

I order my McMillian stocks with Weatherby fill in the action area. I don't know their trade secrets but it is much tougher than their standard fill (that resembles bondo).

West Marine sell fiber filler to be used with polyester resin (fiber glass) or epoxy. They make several different sizes of filler. They also make several different epoxies (strengths and set up times). I buy color pigments and make up my own colors for bedding.

Nat Lambeth

 

[JWW123]

try sawdust or wood chips mixed with epoxy or maybe you can get foam fill from a hobby or craft supply on line the wood chips epoxy machines easly and has good compression strength good luck and it looks good