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Posted: 12/24/2018 4:27:12 AM EST
I had a rubber duckie I bought years back to scavenge the front sight base and flash hider. I tossed the rest aside and just rediscovered it this week. I was looking at the upper receiver, and it is an early 603 made from a square forging, colt proofmarks, and no forge code. It appears that they stuck a piece of rebar though the upper and poured the plastic around it to keep everything together. I was able to separate the upper from the rest of it, and it seems it could be saved if the remaining plastic and piece of rebar could be removed. Anybody have any ideas to get this cap out? I could probably melt/burn the plastic out, but wouldn't that screw up the aluminum? I figure that with all the interest in retro's nowadays, this would be worth trying to save. Any ideas y'all?

I just finished the final assembly and she's now 100% done. Here she is with a Colt 20 round magazine and smelly old seat belt sling.

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Link Posted: 12/24/2018 4:35:45 AM EST
[#1]
Some chemical?

I use "MEK" as glue for plastic models. It melts the plastic slightly.  
Maybe something similar would work.
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 1:00:19 PM EST
[#2]
Is the plastic hard or soft?
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 1:05:09 PM EST
[#3]
Probably just some kind of two part epoxy they used to stick in there.  The problem is not just getting it out of there, but where else did that shit drip when they put it together.  You might try a can of the old carb dip if you can find a place that still sells it, that stuff was good for cleaning aluminum carbs, but it is not common these days.

In the end, it is probably going to be way to much trouble to make it into anything that someone would buy.
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 1:23:04 PM EST
[#4]
Square forge 603 uppers have gotten scarce. I'd try to salvage it.
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 1:33:05 PM EST
[#5]
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 1:33:45 PM EST
[#6]
Try just media blasting the epoxy
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 1:36:49 PM EST
[#7]
How to remove epoxy

https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Epoxy
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 2:11:51 PM EST
[#8]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
How to remove epoxy

https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Epoxy
View Quote
Some good info, but be careful with furniture stripper which contains chlorinated organics.  They are bad for aluminum parts and your liver.  The chlorinated agents will slowly etch the aluminum.
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 4:45:58 PM EST
[#9]
It is hard plastic/epoxy. Methyl ethyl ketone?
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 4:49:50 PM EST
[#10]
You gotta save it, its good retro karma
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 4:58:34 PM EST
[#11]
If it is epoxy, you can remove it a little at a time using the point of a soldering iron. The iron tip and heat overcures the epoxy to the point it can be dug out with a sharp pointed instrument such as a small tipped screwdriver or an ice pick...Bill
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 6:33:34 PM EST
[#12]
Heat gun?
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 10:01:43 PM EST
[#13]
I've got it sitting in carb cleaner now. It's really toxic stuff, I was drilling it away and the dust turned white and stung my nostrils. Ive no idea what this shit is.
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 10:03:31 PM EST
[#14]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I've got it sitting in carb cleaner now. It's really toxic stuff, I was drilling it away and the dust turned white and stung my nostrils. Ive no idea what this shit is.
View Quote
Dust mask my guy
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 10:21:10 PM EST
[#15]
What's it do with a little bit of heat?
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 10:32:21 PM EST
[#16]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
What's it do with a little bit of heat?
View Quote
Haven't tried yet. I'm gonna let it sit in the carb cleaner for a day. If that doesn't start to do anything I'll try heat. If I can save it I'll send it off to be anodized and probably start another build. I'll keep this thread updated.
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 10:40:05 PM EST
[#17]
I would stick it in the oven at 300-350 for an hour. I know that won't hurt the aluminum because we cure Norrells at those temps for an hour.
It will probably melt out or at least make is soft enough to pull out.
Link Posted: 12/24/2018 10:57:52 PM EST
[#18]
Be careful of using heat. Read up on isocyanate poisoning.
Link Posted: 12/25/2018 11:29:22 AM EST
[#19]
I was able to salvage the upper, barrel, charging handle, and 20rnd mag in the Rubber Duckie I bought off eBay a few years back. It's a Colt, no forge code, non rebated front lug upper. It didn't have a forward assist or port door, but did come with a complete rear sight. The barrel is an SAK and only had a very small blob of weld near the chamber. A little Dremel time and it was good to go. A new gas tube, fwd assist, vintage A1 door and I went to the range. Luckily, mine was only full of the molding rubber and rebar, not epoxy. I spent about an hour at work with a heat gun and everything came right out. The lower half of the Duck was heavily damaged and the mag, which was removable anyway, barely hung in the broken well. It's really quite an accurate upper to shoot. I'll try to post pics soon.
Link Posted: 12/25/2018 11:29:53 AM EST
[#20]
Link Posted: 12/25/2018 10:05:25 PM EST
[#21]
I wonder how many different versions of the ducks were made?

Seems like some get pretty detailed with many useable parts. The one I have isn't. Was hoping it would have had a cast FSB but it's a later barrel.
Link Posted: 12/26/2018 5:16:57 AM EST
[#22]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I wonder how many different versions of the ducks were
View Quote
I’m wondering if the carbine versions are built with real parts as well
Link Posted: 12/26/2018 6:21:42 AM EST
[#23]
Throw it on an ant mound. Never mind, I was thinking of a turtle shell.

