Devcon shelf life

[clowdis]

Bought another pound of Devcon a month ago, opened it to bed a stock, and today the hardener is already starting to dry out. Since they changed the formula there is little to no shelf life for Devcon. I used some JB Weld to bed one of my own stocks and it seems to be doing well. Have any of you bedded stocks using JB Weld and what are the results? Life span OK?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Works very well

 

[Travelor]

There should be an expiration date printed on the box.

 

[kendog]

Call their customer service number on the box. They know of the problem and will replace with new hardener. I have some (new) and it is good after 7 months opened.

 

[Eddie Harren]

Brownell's "Steel Bed".

 

[clowdis]

There should be an expiration date printed on the box.

expiration date 08/27/19

 

[clowdis]

Brownell's "Steel Bed".

The last Brownells AcraGlass gel I bought wouldn't harden very well. A month after and it still was like a stiff putty. Yes, I mixed it correctly. Just getting a little PO'ed with some of the product on the market these days. I've bought the tubes of JB and they work welland better value too, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with it.

 

[JeffG]

I discovered this weekend that it it NOT 3 years... my well-sealed cans in zip-lok bags were no longer worth using..still plyable, but barely. I used it last summer, so it was good for two years.

 

[kendog]

According to the folks at Devcon, EPA regs had them change formula and the new stuff crystallized a short while after opening. They supposedly have fixed the problem. I received replacement hardener and it is still usable after several months. According to the guy I spoke to, a significant portion of users of the one pound kits are rifle builders.

 

[Rustystud]

Blair I don't use Devcon so I can't directly answer your question.

I use fiberglass resin, along with West marine polyester fiber (number 403 or 404) , and Fiberglass hardener (MEK) Methyl Ethel Ketone.
I mix this as per instruction according to the temperature. Beware fast curing creates lots of heat, blistered surfaces and gas bubbles. Depending on temperature and quantity of hardener used cure can be 1 hour or 24 hours.
Or

West Marine Epoxy Resin, West Marine Polyester Fiber (number 403 or 404), and West Marine Epoxy Hardener (205 (fast) or 206 (slow). I buy the West Marine epoxy resin (105) by the quart or gallon. West Marine sells pump kits for both the resin and hardener, they dispense the correct premeasured amounts of components. Never had a bottle dry up before it was used up.

Either of these products can be supplemented with color pigments to make them match your existing work piece.

Nat Lambeth

 

[Eddie Harren]

clowdis, "acra-Glass Gel" and "Steel Bed" are 2 totally different products.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

JB-Weld works good for bedding, but it's a lot more 'runny' than Devcon steel puddy so it's a little harder to keep it up on the sidewalls of a stock's action inletting. Devcon has the best application consistency that I have found. I'd just contact Devcon (or the vendor you bought it from) and see if they will ship you some new compound.

 

[Roeder]

Call their customer service number on the box. They know of the problem and will replace with new hardener. I have some (new) and it is good after 7 months opened.

It really is that simple. They released a new formula which had issues and have since replaced it with a new and improved version which seems to last a long time. When I called and they told me they were sending a replacement, I assumed I was getting a new kit, but they just sent new hardener.
No doubt there is still quite a bit of the bad stuff out there. I don't know if they attempted a recall to dealers or not.

 

[clowdis]

OK, an e-mail to Devcon with photo and lot number. They are supposed to sent a replacement hardener. Think I'll send one to Brownells and see if they'll quit selling this stuff until they exchange their inventory

 

[JRS]

Why didn't you send it back to Brownells for a replacement?

 

[clowdis]

Because I'd just get the same stuff all over again. No reply from my Brownells e-mail.

 

[JRS]

Send it back and ask for a refund. Simple

 

[longtimeshooter]

I bought some a Devcon on Amazon and noticed the same thing. Didn't know they changed it. I called Devcon and they told me they would replace it if I had bought it through one of their dealers.

 

[kawzak]

I just ordered a 1lb container. I hope it is the good stuff. I will be POed if it is already hard.

 

[clowdis]

Received a new package of 10110 from ITW today. Good service and nice to see them back their product. Thanks kendog.