Several points should be addressed here...
Acetone is used to clean surfaces you want to stick to the matrix agent whether it be epoxy or whatever... Why degrease something to apply an agent to keep it from sticking? It reminds me of nurses waking up patients to administer a sleeping pill???
NEVER use car wax as a release agent!!!!!!!!!!! It has a ton of silicone in it and it is very difficult to get rid of if you ever do any finishing/refinishing. Fisheyes are a major pain.
Barrel channels should be sealed EXACTLY the same as the finish on the rest of the stock.Spar varnish is a wonderful finish but if it is different from the rest of the stock it can and will cause issues. It has been addressed repeatedly here...
Lot of respect for you Sitka, BUT I'll disagree with you.
1. I'm bedding a Mauser98 barreled action. The rceiver had dirt, grease and gunk in the areas of crevices- behind the recoil lug etc.
This 'material' need d to be removed or there could have been other areas that would take the brunt of the recoil.
2. I use a lot of 'release' agents. The only release agent I've ever had trouble with is Brownells blue release agent that comes in their kit.
Talk about fish eyes....
3. I used to finish my stocks with boiled linseed oil. The barrel channel got the same treatment. I put on many many coats.
There's been a lot of poo hooing regarding oil finishes. I stopped using linseed oil, Tru-oil etc. due to this critique.
I'm not sure that I'm right on this one, but I've followed advice from several people on the campfire that recommended Spar Varnish in the barrel channel.
Question: "If you were bedding a 700 stock or other factory stock with an opened up barrel channel, what would you use?"
I'm bedding this Mauser action in a fiberglass stock. I'll paint the stock. Would you be ok with Spar Varnish in the barrel with this?"
On the next wood stock (last one a couple of months ago too) I'll do I plan on sealing the stock with Spar Varnish and finishing with a rubbed oil finish. I think that Spar Varnish without the oil would work fine. Ok with you?
Finally, it's difficult to address every scenario in a short reply.
BTW, I used Hornady's case spray 'One Shot' for a release agent this last time. It worked well.
I appreciate your reply and I don't mean to be condescending or critical. I've been bedding stocks since the early 60's, but I do not know as much as many on the fire, probably that includes you Sitka Deer.