acro-glass

[smorgani]

Hi,
I am new to this forum.I recently read an article where it was mentioned that the person acro-glassed a barrel in the stock.Can anyone tell me what this means?

Thanks,

Sal

 

[Metalshaper]

Sal,

Acra-Glass is an two part epoxy compound, that is used to 'bed' in an action or barrel. The suppository shooters use it to bed the whole action and depending on the job,, sometime bed the barrel in as well.. or create a free float. Some guys glue in the liners, when they reline an old barrel..

On Muzzleloaders. they acra glass can be used to cover a multitude of inletting errors. It can also be used in a cracked wrist to help repair and strengthen the piece, so it can be used again. Some bed in the barrel of a longrifle,, thinking it helps support the stock and barrel. I've heard of people who make double barrel ML shotguns, use it under the break-off,, to help support the breech area under recoil.

do a web search for Brownell's and you'll find out all the other things you need to know.

Respect Always
Metalshaper

 

[rmonday2]

Acro-Glass is an epoxy resin that is mixed with a catalyst too harden. It form fits the metal to wood perfict without void.

Acro-Glass has been used for bedding rifle barrels and/or actions for many years.

The assumption is that it improves accuracy for a weppon to have a perfect metal to wood fit with little to no movement of the barrel in the wood.

Acro-Glass comes in a nice little kit which contains measuring cups and sticks to measure and stir the agents together, also some coloring to aid in matching the color of wood.

It also comes with "flock" which is a finley ground fiber too increase it's streingth, and a releasing agent which is applied to all metal surfices that will come in contact with the application of the resin.(CAUTION!!!!It will epoxy wood to metal permanitly)

The releasing agent is applied to the metal like a this coat of oil and allowed to dry. It will peal off like a tiny coat of ruber about .0015 in thickness. This is enough to keep from bonding the two together.

When the job is finished, the releasing agent is wiped away with a wrag and assimbled.This provides a flawless fit of the wood and metal.

It's pretty cool stuff if you like to tinker and have some patients.

Hope this helps you to have some understanding of Acro-Glass and/or glass bedding, Ronnie...from the hills of Tennessee! :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Accra glass is marketed only by Brownell's, a gunsmithing supply firm located in Iowa. Google them, or check the links page here. Obviously there are other sources of fiberglass bedding compounds, but this one has proven itself over the years both because the release agent is so good, and because it is fairly easy to use for a lot of gun related work, described above. The company also markets a product called steelglass, used to bed barrels, also. If you are going to work on guns, you should order a Brownell's catalogue. It is a wonderful source, altho not always the cheapest source, of a lot of things of interest to gun owners, and tinkers. When looking at tools, always check other sources on the price. You often can do a lot better elsewhere. On special tools of use only in the gunsmithing trade, you probably are going to find it hard to find another source. Midwest is carrying more and more tools, now.

 

[Bookie]

Brownell's also markets Acraglass in gel form. It still can be colored, but the bonus is that it doesn't run. The mix time is down from 4 minutes to less than 2! It comes in the green box. The original is in red. "Good stuff, Maynard!" Cheers, Bookie

 

[dlemaster]

I believe Paul meant Midway. You can check out their site at[url] www.midwayusa.com[/url]

Regards, Dave

 

[bob1961]

i used the acra-gel on my 1770 lancaster to bed the breech and tang area....i liked the gel fer the no run...........bob

 

[LRB]

Many of the hard core builders scoff at the use of glass bedding, but there are many benefits from it's use. I am under the opinion that, if it doesn't show, and it makes a superior gun, why not? If used mainly in the breech area, you can afford to be a little sloppy in your inletting, once you are well below the surface where one might see the bedding. The epoxy bedding gives the maximum fit, and takes all or most of the recoil in a near perfectly distributed manner. The bedding stops wood softening, or deterization in the breech area from oils. It also strengthens the breech to some extent. If used with restraint, and foresight, as to being seen, it is in my opinion a worth while method of breech inletting. If used for the entire barrel channel, it is possible to experience problems, unless one is very sure that it will not cause binding in areas like the lug inlets, especially with swamped barrels. I really avoid using it anywhere other than the breech, but will, and do, use it there.

 

[Bookie]

I'm with you, Wick. I really like it at the breech, but am not afraid to use it elsewhere if required. Brownell's is just a 40 minute drive for me here in Iowa and I'll be there tomorrow morning for more gel. Cheers, Bookie