03 stock wrist crack

[jacobhh]

I have a crack in the wrist of my 03A3 stock.
It's .020 wide at the tang to barely discenabble
2 inches later and does not reach the comb.

Any advice on repairing this and preventing it from
continuing? There's talcum powder dusted on the
stock in the pic to highlight the crack.

 

[rcmodel]

One positive way would be with brass stock repair screws:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=617&title=STOCK+REPAIR+PIN+KIT

These were commonly used on military stock repairs when a replacement stock was not available.

To use, I would thoroughly degrease the crack with spray brake cleaner.
You can then use AcraGlas epoxy, and try to work it into the crack, using a hair dryer to warm it up enough to make it thinner.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1033&title=ACRAGLAS~

Then, tightly wrap the stock with surgical tubing before the epoxy cures:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1221&title=SURGICAL+TUBING

This will put a tremendous amount of equal pressure all around the stock and close up even the most stubborn crack!

Then drill and insert the stock repair screws and wait for the epoxy to cure overnight. Once the glue has cured, the brass screws can be cut off and dressed down flush with the wood.

Another method I have had good luck with is to clean & degrease the crack, then wrap with the tubing, and apply Hot Stuff CYA adhesive. It is water thin, and will wick completely into the crack clear to the bottom, and cure instantly. I would still recommend the brass repair screws though, for the strongest joint possible.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=13081&title=HOT+STUFF+INSTANT+GLUE


rcmodel

 

[jacobhh]

Thanks RC,

Checked the links. Didn't know of this stuff.
Looks good. I'm going to order some from
Brownells.

 

[Clipper]

Holy hard way, Batman! Don't order that stuff! It's the same thin CA that I buy at the hobby shop that is used to build R/C aircraft. It comes in several thicknesses, so just ask for thin CA. It may even be from the same manufacturer as the stuff Brownell's sells, as they are a big model glue seller, but CA is CA, so don't worry who makes it.

 

[musher]

If you put the stock in a warm place (like 90-100) for a day (or at least several hours), then take the stock somewhere cooler (like 65) and do your gluing. The crack will draw your glue down into the stock as the wood cools.

Don't try to warm the glue and put it into a crack in cooler wood, as outgassing from the wood will create bubbles and push the glue out.

 

[Clipper]

If you're using epoxy, you can thin it with acetone or alcohol after mixing.if you heat it, it will speed the cure and not allow as complete penetration.