Panda/Robertson bedding

[Dimner]

Thanks. Honestly, anyone with good basic skills and hnd tools can do this. The harder thing is having a handle on what we're try to accomplish. Once you have that solid foundation, the way forward to achieve that pretty much paints it's own road map.

Again...there's multiple ways to get very good bedding done.

The skill I'm missing to be able to do this is confidence but these types of threads are building that skill up for me. I really appreciate it.

 

[AlNyhus]

After you first install the pillars, how do you get the white spacers, that were on top of the pillars , out?

The spacers used are the same dimension as the pillars...in the pics they aren't...just a reference pic for the process.

With release agent on the action, all surfaces of the spacer(s) and the top of the pillar, you can just lift them off the top of the pillars after the epoxy has set. A small dental pick works good.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The spacers used are the same dimension as the pillars...in the pics they aren't...just a rference pic for the process.

With release agent on the action, all surfaces of the spacer(s) and the top of the pillar, you can just lift them off the top.of the pillars after the epoxy has set. A small dental pick works good.

I've done similarly with just 1/4" flat washers. I think we're talking about the same thing here and if so, it's not critical what you use. It's just clearance so the the action is not setting directly on the pillars. Is this right Al?

 

[AlNyhus]

Absolutely, Mike....just clearance. -Al

 

[AlNyhus]

With an action that uses a trigger hanger, here's something that makes life easier when bedding.

After applying release agent and filling the screw holes with Play Doh, fill the hangar cavity with compound. Keep it level while it sets up.

Just before the compound hardens completely, use a single edge razor blade to trim the excess off.

Now you've got a perfect cast of the hanger recess.

Press it in and you're ready to go.

These 'plugs' fit almost all custom actions with trigger hangers. -Al

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

With an action that uses a trigger hanger, here's something that makes life easier when bedding.

After applying release agent and filling the screw holes with Play Doh, fill the hangar cavity with compound. Keep it level while it sets up.

Just before the compound hardens completely, use a single edge razor blade to trim the excess off.

Now you've got a perfect cast of the hanger recess.

Press it in and you're ready to go.

These 'plugs' fit almost all custom actions with trigger hangers. -Al

I use hot glue to do the same thing. Is that one of my scope checkers? Looks like it but hard to say.

 

[swd]

With an action that uses a trigger hanger, here's something that makes life easier when bedding.

After applying release agent and filling the screw holes with Play Doh, fill the hangar cavity with compound. Keep it level while it sets up.

Just before the compound hardens completely, use a single edge razor blade to trim the excess off.

Now you've got a perfect cast of the hanger recess.

Press it in and you're ready to go.

These 'plugs' fit almost all custom actions with trigger hangers. -Al

I do the exact same thing with modeling clay..

 

[Southwest Action Works]

I use hot glue to do the same thing. Is that one of my scope checkers? Looks like it but hard to say.

Hot glue is the bees knees.

 

[AlNyhus]

It's in the Pro Bed now.

Pray for me....

 

[Dimner]

how do you guys clean up bedding squeeze out? do you do a pass before you tape it up? or is most of that tape there to protect the stock?

 

[swd]

how do you guys clean up bedding squeeze out? do you do a pass before you tape it up? or is most of that tape there to protect the stock?

I tape everything up like Al to keep any drips and mess off the sides. Then I wax the top edge of the tape then when the bedding starts to harden to about a gel state I use a sharpened popcsicle stick to cut the excess away angling it so you leave a small amount higher on the action side for shrinkage. If you wait a little too long you can dip the popsicle stick in alcohol and it helps cut through a little easier. After it hardens I carefully use a file and take it down to the tape followed by sand paper. I hope somewhere in this I answered your question.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

how do you guys clean up bedding squeeze out? do you do a pass before you tape it up? or is most of that tape there to protect the stock?

Tape but still, lots of q-tips, paper towels and popsicle sticks or similar are handy for this. Is a bit messy but not difficult. I tape it up well and do a rough cleanup while still very soft. Then I let it firm up a bit and trim off the excess. How much depends on if it's a glue in or just bedded. If bedded and intended to come back out, I'll not trim quite as cleas as a glue in because I can just remove the action when cured and file/sand it as close as I want or need to then. A glue in, ya gotta clean it up while you can and with the action still in the stock.
Kinda a PITA but certainly not hard to do.

 

[swd]

Tape but still, lots of q-tips, paper towels and popsicle sticks or similar are handy for this. Is a bit messy but not difficult. I tape it up well and do a rough cleanup while still very soft. Then I let it firm up a bit and trim off the excess. How much depends on if it's a glue in or just bedded. If bedded and intended to come back out, I'll not trim quite as cleas as a glue in because I can just remove the action when cured and file/sand it as close as I want or need to then. A glue in, ya gotta clean it up while you can and with the action still in the stock.
Kinda a PITA but certainly not hard to do.

QTips, that’s what I forgot to mention, lots of them!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

QTips, that’s what I forgot to mention, lots of them!

Yes, I forgot to mention...I get everything taped up well and then spray or wipe it down with some sort of release agent...just in case.

 

[mperry]

how do you guys clean up bedding squeeze out? do you do a pass before you tape it up? or is most of that tape there to protect the stock?

Vinegar works well for cleaning most epoxy. I dip Q-tips in Vinegar and clean everything I can while it is still wet.

 

[WSnyder]

Vinegar works well for cleaning most epoxy. I dip Q-tips in Vinegar and clean everything I can while it is still wet.

Don't allow the vinegar to be left on or get behind anything where you can't clean it off while touching any bluing. It will permanently discolor it and it'll have to be re-blued to fix it.

 

[swd]

Alcohol takes wet epoxy off quite well. Personally I can’t stand the smell of vinegar.

 

[Tucker65]

A drinking straw works well to pick up the excess bedding material along the edge. Push it along the edge of the action and the bedding material goes right up in the straw. Snip it off with scissors between swipes and it leaves a nice little fillet to clean up with a file and sandpaper when you pop it out of the stock.

 

[AlNyhus]

The straw is a good idea...going to try it on the next job. -Al

 

[Dimner]

I'm trying to visualize each step of the process as i learn..

-You have all the prep done
-Taped up all surfaces
-Kiwi wax release on all the right places
-Insert headless action screws in the action
-Set the action in the stock with bedding on both the action and the stock

At this point does the squeeze out come from the force of gravity or does it come from the force of the wrap around the action? If the latter how do you remove the squeeze out that is under the band?