Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Cured Epoxy/Putty Removal?

Two "firsts" tried and two "firsts" disappointing. I just bedded
a stock using the "stock" action screws. All turned out pretty
well but the catastrophe occurred because epoxy oozed up into
the action prior to the screws engaging. Was able to remove all
from the rear area and THOUGHT all was removed from the front
action screw area...WRONG. That area where the bolt lugs turn
into now has cured epoxy in them and no way will the bolt now
close.

ANYONE know of any way to remove epoxy without using acid? Has
anyone used an epoxy solvent such as "ATTACK" with success? I'm
considering using heat with a heat gun, but am not sure if it
could warp the action. Any suggestions?

I read about using plumber's putty for damming up the areas
where one wants to contain the epoxy in the stock. For me, the
stuff is too soft, and flowed over the epoxy in a couple of
areas that should be redone. How can one remove plumber's
putty from the cured epoxy without weakening the properties
of the epoxy, yet get it clean enough to bed new epoxy to the
cured epoxy?

Thanks again to all pro's.

Soak it in denatured alcohol for 24hrs or so. Paint/expoxy remover, 2 or 3 applications for 30 minutes. I've used both methods.

A heat gun will clean it up in minutes, no problem and it is anything but a big deal. Very fast, very simple dig it out and move on...

I fill the screw hole with clay or even paste wax ahead of time and wax the inside of the lug area to let the epoxy "pop" off.
art

Children's modeling clay (sold in toy stores) works good for most recess' and dams - but paste wax is better for packing threaded areas.

I also paste wax that I use on the outside of the stock ( no sticky fingers or epoxy fingerprints) for the action screw or the stocking screw threads, so no epoxy sticks to either them, or their threaded hole.
The act of turning in the screw will push out a little bit of wax, but it doesn't usually effect the glass bedding, and is easily cleaned up afterward.

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