Glass in Acraglass

[Eli Jensen]

So I've always wondered but now I've misplaced the little baggy of glass powder for my acraglass kit. So I was wondering:

1. What does it do?
2. Is it necessary?
3. How critical is it that its used?
4. How much?

[metal99]

Some of the glue I use at work has glass in it and they claim that it is to prevent squeeze out when clamping. Other then that I can't see it serving another purpose. Our hobby shop has a glass "bubble" powder that you can add to epoxy to make it sand easier.

[TexasJack]

What you have is basically an epoxy glue with a binder material (glass wool).

When you use glue, you always get best results by using a thin layer. While the molecules are very long (by molecular standards) they really only bind over a short distance. If you've ever spilled glue so that you wind up with a thick puddle of it that hardens, you know that it's usually pretty easy to bend or break. By putting a binding material in it, you give strength to the thickness. Kinda like rebar in concrete.

The amount you use can vary, but generally you need enough of the liquid epoxy to completely coat all of the fiberglass and fill in any voids that might have bubbles.

[Eli Jensen]

So its a good thing not to skip out on?

[metal99]

Oh yeah I forgot about the reinforcement part lol. That's more important when your using it to actually build or patch something like a hole in a boat. As far as the adhesion itself goes it won't make any difference in the extremely thin amounts we use.

[Eli Jensen]

So I should just use it without and not worry about ordering more just for the glass wool?

[Ray Rogers]

Eli,

I don't know of anybody who uses the little glass pack that comes in the kit in knife making. Maybe some do, but I never have. I don't think it's needed at all for what we do ...

[Eli Jensen]

Interesting . . . .

[fuzzy]

I feel shorted don't think my kit had a little glass pak

[TexasJack]

Some mix sawdust in to give the mix some color.

Remember that Acraglass is intended for glass bedding a rifle. You don't need the glass portion for thin sections being glued together, like on a knife.

If you're gonna use a "thick" amount, grab some fiberglass from your house insulation.