jason41987
member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2012
- Messages
- 1,293
hey everyone.. im looking to start this AK build rather soon, but im going to need a few tools first... a shop press would help... but im also moving soon and cant take such a tool with me, dont even have room for it now... so i was looking at different ways people made their own systems for bending flats by building a jig they just tighten bolts down on to press it all into the U shape needed... also looked at people using sheet metal breaks for this purpose and it honestly looked better than using a shop press
so what would you recommend for the bending of the blanks?
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also, since i wont be using a shop press, im looking for a different way for crushing rivets... looked into the bolt cutter modification and it does interest me, but the rivets usually come out looking pretty messed up.. can these be cleaned up with a file for a better looking end result using the bolt cutter method?
also thought about having some plates with rivet head cups on them, and using a clamp or vice to squeeze the plates against the sides of the receiver, crushing the rivets and preserving the head
which method would be best for crushing rivets?.. and i dont think a screw build would interest me very much
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and lastly... am i better off spot welding the rails to the receiver? my intent is to spot weld them AFTER the trunnion is installed so that the rails can be perfectly aligned with the front trunnion... what is the least i could purchase an adequate spot welder for? or am i better off trying to rent one of these locally?
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i should mention this will in fact be a bulgarian AK-74 kit with a side-folding rear trunnion, and that i will also be riveting the side rail into place as well
so what would you recommend for the bending of the blanks?
---
also, since i wont be using a shop press, im looking for a different way for crushing rivets... looked into the bolt cutter modification and it does interest me, but the rivets usually come out looking pretty messed up.. can these be cleaned up with a file for a better looking end result using the bolt cutter method?
also thought about having some plates with rivet head cups on them, and using a clamp or vice to squeeze the plates against the sides of the receiver, crushing the rivets and preserving the head
which method would be best for crushing rivets?.. and i dont think a screw build would interest me very much
---
and lastly... am i better off spot welding the rails to the receiver? my intent is to spot weld them AFTER the trunnion is installed so that the rails can be perfectly aligned with the front trunnion... what is the least i could purchase an adequate spot welder for? or am i better off trying to rent one of these locally?
---
i should mention this will in fact be a bulgarian AK-74 kit with a side-folding rear trunnion, and that i will also be riveting the side rail into place as well