Synthetic forearm work???

[heftylefty]

Who's done any relief on a synthetic forearm??? I have done a wooden one changing it over to a synthetic look and it's great...but now I need to rework the plastic forearm. I'm courious about what tools to use to remove material. My plastic forearms press against the barrel all the way down the full length of the forearm so...that's a lot of material to remove. Any help is appreciated???

[quickdtoo]

It's covered in the FAQs some, a good place to spend some time reading. 

Tim

[Spanky]

Funny you should mention that...
I just got done opening up the channel in my synthetic forearm about 5 minutes ago.

My forearm for one of my 45-70 barrels was touching all the way down too.
I wrapped sandpaper around one of my 20 ga. barrels (no sights in the way) and worked the forearm back and forth over the sandpaper.
Only took about 10 minutes and it opened up perfectly. I just checked the fit a couple of times during the sanding.

One other thing I did was to put a couple drops of oil between the frame and the forearm (where the spacer would be on a wood forearm). The barrel just falls open now when you push the button.


I hope this helps



Spanky

[Slufoot]

I wrapped sandpaper around one of my 20 ga. barrels (no sights in the way) and worked the forearm back and forth over the sandpaper.
Only took about 10 minutes and it opened up perfectly. I just checked the fit a couple of times during the sanding.

I did the same thing as Spanky except I used a broom handle of the proper size wrapped with sandpaper.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[heftylefty]

Thanks guys so much....appearently the plastic will sand away like the wood. I was afraid it would not.
My 45-70 has the same situation(forearm touches all the way to the end). I have read in the FAQ's about the spacers and "o" rings and I plan to use them after I remove this material.  Otherwise I'd have to space the forearm so far out (for clearance), it would no longer fit at the hinge properly. Is this what you guys have experienced? Hopefully I'll be able to sand away enough of the plastic to allow one small "o" ring to give me an open channel. I feel very fortunate to have this forum where there are so many people with experience working on these Handi Rifles. I have more confidence in making changes. Thanks again!

[Spanky]

Lefty,

I haven't had to use an O ring in any of my forearms to get good accuracy. It's very easy to open up the channel. Like Slufoot said, you could use something as simple as your broom handle. All you need is something the size of or a little larger than your barrel and a piece of sandpaper. It took me about 10 minutes start to finish.
You will probably find that you don't need to do anything to the forearm where it meets the frame and pivots. (I put a couple drops of oil to mine and it opens much easier). Just open up the channel and you will be surprised how much better it fits.

I have sanded the channel on a couple of wood forearms and the plastic one is just as easy.



Spanky

[Rangeball]

Guys, what grit sandpaper?

[heftylefty]

I  started with 120 grit on a 3/4 pvc pipe then switched to a smaller dia. broom handle and 150 grit
paper. The stuff is sanding easily but if I go too fast it will get hot. Slow and steady seems to be working
best. I am already about done. As far as the hinge goes I got a little too much clearance by trying to square up my wooden forearm. I wound up having to make a spacer to get a good fit. Because of this I don't thing I want to relieve the synthetic forearm any. If it gets too loose its a mess!