doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Preferred adhesive for shim repair??

I've used shims as a temporary fix for guns that are slightly off face, but I've always relied on the pressure between pin and lump to keep them in place--which works well until you disassemble the gun. I'm considering a semi-permanent shim repair. What adhesives have you found to work well? Thanks.

Permatex black

Hi Larry,
I used PC-7 recently it has worked perfectly (so far).

Jeff G.

Larry, the most common recommendation will be Loctite's Black Max. I have used it and have had limited success though Black Max is the only product of Loctite's that has a chance of working. The others are way too brittle. A Loctite tech told me none of their products or similar ones from compeditors would work well in shimming applications. I've tried a lot and have to agree.

Now, having said that, what does work fairly well is mechanical fitting a shim against and around the hinge pin. File its width just enough to be a firm press fit into the action recess. It'll stay put fairly well and if well fit is hard to tell it's there. Certainly better than any glue.

My most used shim material comes with its own adhesive backing...Scotch Tape...Geo

Anyone ever try JB Weld?

RMC, JB Weld or any other epoxy has a singular problem: it requires several thousanths of glue thickness to be effective. A shim properly set in the hook only allows a "gap" in the small ten-thousanths. I've tried it and it just popped off due to all the glue having been squeezed out between the shim and hook. I think the only satisfactory shim is a tight mechanical fit around the hinge pin.

Damn, you beat me to it!

I searched these threads and tried a bunch of adhesives, including red and black loctites. They worked, but the key word is "temporary." Finally, I got frustrated enough and bold enough that I soft soldered (50/50) a piece of feeler gauge into the hook. With a couple hours of spotting, filing and polishing I got 90% contact between shim and pin. The only scary part was the soldering and now I know that's not bad at all. Otherwise, it's no more invasive than a piece of tape. It has lasted tousands of rounds with no sign of wear, much less failure. Had it turned out poorly, all I'd have to do is heat it up and wipe it away and perhaps start over, furthering my education all the while.

Hmmm . . . looks like maybe I'll stick with just a tight fit. All I have to do is make sure it doesn't fall out and I lose it when I take the gun apart. Thanks!