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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23 |
This image is of an LC Smith Field Featherweight I bought. The old repair material was degrading, and finish was bad so it's been cleaned with an acetone soak and I gently picked out the old substance with an exacto knife. There is a rod the spans the void, and the void will not close. I am not an expert, nor can I afford to hire one. The curve of the crack makes me think that a wood sliver insert is unlikely and I need to fill and bond with an epoxy. I do have a nicely matching scrap of material to make sawdust from, and I am wondering if a sawdust/epoxy mixture is the way to go, or is there another path realistic to take. The gun is my first sidelock, which I want to shoot. It has other issues and is not a clean collector gun.
Last edited by B. Graham; 10/27/15 08:03 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,961 Likes: 9
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,961 Likes: 9 |
I believe that closing the crack is going to be necessary to get a good repair. Can you seperate the two pieces? I would try to get it apart, pull the pin and reclean the split with another soak to be sure all oil is gone. you could reinser a pin and even add other reinforcements and then bury any reinforcements in colored epoxy, clam it up and let it cure. I like to do another step and that is to wash off any overrun of epoxy with isopropyl alcohol. Just wash the exterior wood don't clean out the joint. this will save a lot of work.
bill
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23 |
The wound doesn't go all the way to the head, so I'd have to purposefully break it. I don't know how long it's been this way, but the wood seems used to being in the position it is in. Also, the metal pin is still there, which could be holding it open, maybe, but I don't know about digging it out or how to do so. Risk adverse because I can't afford a new stock.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 667 Likes: 51
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 667 Likes: 51 |
I am no expert, but I had an almost identical crack on a 1921 Featherweight field grade 12. I had Bill Schwarz in Ellijay GA glue the crack and possibly glass bed (can't recall) for very little money. It almost seems like the pin is holding the crack open. Link to a pic of mine repaired below. As you can barely make out, crack ran from the side plate to the safety. http://s1219.photobucket.com/user/danfandango/media/shotgun003-1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=137Also, there is a really good DIY tutorial on crack repair on the LC Smith association page. Good luck.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,441 Likes: 39
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,441 Likes: 39 |
Can you get at the rod from the top tang mortise? Looks like you could cut the rod from the top and then file it shorter from the inside to allow you to pull the pieces back together.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 747 Likes: 24
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 747 Likes: 24 |
Don't assume that you can close that crack and still have the lockplate and top strap inletting fit properly. It may have to be that way. If that's the case fill it with colored epoxy or, even better, fit a piece of wood in the void.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23 |
Don't assume that you close the crack. It may have to be that way. If that's the case fill it with colored epoxy or, even better, fit a piece of wood in the void. I'll try to fit some wood. If I color epoxy as well, or instead of wood, is the saw dust mixture viable? If so, is there a ratio of dust to adhesive that folks like?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 48
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 48 |
Men build too many walls and not enough bridges. -Isaac Newton
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23 |
survey how the locks and tangs fit. The lock seems likely to have some gaps, no? If that is the case then proceed with getting the metal pin out of the way. The locks fit nicely as things are. The receiver is proud of the sides of the stock, especially towards the front most area, the right lower edge most of all. I think they were milled or sanded down at some point. Beautiful repair by the way. Thanks for sharing the images.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 977 Likes: 23 |
Also, there is a really good DIY tutorial on crack repair on the LC Smith association page. What do you folks think of the advice from the LC Smith site, where it states the following? "After carefully checking the stock and finding no cracks or oil soaking, you might paint the head of the stock and lockplate inlets with Goat Tuff Glue Apply until the wood will absorb no more, allow to cure several hours, then reassemble."
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