I agree with some of the others. Try MEK.
Link Posted: 12/29/2018 10:06:25 PM EST
[#24]
I don't think anything will dissolve the plastic. I will resort to drilling out as much as I can and pick the rest out with a small screwdriver and small heat gun. It will work great, will just take a while. I'll post pics once it's done.
Link Posted: 12/29/2018 10:11:07 PM EST
[#25]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I don't think anything will dissolve the plastic. I will resort to drilling out as much as I can and pick the rest out with a small screwdriver and small heat gun. It will work great, will just take a while. I'll post pics once it's done.
View Quote
Fast forward to the 3 minute mark:
Replace Rear Upper & Lower Control Arm Bushings - Ford Mustang (’73 - ’04)
Link Posted: 12/29/2018 10:16:56 PM EST
[#26]
That poor rubber duck...
Link Posted: 1/20/2019 2:35:34 AM EST
[#27]
Any updates?
Link Posted: 1/20/2019 6:14:22 AM EST
[#28]
Using a sand/bead blaster will eat it away - If there isn't a desire to keep what remains of the anodized finish inside.  The plastic will blast away before the metal.  You may have some hard to reach spots with the nozzle, but should get much of it out.
Link Posted: 1/20/2019 6:33:48 AM EST
[#29]
I tried the carburetor cleaner, nothing. Haven't tried the MEK yet. I've been slowly drilling out pieces of the plastic, it's a super nasty tough almost a resin. The next thing I want to try is the baking at 350° for a while and trying to pull the rebar out of the rear. Here is what it looks like at present.

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Link Posted: 1/20/2019 7:41:41 AM EST
[#30]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I tried the carburetor cleaner, nothing. Haven't tried the MEK yet. I've been slowly drilling out pieces of the plastic, it's a super nasty tough almost a resin. The next thing I want to try is the baking at 350° for a while and trying to pull the rebar out of the rear. Here is what it looks like at present.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/66729/2019-01-20_05_19_43_jpg-814424.JPG
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/66729/2019-01-20_05_19_30_jpg-814425.JPG
View Quote
Looks better! Good luck!
Link Posted: 1/20/2019 9:24:43 AM EST
[#31]
Heat the rebar up with a torch to separate it from the epoxy. You can get it red hot it’s not going to hurt the forging but you will not need to get it that hot. As it all melts just push it out. You can then work on getting out the rest of the epoxy
Link Posted: 1/20/2019 9:53:29 AM EST
[#32]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I wonder how many different versions of the ducks were made?

Seems like some get pretty detailed with many useable parts. The one I have isn't. Was hoping it would have had a cast FSB but it's a later barrel.
View Quote
3 now, or at least 3 I know off,

one like the OP,

one I have is an A1, but the upper is a rubber/resin casting,
the barrel may be real in it, but only a small part of is shows at the muzzle,

and I have another , A1, that uses a standard A1 upper (charging handle epoxied or glassed in place)
the lower also uses a standard stock and grip, but is made from fiberglass, (has trigger, no hammer, and mag release button is sideways or turned 90degrees)
Link Posted: 1/26/2019 12:56:17 AM EST
[#33]
I heated up the rebar and was able to pull it out with vice grips. There's still a good deal of the resin left, but it should come out pretty easy now. Once it's our I'll probably send it off to SnF to get blasted and anodized.
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Link Posted: 1/26/2019 3:30:45 AM EST
[#34]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I would stick it in the oven at 300-350 for an hour. I know that won't hurt the aluminum because we cure Norrells at those temps for an hour.
It will probably melt out or at least make is soft enough to pull out.
View Quote
This
Link Posted: 1/26/2019 9:22:30 AM EST
[#35]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I heated up the rebar and was able to pull it out with vice grips. There's still a good deal of the resin left, but it should come out pretty easy now. Once it's our I'll probably send it off to SnF to get blasted and anodized.
View Quote
That's good news. A bit more work and you'll have saved it!
Link Posted: 1/27/2019 1:18:11 PM EST
[#36]
A labor of love!
Link Posted: 1/28/2019 1:16:14 AM EST
[#37]
Almost there. Just have the channel that the charging handle rides in left. Now since this is an early square forging, would this be correct for an XM16E1? It does have the rebated front lug.
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Link Posted: 1/28/2019 9:38:36 AM EST
[#38]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Almost there. Just have the channel that the charging handle rides in left. Now since this is an early square forging, would this be correct for an XM16E1? It does have the rebated front lug.
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/66729/2019-01-28_00_08_53_jpg-824111.JPG
View Quote
That's exactly what it is.
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 11:33:39 AM EST
[#39]
Got all the plastic crap out. It is still dirty and has a few dings and scratches from the scraping away of the resin. I slipped in a charging handle and BCG and it is actually pretty smooth. I see no reason why this won't look great after a bead blast and anodizing job. The problem now is, I've gotta build an XM16E1 clone.
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Link Posted: 1/29/2019 11:38:02 AM EST
[#40]
Way to stay at it. Can't wait to see the final "After" photos, but great job on getting it to this point.
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 12:24:06 PM EST
[#41]
Nice save!!
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 12:46:44 PM EST
[#42]
Good job
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 3:07:51 PM EST
[#43]
Good deal.
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 3:55:55 PM EST
[#44]
You have way more patience than I have!

Link Posted: 1/29/2019 4:04:51 PM EST
[#45]
Nice! Subscribed!
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 5:06:37 PM EST
[#46]
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 8:15:13 PM EST
[#47]
Set it up on my A2 lower just to see how smooth it is. Actually locks up pretty tight. It will probably be solid as a rock with the new anodizing.
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Link Posted: 1/29/2019 8:16:56 PM EST
[#48]
Looks good Phil!
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 8:21:33 PM EST
[#49]
Great work on saving that beauty!
Link Posted: 1/29/2019 9:00:47 PM EST
[#50]
Get a red scotch pad like you use for auto paint prep, a heat gun from northern tool($20), heat the surfaces then scrub them with the red scotch pad. Any remaining rubber bits should scrub off.

Good job by the way!
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