Gunsmithing Release agent questions

[TimK]

I'm set to pour the Devcon today. In reading the threads about bedding, I came across one mention of using Hornady One Shot case lube as a release agent. Can anyone confirm this works?

Also, I have colored Kiwi shoe polish here, not the neutral stuff. Should be fine?

Since this is my first, I was thinking I'd use the Kiwi, then spray the One Shot over the top to cover anyplace I missed.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Release agent questions

Shoe shine it, color doesn't matter, don't use One Shot IMHO, it cost too much, Johnson Paste Wax is what I use.

 

[TimK]

Re: Release agent questions

I was considering the One Shot because I have it and don't like is as a case lube.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Release agent questions

some guys use maguires wax too. look at the post that says "the three best bedding posts so far. they go over different stuff for release and they may confirm your thoughts. the colored polish may color the epoxy, but thats all i can think of. i had to goto 3 stores to get the neutral kiwi. every place else had black and white. now i ask you, why would you not have neutral? its universal

 

[LRI]

Re: Release agent questions

Forgive me, as this may sound a bit preachy/high minded. It's not intended to, but its going to sound that way I'm sure.

Lets grab this bull by the horns.

I've been on this forum for about six/eight months now and with great frequency there is someone asking about release agents. (no, I'm not picking at you in particular)

We live in a modern world where products are designed specific to an application. Pam, One Shot, grease, shoe polish, wax, and a host of other materials have all been tried/used for release agents.

Yes, they work. They will form a layer that separates the part from the resin, however they are all prone to goofing things up too. (another subject matter that surfaces on this and other forums with alarming frequency)

Albert Einstein is often credited with saying: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different
results." I humbly encourage/suggest guys take 5 minutes out of their day and perform a Google search on aerosolized commercial mold release agents.

Now I'm sure to get both barrels from many who say that there's nothing wrong with using shoe polish or wax, or whatever. I'll go one further to say that they'll say the guns shoot fine and there's no issue. I have no doubt they are telling the truth as I too have used the same products. (12+ years in this game)

However, there exists an intangible quality called "presentation", "fit/finish", and pride in your work that a guy at home can achieve if he's patient and diligent.

Shoe polish cannot be applied to an action without there being some swirl marks. These surface inclusions can't be felt, but you can and will see them with normal healthy eyesight. This is where an aerosol can is going to win every time.

One shot isn't a release agent. It's a lubricant designed to keep brass cases from galling/seizing in a sizing die under extreme pressure. The film thickness is heavy and this means its prone to smearing and it's not making a mirror image casting of your action. It's also possible for it to contaminate/react with certain resins.

http://mclube.com/ is where you should start/end your search for a proper release agent.

Good luck on your project.

Chad.


These are samples of my pillar bedding work:

Agent applied to action:

Finished bedding:

 

[TimK]

Re: Release agent questions

You do beautiful work, and I thank you for your input. Personally, and this is just me, I couldn't care less about the cosmetics of my bedding job. I'm not in the business (obviously!) so I have no customer to please. Certainly I'd like perfect, but I'll settle for improving the way my rifle shoots.

 

[Hateca]

Re: Release agent questions

It's not just the looks of it that matters. What matter is if you don't do it just right you will be on here again asking how to get a stuck barreled action out of a stock.

Doing it right and doing it easy is sometimes, most of the time, the same thing.

 

[DFC]

Re: Release agent questions

I use Johnson floor wax paste also with great results (35 years) I will note some of the painted actions seem to soak up the wax, so I do it several times until I can feel the wax when buffed out. If you stick it, you will have learned a valuable lesson about a food freezer.

 

[GasLight]

Re: Release agent questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shoe polish cannot be applied to an action without there being some swirl marks. These surface inclusions can't be felt, but you can and will see them with normal healthy eyesight. This is where an aerosol can is going to win every time.</div></div>

Not to derail or offend CD, but I am sure some of the fellows here may beg to differ on this one... Shoe polish can be polished to a mirror like surface

all kidding aside, I think a spray applied release agent is the way to go... polishing kiwi on an action is way more time consuming than it needs to be

DD

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Release agent questions

dixons work speaks for itself. have you seen that nesika (sp?) that he did? its a work of art

that being said, he does it for a living i would guess and does more than one job of bedding. which for some of us is all we want to do. you have to look at it from the "poor man's" angle so to speak. devcon only comes by the pound. a spray can of release agent is $20 or more. thats $80 bucks right there and you will have alot of devcon and release agent left over. great, maybe you can do a buddy's with the rest. but if not, its alot of money and unused product. now a tin of kiwi neutral and a blister pack of JBWeld can be had for under $10 and there are guys that will use that and be just fine.

but there is a place for both i think

also, how many military guys cant get a mirror finish with kiwi?

 

[DFC]

Re: Release agent questions

I knew a famous rifle/barrel maker that used JB weld to bed the rifles he set world records with. That would be in the early 70's. Devcon came into favor about that time and was considered the way to go, however it was said by some that Hoppe's solvent would soften it. I have seen some damage, but never really knew what cause it, some kind of chemical reaction. Haven't used it for about 20 years so they could have changed the ingredients.

 

[TimK]

Re: Release agent questions

Well, I used Cordovan colored Kiwi and then sprayed the whole thing with One Shot. No swirl marks, no discoloration, and it released perfectly. Looks great on the inside, not that I care much. It was all much easier than I thought it would be.

Now, what to do with the rest of the Devcon?

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Release agent questions

someone will buy it. take off a few bucks for what you used, a fair amount. how many bed jobs are in it total?? divy the amount you paid by that, minus your share and pass it on. thats what i was gonna do with the rest of my pound til i read about the JB.

texture your stock or anything else first.