The front sling swivel stud, on my second hand rifle, that screws directly into the wooden forestock is now loose.

Such that it has it can now be screwed in and out with no effort. I'm concerned that eventually it will lose what little grip it has left.

But I have never ever glued with epoxy one of these in place on any rifle before. So is it wise to remove it, fill its hole with epoxy, screw it back in and leave it to set?

Is this a common practice? The only picture I could find of what I mean by the "stud" being a screw directly into the woodwork is is below. The one that has the problem is the short one on the left.


So as you can guess when the front sling eye turns, as it does, it screws the stub in and out, in and out, in and out, making it looser and looser and wearing the hole. So...epoxy (araldite) or not? I've never been there so advice and experience is welcomed from all please!

The epoxy will work, have done it my self on a couple of stocks. Another way is to drill out the stripped hole and glue in a hardwood dowel of the proper size. Then drill it and thread the swivel into the glued dowel.

The stud I have used for that application has a machine thread with a nut that is recessed in the barrel channel. Even if the wood screw thread was put in with Epoxy, I think it would eventually work loose. It is a pretty simple job to install the stud; especially if the hole is already in place. You will just need a correct sized drill bit to counter sink for the nut. I have used a drop of threadlock when installing that one.

Roger

quote:

Originally posted by RogerR:
The stud I have used for that application has a machine thread with a nut that is recessed in the barrel channel. Even if the wood screw thread was put in with Epoxy, I think it would eventually work loose. It is a pretty simple job to install the stud; especially if the hole is already in place. You will just need a correct sized drill bit to counter sink for the nut. I have used a drop of threadlock when installing that one.

Roger

The best way I have found is to use machine screwed swivel studs and make a Stainless Steel boss that is epoxied into the stock.

Then screw the swivel stud into the boss

A simple but effective repair is to break off a wood match or toothpick even with the hole, dip it in wood glue, insert it in the hole and srew in the stud. The wood toothpick will bond with the stock and build up the hole. Sometimes it takes two. The steel screw will still undo if necessary much easier than using epoxy.

Thank you to all who have posted. I'm unhappy with the epoxy idea too. Am thinking of the steel "stud" method also.

Any other members have any opinions to share please?

I've used all three methods and all will work. I use a piece of wood a little harder than a toothpick. If you do Epoxy a little heat from a soldering iron will release it in the future. I've alos used release agent on the epoxy so it can be removed. Your choice.

The method I was taught (by a gunsmith who attempted to teach me how to work on stocks), was to pull apart some fine steel wool, wrap it around the deeper part of the screw, put epoxy into the screw hole, and then tighten.

I can vouch that it will hold together as long as you want it to.

Garrett

quote:

Originally posted by N. Garrett:
The method I was taught (by a gunsmith who attempted to teach me how to work on stocks), was to pull apart some fine steel wool, wrap it around the deeper part of the screw, put epoxy into the screw hole, and then tighten.

I can vouch that it will hold together as long as you want it to.



Garrett

That's very slick!