Building ak with your hand?

[fusionstar]

I was wondering If I could build an ak with just basic hand tools.

Bend and assemble a ak-builder flat
Demill an ak kit.

I don't have the time or equipment to make the tools for a bent receiver nor can I afford the tools jigs, arbor press, spot welder, drill press. Of course I have basic hand tools, isnt that all they have in the caves of Pakistan?

I will be trying a screw build because i don't have the tools to make the rivet tools.

What I have

Dremel Tool - Cutting, Grinding, Sanding, Polishing, Engraving < I love this thing
Drills
Hammers
Files
Punches
Screwdrivers
Vise
Propane torches

What I need
Hand Taps for the screws
ahhhhh what else?
This is where I need your help.

Where can I get a cheap matching AK Kit shipped to my home?
Also US Parts to make it legal?

I will be putting a mag lock on it.

Thanks

Torn

[motorhead]

not from a flat. you would first need to build a bender of some kind. i have seen this done with varying degrees of sucess (or failure). you would be best off finding a build party or a fellow builder who has tooling. you could build from a 100% reciever with the tools you have though. i would highly recommend a cheap ($30-40) drill press.
read some tutoials on the homebuilt ak.

[hybridatsun350]

The short answer is no. On a scale of 1-10 with the AR at 1 the AK probably sits at about 6. There are a lot of "specialty" tools needed to build a proper AK rifle. Some people get by with fewer than others, but it cannot be done with basic hand tools.

Oh, and please don't screw it! I had originally planned to screw my first build, but decided against it. I have no regrets.

[NeoWeird]

The quick answer is "Yes". Anyone that says otherwise probably lacks true mechanical ability and just followed someone else's write up on how to put them together.

Don't get me wrong, it won't be easy, but I have seen someone bend a flat with two pieces of angle and a vise. The holes can be placed with proper measurment, a prick punch, and a hand drill (even a hand drill if you have the patience and proper setup and good bits). The hard part is going to be removing the rivets, but it can be done with hand files, a prick punch, and a hand drill. Someone on here showed their method of removing and reinstalling the barrel from the trunion using a couple pennies, a cheapo bearing puller, and a piece of all thread the length of the barrel. The rivets can easily be done with a hammer and some patience. If using a matching kit headspace does not need to be checked as the original manufacturer already did that for you (though it's never a bad idea to check just to be safe).

So the answer is Yes, it CAN be done. If uneducated people in caves can make them with hand tools, then you can do it too. Now how sucessfully.... pretty.... quickly.... etc. Well that's another story all together.

[Ford8N]

It can be done but like has been said, it won't be pretty and probably will be a jam-o-matic. With the tools you listed, you will have some fun with the lower rails and eventually will have egged FCG holes. But, you will learn how it works and just don't damage the OEM parts so you can rebuild it proper. Or sell the kit. Another reason not to tap the trunnions.
The folks who build in "caves" have those jigs, welders, drill presses, compressed air, ect, BTW.

[mroels]

It can be done. I've just finished doing it. Although I didn't use a flat so can't say anything about bending one. As for the kit I left the barrel pressed into the trunion. (I've built an AK with tools and didn't want to try pressing the barrel without tools.) Passed go/no-go gauge test. I drilled out the rivets, which took a long time. But other than that I didn't have any issues. I did a rivet job. All I got was metal stakes from home depot and drilled holes to form the rivet heads in. Then I torched the rivets, placed them and hammered away. (Some people modify bottle cutters to press the rivets.) The rifle looks like ugly but everything seems in order except for the FCG. But that's the NDS/Tapco G2 issue and has nothing to with how I built it.


It's ugly...some AK lovers call it an abomination but i'm happy to know that I can built one when crap really hits the fan..

I will take better pics of the rivets tomorrow.




Oh yeah, if you want a prepped parts kit the contact Gerry Sweet at Shooters Wholesale in Idaho. A buddy of mine just got one for a screw build and at that point it was easier than putting the lower together on an AR. gerrys@shooterswholesale.com

or just check gunbroker.com for kits


Also a good couple of links:

http://howtobuildanaktyperifle.com/

http://gunsgutsandgod.com/SBS%20tutorial.htm

http://www.akparts.com/akinfo7.html

[SkatinJJ]

Sweet AK!!!!!

I'm browsing on an AK build now. I like the idea of having one that looks like it was hand made, beaten together and has a local cave look to it. Something about those and some of the handbuilt pistols that I've seen real appeals to me. I'm not quite sure why...

