Fix SD40 Frame

[Willie300s]

I too had a crocked dust cover on my otherwise excellent SD40. I called S&W and they said send it in. In 2 weeks it was returned but the frame was still not lining up with the slide on the front. I called S&W and they said it was within specs. So I field stripped the pistol, and with small blocks of wood and a couple of clamps held the dust cover over in the opposite direction, applied some heat gently with a heat gun, let it cool and removed the clamps. My dust cover now lines up perfectly. A easy and quick fix. I don't understand why S&W couldn't do that. My pistol is now perfect.

 

[setxn]

I've been crocked before but never been joined by a dust cover. I guessed you meant crooked and not cracked which would be a whole different problem. What do all the plastic scientist think about applying heat to a polymer frame[ heatgun,soldering iron etc] can it be a bad thing?

 

[angel71rs]

I'm no scientist, but I was a plastics tech many moons ago, so my 02c:

It's ok to apply heat to a thermoplastic to reform it. Most high strength polymers melt around 500F, but the transition temp (where you can start to form it) is much lower. You'd have to get >600F to degrade it.

What is probably happening is warp after it comes out of the mold. A lot of parts are designed to be stable thru design to resist warp. But sometimes this is not possible, say with a long extended portion of the part. Warp can be mitigated with process settings. If that doesn't work/isn't feasible, it is common practice to put a part hot out of the mold onto a cooling fixture or eject into water to combat warp.

Maybe not enough people are complaining to S&W about this for them to take action???

 

[setxn]

Good info angel71rs,the "warp factor" makes sense[pun kinda intended].I have seen a few threads here and there about stippling and I wondered if the plastic could be changed for the worse by heat.Having the frame crack,shatter, fall to pieces etc.would not be a good thing.Thanks for the reply-and sorry if I stomped on Willie300s'thread.

 

[Walthernut]

I too had a crocked dust cover on my otherwise excellent SD40. I called S&W and they said send it in. In 2 weeks it was returned but the frame was still not lining up with the slide on the front. I called S&W and they said it was within specs. So I field stripped the pistol, and with small blocks of wood and a couple of clamps held the dust cover over in the opposite direction, applied some heat gently with a heat gun, let it cool and removed the clamps. My dust cover now lines up perfectly. A easy and quick fix. I don't understand why S&W couldn't do that. My pistol is now perfect.

I like your fix, but watch it carefully.
I'm no thermoplastic engineer, but it seems to me that if the plastic has a memory it could return to its original "mis-shape" over time. Just sayin', keep an eye on it. I would take a photo of your fix and compare it over time. Know what I mean?