Bulk fill resin/epoxy?

[Alex Wheeler]

Not sure the exact brand of epoxy they use, but that doesnt matter. They used to use a 2 part polyester epoxy, nothing special and I think the west systems is actually a better product. I know they experimented with fills recently so that may not be the case any longer. But all you really have to know is, light & moderate strength= epoxy and glass balloons. Heavy and strong = chopped glass and epoxy. You can also mix the 2 and create something in the middle. If the weight doesnt matter, pack it with epoxy and chopped glass. Let it cure for a week then bed it. Use the glass ballon mix on the bottom of the stock, maybe just a 1/4". Its easy to sand and work with. A little paint and youd never know.

 

[LVLAaron]

Great info. Appreciated.

 

[JohnW...ski]

I've got this HS stock built for a Savage. Sold the action. But I love the stock. I have a lefty single shot I want to put in it.

What would you fill it with? I could just dump a half pound of devcon in it and then make it how I want.. but I'm curious if there's some other fill/resin that I don't know about I could use for the job.


View attachment 1500584

I really like West System epoxy. Lately I have been using West System with chopped carbon fiber
for bedding with very nice results. It would also make a great filler.

 

[joshb]

I’d do a test first, with the West System. I’ve experienced “large fills” cooking off. Maybe I didn’t put enough filler in? It was mayonnaise, not peanut butter.

 

[LVLAaron]

I will! - I had a plastic cup of total boat penetrating epoxy boil on me… pretty interesting but not something I’d want happening again

 

[Edd]

That's what I was wanting to hear. I was typing "what does mcmillan use" the same time you were posting. Thanks!

McMillan used to have a video of them stuffing a stock. Their stuffing was laying on top of the work bench and looked like biscuit dough. They picked it up and stuffed the stock shells by hand.

 

[stymie12000]

I used Oatey fix it sticks. It's a putty epoxy and seems to be similar to what McMillian uses for their filler

Ace Gray Epoxy Putty 4 oz Mfr# 44220 - Ace Hardware

Ace Plumbers putty and epoxy pipe lining use epoxy for sealing water leaks. However, plumbers putty goes on the outside of plumbing pipes in order to temporarily stop a leak, while epoxy pipe lining is used to permanently stop leaks and restore the integrity of the plumbing pipe.Find the PUTTY...

www.acehardware.com

 

[shoobe01]

The West System stuff is optimized mostly in that it doesn't cure as rock hard as most epoxies. Epoxy cures fail because they are too hard ("liquid steel!" on the advertising), so as the concern above: shock or thermal expansion can let them crack off the substrate.

The West 105 system has a modulus of elasticity similar to glass-filled resins (and West G-flex more to injection molded plastics), so are the gold standard for boat work (their market) and work great for things like plastic and fiber gun stocks.

(Note that you can get all these in reasonable hardware-store sized bottles, you don't have to buy them in two one gallon cans, so they fit into hobby scale or one-off repair work space and pricing).

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

(Cannot find the small bottles of 105/205 on Amazon but pretty sure it exists also)

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Marine -Tex

 

[LVLAaron]

I use a lot of glue around the home/shop. I got a gallon of the west systems stuff.


Every time I've purchased marine-tex in the past few years, the jars have gone hard within a few months.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Not a fan of marine tex at all.

 

[wwbrown]

I agree with the glass balloons approach and wanted to let you know that some vendors will have them under microballons. You can find them at Amazon if you click here

Hope that helps,
wade

 

[Bc'z]

Whatever you want to call the balloons, they're already in the 3M panel bonder.
Thier purposes in this product is so you don't squeeze all the product out of joint under compression.
All outer sheet metal panels have this or a similar adhesive gluing them to the inner structures.
Supported by welds on steel, pierce rivets on aluminum.

 

[LVLAaron]

Whatever you want to call the balloons, they're already in the 3M panel bonder.
Thier purposes in this product is so you don't squeeze all the product out of joint under compression.
All outer sheet metal panels have this or a similar adhesive gluing them to the inner structures.
Supported by welds on steel, pierce rivets on aluminum.

Part number for this magical stuff?

 

[DiffEQ]

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40066467/

 

[Tucker65]

Not a fan of marine tex at all.

Alex, Did you have issues previously when using Marine Tex?

I've seen photos of some of your bedding jobs along with some of the other members that post them. You obviously have a system down that looks and must work really well. What is your preferred go to bedding material.

You can send me a PM if you'd like.

Thanks, John

 

[Bc'z]

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40066467/

That's the stuff right there, I use the 08115.

 

[LVLAaron]

Center layer in. Filled the middle with a thin layer of clay... will let this dry and then deal with the top and bottom separately.

 

[LVLAaron]

I got ants in my pants and did another pour. Mixed in some of those glass beads... Probably didn't use enough. First time using the balloons or fiberglass. I might try some epoxy putty to build up the low spot... or more fiber filled resin and file it down.

 

[tac284]

You are using West Coast 105 then?