Gunsmithing Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

[Anchor Zero Six]

I have a Manners inbound thats inlet for a Sendaro barrel that I will need to open up for a M24 Rock.

I spoke with Manners they said there is more than enough meat to dig into without concern.

What I'm wondering is will I need to seal the area that was sanded down afterwards.

My initial thoughts are to wrap a dowel(same one used for sanding) with saran wrap and skim bed the barrel channel with marine tex then set the dowel in the channel and tape it in place till compound sets up and can be trimmed.

Would this method work, any better options or is it not needed and I should just skip it?

 

[GasLight]

Re: Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

I don't think there is a ton of NEED to seal the filler material in the barrel channel, that said, when I have messed with them, I have bedded the barrel channel, and on one that I didn't, I ended up spray painting the interior just for peace of mind.

When I bedded the barrel channel, I just removed extra material around the whole channel, wrapped the barrel in a couple layers of thick tape to ensure free float, and then bedded it like an action. This gave a real nice spacing on both sides of the barrel as well as sealed the channel.

Dave

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Re: Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

I think that whatever epoxy type you use would stick to the Saran wrap??? Waxed paper might be better. Also how much clearance are you wanting between barrel and channel? Would be almost easier to tape barrel to thickness you want for a gap, put release agent on tape and then bed the entire barreled action when you bed receiver. Tape off and do like a normal bedding job except with the tape on barrel for clearance in barrel channel. Otherwise you may not end up with the results/look/clearance you want if you seal BC first then bed the receiver. I have done this numerous times and you then get proper and even cleanace full length of barrel channel which is in line with your normal action bedding. Hope my mumble jumble makes sense?

Just my .02 cents worth. Probably done a dozen or more this way over the years, wood and synthetic.

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SDWhirlwind</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think that whatever epoxy type you use would stick to the Saran wrap??? </div></div> LOL..Yeah probably right about that. Was sitting here thinking about how to go about doing it in my head and that was the first random thought I had.

I planned on bedding the barreled action but was trying to figure out if there was a need to prep the relieved area.

I need to have it in hand to see for myself how much difference there will actually be.

 

[LRI]

Re: Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

Get yourself a can of catalyzed automotive paint sealer.

Prep the surface smooth. Seal, paint, enjoy your life.

Easy stuff.

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

Awsome! Thank you that's the route I'm going to go.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

Mcmillan beds the barrel channel for this reason(sealing). They free float the barrel of course, with pipe tape. (put pipe take on the barrel, then release agent, then bed)

They seal it with whatever bedding they use on the action area bed job(Marine Tex). You can do it all at once, or you could do just the barrel channel.

We do the same if requested. Sealing doesnt seems very necessary, but I take notice of anything Mcmillan does.



They've been in the fiberglass stock game a little longer than most other guys...

 

[bohem]

Re: Sealing stock after opening barrel channel?

My STR-built is in a McM HTG that needed the channel opened up, Ozzie free floated the channel and bedded the whole thing. It looks phenomenal, way better than just being opened up.

At work we seal any exposed edges of composites for water ingression over time as it will degrade the integrity of the composites over the lifetime of the structure. This is especially necessary when the changes in temp will allow any absorbed water to freeze, that expansion from freezing is a perfect way to start delamination and exacerbate the issue.