If it was me, I would put it aside for a while and reflect on it. I am certain something positive to share with us will come out of this. Imagine, we have now 4 pages of intense discussion on a simple damaged Browning auto 5 forearm. How about you make a clean cut in the cracked wood in you try to wedge a matching piece of walnut. I thing we can add another 10 pages of discussion.
I would walk away if Covid-19 would go away or if the weather here would get better. I will get it, I’m too stubborn to let it beat me.
Well it’s glued up. It’s not the prettiest but it’ll work. Will post pictures when I get the glue cleaned up
Well it needs a bit more sanding and a couple dents steamed out but it’s about ready to finish. I used JB weld for the two small cracks and Titebond Quick and Thick for the long cracks. Still debating fiberglassing the inside
The prognsis after such a major surgery looks good!! Did the reinforcing strip that is glued in cross the grain inside break or break loose as well?
Yeah the reinforcing strip was in shambles before I started the acetone soak. I will fire up the bandsaw and cut a new piece. I just need to make a jig so I can steam it and form it right.
I wish I had more time too. I put the kids to bed and tinker for an hour or two a night. I’m lucky enough I can do some of the work at my job on my breaks. It helps having a machinist and a supervisor that love guns.
Yep. I work in a small shop with just the owner, who I rarely see. I work on all kinds of gun stuff. I rebuilt a reloader this week. He just looked at me and said” shotgun stuff”. I said would it be anything else. He just laughed and went back in his office.
This is another really good thread. Lots of great info. I picked up a beater that has potential to become a favorite shooter for me. It’s got a crack in the fore end. Played with it a bit and started playing out how to glue it. Knew that if I tried to glue and wrap it with surgical tubing the “wings” at the top would be squeezed with the same force as what I needed for the crack on the bottom so I pulled out the calipers and Dremel and made a wedge to fit inside. It’s snug enough that the top won’t be able to move against the squeezing force I need at the crack. Question I have is this. I plan to refinish this piece. Can I glue it now and refinish later (strip, acetone soak, stain, etc) or will all that work destroy my repair job?
That’s basically how I do the repair. I use a 1” piece of steel round stock with a piece of 1/4 flat stock tacked to it to keep the wings from folding in. I said the hell with tubing and use heavy duty ty wraps now. Superglue won’t hold up to an acetone soak
Good deal. Thanks Justin. I’ll get started on it in the coming days or week. Gotta take some before pics to document this “journey”. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
