A bit reclucantly I did agree to make a stock out of the sofest darn Turkish I've ever come across. Figured it would hold up to a 30-06. with glassing recoil areas

Found an old unopend kit...the release agent had turned into a blob of rubber, but a small test batch told me the resin/hardener was OK.

For release agent, I used what I had.."Renaissance" wax. worked great..popped out effortlessly.

OK...my question about thinning acra glas. I was told to use either acetone or lacquer thinner....My plan was to use this to impart a hardness to the wood and was advised lacquer thinner would allow greater penetration.

While it went OK, I found the stuff gummed up almost immediately. Any suggestion how to slow this down?

As a test, I left the remaining mixture uncovered in the glass container and was surprised the next morning that the mixture was still as thin as ever.

The application to the stock SEEMS hard, but in cavaties was still gummy.

Never tried this before...may not ever do it again, but if I do...well...there must be a better technique?

There is a writeup in Gunsmith Kinks No. 1 about thinning acraglas and spraying it on stocks for a finish.

I will be out in the shop in a few minutes and will take a look at the bookshelf in the shop office.

quote:

Gunsmith Kinks No. 1 about thinning acraglas

I didn't think that was the gel.

Brownells does sell a thinner but I have no idea as to what it is.

Lacquer thinner will tend to set off a resin a little quicker. i.e. adding organic peroxide a catalyst.
Acetone will tend to slow it down.

Use acetone and you won't have any issues.

I've used acetone and it works okay. I now use the Acra-Glas thinner that Brownells sells. It does work as advertised.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx...-reg-SOLVENT-THINNER

Thanks...I'll give Brownell's a call (Should have thought of that)

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

Gunsmith Kinks No. 1 about thinning acraglas

I didn't think that was the gel.

Brownells does sell a thinner but I have no idea as to what it is.

Yep it was the old original that came with the flock.

The spray guy was using the AcraGlas thinner sold by Brownells.

Another gent was thinning Acraglas with Toluene and using it as a stock sealer.

I would be tempted to try a small amount and thin with MEK or Acetone as KCStott mentioned.

Xylene As Rick backer suggested to me or Acetone works great as a thinner

MEK should work too.

Duane, acetone slows the drying time by 12 hours. The Brownell's slows it about 8 hours. I found mixing too much thinner into the Acra-glass messed up the final product. I now use only very little to thin with. Example: (using the 4:1 ratio) 1 tsp resin, 1/4 tsp hardener and just 3 CC of thinner will get the job done without causing too much delay. I usally do this overnight and wait until afternoon to disassemble the gun. Too soon and the glass pulls away from tight corner areas as it has not bonded fully yet.

Bear in mind that while thinning epoxy is ok when using it in the stock finishing schedule, I wouldn't use it where strength or shock resistance is required. Thinning it greatly compromises its integrity in that respect.

Thanks to all..this treatment probably will not be part of my bag of tricks, but learned a lot. Duane

Thinning is often used in wooden boat building to penetrate the first coat, but this is with brushing epoxies. Never tried it, but you would probably get great results by brushing on a couple of layers of West or System Three with thinner for saturation to strengthen the wood, then follow with regular Acraglas to bed. Should bond fine.