Question on Epoxy Casting

ardo · April 2nd, 2013, 16:49

Not sure if this will work, so need some expert advise...

I keep fussing with my Tanfoglio Limited Custom to keep it going because I like how it shoots when it is actually working. The adjustable rear sight broke last week, I made it into a fixed sight with some JBWeld & a wedge between the sight's blade and the rear of the slide.

Yesterday, the hop up unit fell apart, a piece of pot metal just broke off. Since there are no spare parts available, I was wondering if casting a replacement out of marine epoxy or some such may work. Not that I've done any casting before but I don't think I have a choice. From what I've read so far, epoxy may be too brittle for this application.

TIA.

ThunderCactus · April 2nd, 2013, 17:16

Proper casting of a new component may be outside of your price range, and just might not be possible. Machining a new part is going to cost more than half the price of the pistol.
Especially since you're dealing with CO2, it will be difficult to cast a suitable casting material
Have you tried contacting the manufacturer?

Jimski · April 2nd, 2013, 17:27

I'd use glue instead of epoxy putty, epoxy glue is amazingly strong, if you can cast it.
First try to make a decent mold from the original part, once you'll have a decent negative you'll be able to think about what to fill the mold with.

MultipleParadox · April 2nd, 2013, 18:49

Wouldn't JBWeld be stronger than straight epoxy, being metal based epoxy itself?

But then again I'm curious as to what material could be used to created the mold as the epoxy would create a bond with the mold no?

Sorry if I'm not really answerin any of the OP's questions, but I'm curious about this

ardo · April 2nd, 2013, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

Proper casting of a new component may be outside of your price range, and just might not be possible. Machining a new part is going to cost more than half the price of the pistol.
Especially since you're dealing with CO2, it will be difficult to cast a suitable casting material
Have you tried contacting the manufacturer?

Yes, I tried several times, this is not the first or only part that broke, but I managed to keep the gun working - until now. Getting parts is not an option that's why I'm looking for desperate measures. I could probably try buying another Limited Custom and hope that it works, or get a used one for parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimski

I'd use glue instead of epoxy putty, epoxy glue is amazingly strong, if you can cast it.
First try to make a decent mold from the original part, once you'll have a decent negative you'll be able to think about what to fill the mold with.

I wasn't going to use putty, marine epoxy is low viscosity & can be cast. I'm just not sure how well it may take the impact when hitting the inner barrel & slide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MultipleParadox

Wouldn't JBWeld be stronger than straight epoxy, being metal based epoxy itself?

But then again I'm curious as to what material could be used to created the mold as the epoxy would create a bond with the mold no?

Sorry if I'm not really answerin any of the OP's questions, but I'm curious about this

JBWeld is too thick to be cast.

From what I've seen epoxy can be cast into a latex mold, with proper release agent applied.

ThunderCactus · April 2nd, 2013, 20:20

Good thing those pistols are only $130 then lol

ardo · April 2nd, 2013, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

Good thing those pistols are only $130 then lol

I paid $190 - where did you see them for $130? Is it in Canada?

I shoot about 600 rounds a week, so maybe I need to buy a dozen.

ThunderCactus · April 2nd, 2013, 20:29

That was the idea with HFC pistols
Despite having fixed hop, they were REALLY amazing pistols....as long as you got a good one lol
But always buy 2 because you can't get parts and the lemon rate was fairly high

ardo · April 2nd, 2013, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

That was the idea with HFC pistols
Despite having fixed hop, they were REALLY amazing pistols....as long as you got a good one lol
But always buy 2 because you can't get parts and the lemon rate was fairly high

LOL I`d love to have a fixed hop - no hop, actually - on mine. I only shoot from 6-7yrds at 1/3 scale IPSC targets.

I saw the Limited Custom being cleared for $130 by a milsurp a few months ago - I wish I bought one (or two) then.

ardo · June 18th, 2013, 14:25

Just a quick update if it helps someone else. I scrapped the casting idea and just filled the broken part with JBWeld. The gun has been working fine since, it's been about 2 months now.

I used JBWeld liberally, making it go over the most of hop-up unit, then fitting the hop-up unit to the outer barrel. This made the grouping tighter.

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April 2nd, 2013, 16:49	#1
ardo Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto	Question on Epoxy Casting Not sure if this will work, so need some expert advise... I keep fussing with my Tanfoglio Limited Custom to keep it going because I like how it shoots when it is actually working. The adjustable rear sight broke last week, I made it into a fixed sight with some JBWeld & a wedge between the sight's blade and the rear of the slide. Yesterday, the hop up unit fell apart, a piece of pot metal just broke off. Since there are no spare parts available, I was wondering if casting a replacement out of marine epoxy or some such may work. Not that I've done any casting before but I don't think I have a choice. From what I've read so far, epoxy may be too brittle for this application. TIA.

April 2nd, 2013, 17:27	#3
Jimski Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Montreal	I'd use glue instead of epoxy putty, epoxy glue is amazingly strong, if you can cast it. First try to make a decent mold from the original part, once you'll have a decent negative you'll be able to think about what to fill the mold with. __________________

April 2nd, 2013, 17:16	#2
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	Proper casting of a new component may be outside of your price range, and just might not be possible. Machining a new part is going to cost more than half the price of the pistol. Especially since you're dealing with CO2, it will be difficult to cast a suitable casting material Have you tried contacting the manufacturer?

April 2nd, 2013, 20:20	#6
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	Good thing those pistols are only $130 then lol

April 2nd, 2013, 20:29	#8
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	That was the idea with HFC pistols Despite having fixed hop, they were REALLY amazing pistols....as long as you got a good one lol But always buy 2 because you can't get parts and the lemon rate was fairly high

June 18th, 2013, 14:25	#10
ardo Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto	Just a quick update if it helps someone else. I scrapped the casting idea and just filled the broken part with JBWeld. The gun has been working fine since, it's been about 2 months now. I used JBWeld liberally, making it go over the most of hop-up unit, then fitting the hop-up unit to the outer barrel. This made the grouping tighter.

Question on Epoxy Casting

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