harbour freight and ak rivets

[dc2allday]

Hey guys, got my first ak build in the works here, i have a air compressor and was thinking of using a air hammer or riveting tool from HF, if anyone has went this route which models would work for ak rivets and still provide some decent looking rivets?

[bigbob76]

I'm not being sarcastic when I say this but if you want to use an air hammer for riveting it would probably be a good idea to buy some extra rivets and drill bits for removing boogered rivets. Yes it can be done but there is a very big difference between air hammers and rivet guns. There is even a very big difference between cheap rivet guns and good rivet guns. I've done a considerable amount of riveting on aircraft and still booger them up and drill them out. On aircraft though they are almost always aluminum rivets which are nice and soft compared to AK steel rivets.

[tujungatoes]

I did my first ak long rivets with a pneumatic rivet gun. I do not recommend it. You'll be hard pressed to find a rivet set for the gun with the correct shaped dimple. you'll probably have to resort to making/modding your own(I did) if you want the heads to look anywhere close to correct. There is also a degree of finesse required to do it properly. I didn't have it and it definitely shows in the funky rivet heads and dings in the receiver.

[sd_shooter]

Best tools @ HF for AK builders:
1) Shop press
2) Bolt cutter. Grind the jaws flat to produce a rivet smasher, google for pics. Works great!
3) Spot Welder, or
4) Flux welder

[Granite]

Do the bolt cutter listed above. Great leverage and fits in pretty easy.