Gluing on a Rail

[BatRay]

Hey all, I currently have the use of a JBL NW Special, but the rail isn't glued on and I've been told that it needs that. However, I have not been told what sort of glue should be used. Is the rail supposed to stick on there forever? The speargun is just begging to be used...

 

[GALADION]

Hey BatRay,
you can either use a polyurathane based glue or (my personal preference) a tape that sticks both ways, appropriate for marine use.
I have used both. The first needs A LOT of precaution cause if you don't stick the rail straight, you will ruin you gun to take it of. However if you decide to use this kind of glue before you start the process, you have to cover with tape all the barrel except from the part that the rail will stick in order not to mess up your barrel with glue.
Then you stick a shaft onto the rail with some tape that sticks both ways (not for marine use) in order to keep the rail straight.
Using a shaft you place aligned marks on the barrel, near the muzzle and entrance of trigger mech, in order to have some reference points when you stick the rail.
Underneath and alongside the rail, you apply a hefty amount of glue and then you stick it on the barrel.
You have to be EXTRA careful to align the rail+shaft with the muzzle and the entrance of the trigger mech.
Then you press the rail forcefully against the barrel in order for the excess glue to come of the edges of the rail (that's why you need to cover the rest of the barrel). This way you'll be sure that there will be glue in every spot underneath the rail.
Then you tape together really tight and always being carefull not to ruin the alignement of the rail (a duct tape will do), the barrel and the rail+shaft
and you leave it for 24h to completely dry. After that the rail will stay there FOREVER!

You can also use underneath your rail, a two-way tape for marine use. I have used that (the tape I used is by 3M, I think Omer uses the same for their rails) on a gun it the rail is still there after 2 1/2 years.

Have fun sticking things together!

 

[BatRay]

Whoa, that sounds pretty complicated, especially since it isn't my personal gun! What about the tape? How easily does it come off? How do its properties compare to the glue?

 

[Groupermadness]

Personaly i would use the Double sided tape, and as galadion says use the best stuff you can get, and make sure its for marine use, 3m is excelent, but be carefull with the tape, once its made contact with the rail/gun it will stick instantly(no room for error) and once on it will stay for a long time just take your time and do not rush. if possable, a tip i learned is to do this kind of taping in a cool/cold place as the glue wont stick so fast and readily and once together lay in a warm area and hey presto rail and gun are one.

 

[GALADION]

I second Groupermadness!

 

[BatRay]

Hmm This sounds much more complicated than I originally anticipated. Perhaps I ought to defer to the gun's owner before I start applying adhesive substances.

 

[ajwaverider]

I used a jbl brand rail for a gun I built and I followed there instructions for attaching it.
Everything look good but after the third day it started to fall off and it was never put in the water.I pulled the glue off the rail cleaned with acetone and then roughed it with sand paper,i used 5 minute epoxie and it held good.5 minutes was to fast for me so I had to touch up a spot because I was two slow mixing and applying the glue.You might want to ask the owner what he would like so he's ok with it.

 

[BatRay]

That is my next step. I sent him an email a couple of weeks ago and haven't gotten a reply. Figured the next best thing would be to post on here. It just seems like there's so little room for error, and I don't glue on ralis every day. Next stop - local spearfishing group. Any other suggestions, guys?

 

[Amphibious]

Sorry Rach, I have been out of town the last few days.

Just slap it on with whatever is handy, it's a beat-up rough&tumble loaner gun don;t worry about hurting it. I always used some sort of silicon sealent. then I afixed it for drying with tape after lining it p carefully with the release and muzzle. having the spear in the gun to use as a guide while you do this is a good idea.

Play with it, thats what's it's there for.

 

[BatRay]

Will I need to scrape off the crud that's already on there, or does it matter?

 

[Amphibious]

only if you have the time, but as long as it lay's close to flat it should be ok.

 

[Mr. X]

...Perhaps I ought to defer to the gun's owner before I start applying adhesive substances.

:duh Sounds like a good idea. (As a teenager, I once lent a "friend" (now persona non grata) a Motorcycle helmet & when I eventually managed to get it back it had been spray painted silver -- which looked stupid and also ruined the integrity of the helmet. Several valuable lessons learnt from that experience :duh .)

 

[Amphibious]

I'm the owner

trust me when I say she would be hardpressed to hurt this gun

 

[BatRay]

Wow X, I hope that wasn't an Arai . Even the plainest of those puts the hurt on the bank account. Mine is an Arai Astral: a thing of beauty. Hey Willer did I tell you about the silicone adhesive that I got? I found it in a drawer and tried to get some out of the tube. Wouldn't go. Squeezed it a bit more. Wouldn't go. Squashed it. Nothing. Stood on the tube. Nope. My sis and I finally cut the tube open and found the whole thing had solidified. No worries; the gun will be all together by late January in time for the Catalina trip .