Thanks Chuck and others- I just bought a new Acra-Glas kit- save the shipping I guess. Retails for around $16.95 around my locale. I am "re-freshing" a 12 Gauge Grade 1 LC Smith- 28" barrels DT extractor gun with original straight hand grip buttstock- As we are allowed to discuss "other doubles" on the PGCA forum site, and Smiths can be prone to stock cracking in the stock head area, I like to "seal the pores" of the inletting-
First after stripping down the shotgun (and with Smiths best to leave the hammers cocked, just the opposite as to stripping down a Parker) and cleaning out any debris with a dental pick, toothpicks and very fine emery paper, I use Formby's wood cleaner solvent and a tooth brush to remove any trapped oil or dis-coloration, and let the buttstock dry after each treatment, suspended on a coat hanger wire next to the furnace-
I have been very lucky so far, this is the fourth "project Elsie" I have bought, none have had any stock cracks or splits- I prefer the pre-1913 Smiths, I never shoot heavy loads in any of them- my "SWAG" on that is- better season American black walnut available before we entered WW1- cannot prove that-And to be fair, I also prefer the hammerless Parkers made before 1916-- also better wood for the grade you buy- can't speak as to engraving for two reasons: (1) I'm not an engraving expert (2) I don't shoot a Parker higher in grade than a GHE (or a Smith higher than a 3E Grade)--
One final question on Acra-Glas-- as in the kit there is a container of release agent-- has anyone used this product- say on the edges of a sidelock inset into the stock head for final fit-up on a cracker stock- and applied the release agent to the metal and then a skin coat of Acra-Glas to just the wood? I have a friend who is great for "not following the instructions" and he permanently bedded the barrel and receiver of a Model 70 into the stock channel with Acra-Glas- instead of using modelling clay and release agent as the directions indicate-- Not Good--
Brownell's- Good folks indeed
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