Is there anything - a chemical for instance -that can be used to soften old glass bedding?

Acetone or MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) is usually used to dissolve or remove small amounts of epoxy but glass bedding in a stock may best be removed by a milling machine.

You might be able to remove some with a heat gun depending on which compund was used. Also, it gets brittle and easier to chip out if you freeze it.

Otherwise, I don't know of a solvent that will remove it without posing a risk to the rest of the stock. This is actually one instance where a Dremel-type tool can actually be the right gunsmithing tool for the job.

Soften it up first with a very small flame(torch) then it peels right out.

I've used the chemical strippers for paint and such from hardware stores. It certainly removes small amounts of bedding compound, but I've not tried it on a full bedding job. My assumption is that it would work.

If an epoxy was used a " Quality Epoxy " machine it out . Solvent wouldn't cut it as most epoxies " MOST " are resistant , even to methylene chloride which is the active ingredient in strippers . Not being sure of the quantity or quality of bedding job on your particular gun or stock and finish ?.Flaming bothers me , heat gun OK if not to hot again those methods will work BUT !.
A rough bit dremel tool or small finish router even a dry wall Zip Tool works .
Besides machining is much cleaner !.

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

quote:

Originally posted by Dr.K:
...Solvent wouldn't cut it as most epoxies " MOST " are resistant , even to methylene chloride which is the active ingredient in strippers

huh. all this time I thought it was estrogen skankide.

I thought the active ingredient in strippers was 4-methyl-2, 5-dimethoxyamphetamine.

If one should wish to use a solvent for removing epoxy . I might suggest ACL-23 EpoxSol .

Applied Chemical Laboratories ( Sunnyvale CA. )

It contains NO MEK Acetone or MIBK
Working Temp 73-176 F Non corrosive .

The draw back 5 gal 55 gal and 330 Gal. Totes !.

Have No Idea as to what cost is .

During the last five years, methylene chloride, the
active ingredient that has been used in chemical
paint strippers since the 1970s. has come under
increasing scrutiny for its potential to damage
human health and the environment. Methylene
chloride has been shown to be an extremely toxic . There are in fact several different active ingredients such as .
Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether, and Isobutyl Alcohol

I'm sorry I assumed we were speaking of paint or Aircraft stripper . Was I mistaken again ?.

Dot 3 brake fluid works well also as does SKYDROL or how ever it's spelled ?.

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...