Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Bedding job, does the kind of clay matter

I picked up some Crayola air dry clay from Walmart instead of ordering modeling clay from Brownells for 4 times the price. Is there any reason it won't work to plug holes or create dams just as well as modeling clay?

I live in a small town and have no options unless I order stuff and pay shipping. The Crayola was being closed out and was dirt cheap.LOL

I don't see why it wouldn't work. I use plumbers putty from the hardware store, it's dirt cheap.

I use plasticine from the supermarket. Does a great job.

I've never even heard of plasticine. What is it normally used for?


The only thing I could think of is if it might shrink too much or dried too quick and shrank.

I hadn't thought of plumbers putty.


Why doesn't anyone use playdough?

I use artists modeling clay from Wally World, never bought any from Brownells but doubt it is any different. Play-dough is water based and could cause rusting on steel plus it dries hard. Modeling clay can be reused many times, an issue when it is used in big chunks for filling large openings such as magazine wells.

I have used they clay you are talking about with no issues

Any clay that does not harden will work fine. Clays that harden can be a real bitch to get out of tight places on the action.

Plasticine is a modeling clay, just a trade name here in Aussie. Doesn't dry out. Easy to remove. Use it in mag well, trigger cutout, etc when bedding. Doesn't dry out or set hard.

Cheap to buy and can reuse it. Mostly used by children and big small boys like me!

Cheers, Chris

Plumbers putty works really well. I've used the cheap Crayola, but it hardens after a while.

Go to where they sell auto body shop supplies. Buy a box of Body Putty.

The old time bodymen called it "dumbo," I believe. It comes in a box, and in strips, with wax paper between the layers. They stick it in body seams, and then paint over it. It doesn't harden, and then it is easy to remove. Put your wax/ release agent over it. It comes in two colors: black or white. It is sticky, and a bit stiff. It reminds me of another product called Mortite.

As a side bennifit it works good as a broken case extractor for a headless case stuck in a rifle's chamber.

Use play dough myself , if it hardens between use just buy some more.