Does anyone have an opinion on what(if any) the result would be from aqua fortis applied over accra glas? My buttplate is bedded and there is a very, very thin line between wood and metal. Al Edge says he does it all the time but he uses alcohol stains and he has no problems. Would I be better off that way? I do like the look of the acid stain on maple but I don't
want to create any problems so close to the end of this project.
Thanks,
Duane
Try acra-glas and AF on a scrap.
I would scrape the glas out and either refit and/or pean the buttplate.
However, there are bronze castings out there that are harder the pean but it *should* still work.
To make glass bed "invisible" the fit needs to be within a few thousands.
Its best to dye the glass pretty dark and if the layer is thin.
The only gun I can recall using acra-glas on as a fill was one I did as a favor to a friend that had had the lock mortise REALLY hogged out by other ML "gun hacker". It looked OK when it left the shop.
Buttplates can be a real PITA to fit but you have to have SHARP tools and good scrapers. Be careful and THINK carefully about what is going on. Get the extension up the comb to match the comb line with the buttplate "plumb" vertically then just keep removing wood at the front of the extension and the end of the stock to move it forward on the stock till it fits. Use inletting black and only cut where it marks. DO NOT drill any screw holes in the stock until the fit is at least 99%.
Use screws with hardened heads and keep them nice. Changing screws at final assembly can shift the plate since most wood screws have heads that are not centered to the shaft of the screw. They tend to be all different.
It is sometimes necessary to plug and redrill screw holes.
Dan
