Pardon my noobness, Ak riveting question

[Roccobro]

DON'T WELD EVERYTHING TOGETHER! It's more getto than a screw build and can't be repaired as easily.

A weld build isn't EVERYTHING WELDED TOGETHER as you say. And your level of difficulty isn't the same as mine. I had the welded parts kit de-milled quicker than a rivet build. And surprisingly cleaner too as the rivets came off with the sheet metal once the welds were quickly milled off.

All my welded kits were purchased this way and were perfectly safe after inspection. MUCH SAFER THAN A SCREW BUILD if you actually calculate the sheer strength of screws opposed to welds.

But don't let logic get in your way of opinions on ghetto.

*mental high five*

Your kidding right? This isn't grade school is it?



To the OP, your on the right track looking into riveting. If your in the area, I'm hosting a BP and your welcome to come see how the BEST AK flat bending, and the BEST long rivet tools on the market work. PM me for details.

Justin

[CSACANNONEER]

A weld build isn't EVERYTHING WELDED TOGETHER as you say. And your level of difficulty isn't the same as mine. I had the welded parts kit de-milled quicker than a rivet build. And surprisingly cleaner too as the rivets came off with the sheet metal once the welds were quickly milled off.

All my welded kits were purchased this way and were perfectly safe after inspection. MUCH SAFER THAN A SCREW BUILD if you actually calculate the sheer strength of screws opposed to welds.

But don't let logic get in your way of opinions on ghetto.


To the OP, your on the right track looking into riveting. If your in the area, I'm hosting a BP and your welcome to come see how the BEST AK flat bending, and the BEST long rivet tools on the market work. PM me for details.

Justin

I guess our experiences are different. I've had to fix builds which were completely welded and had problems (one would constantly double and triple tap!). The stamped kits which I have seen welded together did not utilise a single rivet. Some did use screws for the TG. But, judging from the weld builds I've seen, I would trust the intergrety of a grade 8 screw build before I would trust the welds of some bubba garage welder. Obviously, when it comes to milled rewelds, it's a different story.

Care to clue us in on the best long rivet jig and the best bending jig on the market? I could use a new long rivet jig.

[SJgunguy24]

Not sure where your located, but I'm POSITIVE somebody is local to you and would happily show you how it is done normally.

Justin

Yes, but where is local for the OP? I made all of my own tools in the garage and I still have most of the Ghettoskeeze build tools. It you buck the lower inside rivet on a bulgy side folder with an air hammer and keep the head looking good then your a better man then me.

[Ryan in SD]

Your kidding right? This isn't grade school is it?

I know you are but what am I?

I dont like the idea of welding a stamped gun together, thats just my opinion and I share the opinion with someone else. Feel left out if you want.

I still want to see pics.

[mmbasser]

Ok all this welding talk is thread Jack city! I never mentioned welding anything.

I'm in San Jose, so it looks like there are a few very knowledgable folks here. What I was looking for was how hard it might be to use home made bucking bars and a rivet gun as opposed to buying all these jigs, shop presses, and bolt press tools? I have an air compressor and some air tools already, so getting an air hammer/rivet gun isn't a big deal for me.

SJgunguy, any comments on what the guy in the YouTube video does? PM if not wanting air it out.

I've looked into the bolt cutter mod rivet crushers a little more, and am not as worried about it as I was before, so I might go that way if it covers more than 50% of the rivets.

I bought almost double everything destroyable in case I screw up, hopefully most of it will be usable for my NEXT build.

[Ryan in SD]

Ok all this welding talk is thread Jack city! I never mentioned welding anything.

I'm in San Jose, so it looks like there are a few very knowledgable folks here. What I was looking for was how hard it might be to use home made bucking bars and a rivet gun as opposed to buying all these jigs, shop presses, and bolt press tools? I have an air compressor and some air tools already, so getting an air hammer/rivet gun isn't a big deal for me.

SJgunguy, any comments on what the guy in the YouTube video does? PM if not wanting air it out.

I've looked into the bolt cutter mod rivet crushers a little more, and am not as worried about it as I was before, so I might go that way if it covers more than 50% of the rivets.

I bought almost double everything destroyable in case I screw up, hopefully most of it will be usable for my NEXT build.

bolt cutter sqausher is for front trunnion
you need 2 other types of squashers for the rear trunnion and trigger guard.

[nappy]

mmbasser,

Obviously, everyone has their own ideas and tricks... I'll add my .02 worth.

I bought a riveter from a guy on another forum, it's a knock off of the ak builder one for less than $300 shipped. It's not as nice but works great and produces nice rivets... I've helped several peeps on this forum. It's a tried and true riveter design that works on any type of rivet.

I've seen the bolt cutter riveter in action and it produces great rivets in a third of the time... but, it's only limited to certain rivets. You still need a different riveter for the long rivets.

I've never seed the other types of riveting you mentioned but now I'm curious and will check it out.

[rolo]

OP, if you're willing to practice through a lb. of bulk rivets and scrap metal, you'll get good enough to use an air riveter and bucking bars without marring the receiver.

No sense in buying expensive and unnecessary jigs if you have the skill to do the job without. There isn't a single rivet on an AK that can't be done with one air tool and the right bucking bar.

[Roccobro]

I guess our experiences are different. I've had to fix builds which were completely welded and had problems (one would constantly double and triple tap!). The stamped kits which I have seen welded together did not utilise a single rivet. Some did use screws for the TG. But, judging from the weld builds I've seen, I would trust the intergrety of a grade 8 screw build before I would trust the welds of some bubba garage welder. Obviously, when it comes to milled rewelds, it's a different story.

Care to clue us in on the best long rivet jig and the best bending jig on the market? I could use a new long rivet jig.

AK-Builder man. You think The Man (Curtis) only has the best rivets, flats AND flat bending jig available anywhere? There are even incentives he gives to purchasing his long rivet jig too. Replacement parts in stock for when a guest bends/boogers up anything.

**EDIT** I stand corrected. I have seen the holey grail of small shop/20T press long rivet setting tools. The image is ingrained on my brain. And on my phone.

Check out his site if you haven't recently. Now stocks Solar Tactical G2 maglocks. All that is left is for him to offer is mag rebuild kits and I won't send a single "guest" anywhere else to buy parts for their first AK!!!

Justin

[Arisaka]

air hammer and bucking bar works fine. there are videos on youtube of guys doing it. i used a regular hammer and a bar. looks good, just loud and took forever. and i dented the reciever (fixed now). do it!