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Posted: 9/18/2026 4:58:57 PM EDT
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I was watching this other thread Bakelite myth thread on the early "bakelite" process and how it's actually called fiberite and @LawnDartGoalie created an awesome prototype mold for carbine length handguards. I asked him for some of his experiments and he sent me two sets, a round hole and an elongated vent hole type. My prototype carbine build is with a Nodak upper and lower, a friend engraved it and I did the adjustable buttstock using carbon fiber and West Systems epoxy. Real 601 grip and repro 601 sling. I did a worn build, made to look like it was painted brown and worn off after extensive use and testing. I haven't had the heart to paint these handguards yet. It has a 3 position Arizona regulator in it and a rate of fire around 750. It also has the correct reverse thread rear sight assembly he made. Anyway, here are some pics (which do Not do them justice) of the awesome Fiberite handguard creations:       
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Badass. I may need to enlist your help if/when I ever decide to finish my prototypes lol That fiberlite thread was super interesting when it was happening. I certainly learned a lot at the time that thread was going |
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid"
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"
“So Freedom Will Reign” / “SEEK! STRIKE! DESTROY!” / “Led By Love Of Country!”
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"
“So Freedom Will Reign” / “SEEK! STRIKE! DESTROY!” / “Led By Love Of Country!”
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Originally Posted By ArmaLite_Aficionado: Badass. I may need to enlist your help if/when I ever decide to finish my prototypes lol That fiberlite thread was super interesting when it was happening. I certainly learned a lot at the time that thread was going Thanks! Yes, that thread was an eye opener. I've done a bunch of fakelite furniture with cerakote, but seeing these up close really changes it. The patterns and depth are so different than what you can do with cerakote. |
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Originally Posted By 762AP: Can I subscribe to your newsletter?  Details on that stock please. BrianStocks on GunBroker makes some entry style adjustable stocks and fixed stocks. I got a couple of blems from him to experiment with. I ground down the surface and reshaped it, covered in West Systems epoxy and carbon fiber mat. I had some prototype buttplates 3d printed in a brown color, I remade the adjusting lever out of steel. I was going for a legit looking experimental stock. I figured lots of 3 martini lunches in the 50s and 60s with crazy ideas coming out of them, so why not? |
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Originally Posted By Oldgold: Upper? I wish H & R would make a standard run. Edit: just saw it was Nodak Spud. A place called Mayhem Machine Tool https://www.mayhemmachinetool.com/category/receivers makes the uppers occasionally. The prototype ones are like the Brownells ones with the nub on the left side. |
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They look AWESOME. I've read Bakelite is everything from fine weave fiberglass, chopped fiberglass, sawdust, canvas and likely other material that may be fibrous, absorb resin, and add strength. Personally I prefer the slightly darker side of the handguards, but also the translucence of the stock. I like the patterns of all of them; different but all cool. I am learning a lot from these threads. This is why not all Bakelite looks the same: different material, resins, etc... |
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Originally Posted By gurn-blanston: A place called Mayhem Machine Tool https://www.mayhemmachinetool.com/category/receivers makes the uppers occasionally. The prototype ones are like the Brownells ones with the nub on the left side. 👍👍 |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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I have to thank Mr. Blanston for helping with the cause! I only made a handful of sets using the copper powder, but they definitely have a depth to them that can't be repeated with other powders or dyes. Since then I've tried finding a mix that looks like those on prototypes 2 and 3. I think I'm pretty close, at least as far as how they look in the Vicker's guide. I've also upped the fiberglass amount to almost 50% with some promising results, but it has been tricky and also brought back old problems I had already solved when using a lesser amount. I could go on and on about the process. The last picture shows the amount of fiberglass that's in one piece, which is a lot. Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By LawnDartGoalie: I have to thank Mr. Blanston for helping with the cause! I only made a handful of sets using the copper powder, but they definitely have a depth to them that can't be repeated with other powders or dyes. Since then I've tried finding a mix that looks like those on prototypes 2 and 3. I think I'm pretty close, at least as far as how they look in the Vicker's guide. I've also upped the fiberglass amount to almost 50% with some promising results, but it has been tricky and also brought back old problems I had already solved when using a lesser amount. I could go on and on about the process. The last picture shows the amount of fiberglass that's in one piece, which is a lot. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/548699/1_jpg-3830394.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/548699/2_jpg-3830395.JPG Glad to see this over in retro…. You should post the full details that are over in the GD thread. Beautiful work! |
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Originally Posted By gurn-blanston: A place called Mayhem Machine Tool https://www.mayhemmachinetool.com/category/receivers makes the uppers occasionally. The prototype ones are like the Brownells ones with the nub on the left side. Originally Posted By gurn-blanston: Originally Posted By Oldgold: Upper? I wish H & R would make a standard run. Edit: just saw it was Nodak Spud. A place called Mayhem Machine Tool https://www.mayhemmachinetool.com/category/receivers makes the uppers occasionally. The prototype ones are like the Brownells ones with the nub on the left side. H & R is headed by the gent who ran Nodak. Palmetto bought them out if I remember right. No reason they shouldn't be able to run more. I love mine, and wish they would do a run. |
"That pistol just kept saying, let go of my ears, you don't know what you're doing." - thehellbringer
| Economies of scale and opportunity cost is why |
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid"
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"
“So Freedom Will Reign” / “SEEK! STRIKE! DESTROY!” / “Led By Love Of Country!”
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"
“So Freedom Will Reign” / “SEEK! STRIKE! DESTROY!” / “Led By Love Of Country!”
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Originally Posted By LawnDartGoalie: I have to thank Mr. Blanston for helping with the cause! I only made a handful of sets using the copper powder, but they definitely have a depth to them that can't be repeated with other powders or dyes. Since then I've tried finding a mix that looks like those on prototypes 2 and 3. I think I'm pretty close, at least as far as how they look in the Vicker's guide. I've also upped the fiberglass amount to almost 50% with some promising results, but it has been tricky and also brought back old problems I had already solved when using a lesser amount. I could go on and on about the process. The last picture shows the amount of fiberglass that's in one piece, which is a lot. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/548699/1_jpg-3830394.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/548699/2_jpg-3830395.JPG That looks great. Reminds me of old pictures of Armalite and Colt prototype tooling. Lots of aluminum and composites. |
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Here's a couple recent sets. The first set contains about 40% of .35" length chopped fiberglass, and the second is about 47% of 3/4" length. The 3/4" is more like 3/4" to 1-1/4", and I'm finding it hard to fully saturate with epoxy. (Notice the spots without color.) I bumped it up to 47% when I switched to 3/4", so it could be the length or quantity. I have more .35" on order to see if it mixes better. Attached File Attached File |
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