My AR is the only smooth build I want. :p

Can't wait to see those pics of the rivets. Would you mind other close up photos as well? Also, would you mind adding comments on any sticky points to watch for in assembly?

Thanks,

JJ

[valleyrat]

Yes no maybe perhaps....

You are better off buying a pro built gun if you only want one. If you think this may turn into a hobby (AKs tend to multiply) then buy the correct tooling, when you're done it will sell for nearly what you paid for it. Dont tap your trunnions for screws, its half assed. You will want a properly riveted gun, plus as mentioned previously it will hold its resale value better. My .02

[FEDUPWBS]

NO PROBLEM. Its Really easy to build an AK and all you really need are a hammer, file, drill and some scrap lumber. Dont listen to the FUD spreaders they just want to spoil your fun!

[diddler]

I was wondering If I could build an ak with just basic hand tools.

Bend and assemble a ak-builder flat
Demill an ak kit.

To do a flat right, you need expensive jigs/tooling. Have people bent flats without these expensive jigs? Sure. Did they have more experience building AK's than you have right now? Probably. Did they ruin a few flats in the pursuit of their education? You betcha.

If you're just building the one AK save yourself huge amounts of time, money and frustration; just buy a NoDacSpud NDS-3 economy receiver. They're dirt cheap, very well made and filled with features that make building your first AK easy.

I don't have the time or equipment to make the tools for a bent receiver nor can I afford the tools jigs, arbor press, spot welder, drill press.

????

You're setting yourself up for disaster before you even start, convincing yourself that you don't have the time/money/tools to DO IT RIGHT, which means that unless you buy a compete rifle you will be DOING IT WRONG.

Not having the time to make the tools for a bent receiver is flat out wrong. If you have the time to bend and finish a flat, you have more than enough time to build the correct tools to work with a bent receiver. Bending and finishing a flat is far more involved than making two 90 degree bends in piece of sheet metal. That is merely the crudest and simplest portion of dealing with a flat.

Most of the tools you need to do a rivet jig are made out of bar stock/scrap steel. A cheap $10-15 set of bolt cutters. Very little else.

Of course I have basic hand tools, isnt that all they have in the caves of Pakistan?

Sure, what they also have is mentors on site, who've been doing it for years, and know just how to hit the darned thing with a rock to make it work. And if the apprentice screws it up, who cares? Lets make another! And another and another, till they make one that works! You've already said you don't have the money for various other aspects of the project, so you don't have the money to replace the parts you screw up if you make a simple mistake.

This is your first build, and possibly, your only AK build. Follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before, and built fine rifles. This is not something you want to screw around with. This will be your face you're leaning over the rifle the first time you pull that trigger.

I will be trying a screw build because i don't have the tools to make the rivet tools.

Ok, this is not meant to be an insult, read carefully: There are many, MANY reasons why you ought to build an AK style rifle using rivets, the arguments abound on the AK forums. Whether you think its because "If its good enough for M. Kalashnikov its good enough for me!" or you trust in the inherent stability of the shear force resistance of the rivet, or how the rivet material flows on deformation to fill the voids and lock the trunnions to the receiver, it doesn't matter. A good rivet job just gets the job done, period.

There are exactly two reasons to do a screw build: Being too cheap and/or too lazy to do the build with rivets. Again, that isn't an insult, its just what I believe to be a fact. Nobody does a screw build because they actually believe the finished rifle will be superior to a rivet build in any way.

What I have

Dremel Tool - Cutting, Grinding, Sanding, Polishing, Engraving < I love this thing
Drills
Hammers
Files
Punches
Screwdrivers
Vise
Propane torches

Just about one other tool would make this almost complete: a cheap bench grinder. Just find one. Harbor Freight, craigslist, garage sale, flea market. 1000 and 1 uses.

Go to this site and read it thoroughly:

http://www.gunsgutsandgod.com/SBS%20tutorial.htm

Its not the be-all-end-all site with all the answers, but its a great starting point.

Where can I get a cheap matching AK Kit shipped to my home? Also US Parts to make it legal?

Vendors keep fluctuating, some get kits in stock and they become -the- place to buy kits for a few weeks till they sell out, then everyone moves to a different vendor. I picked up my last Romy G AK kit for J&G sales (jgsales.com), no idea if they still have any in stock. Kits are drying up, thanks to our durned gub'ment who thinks we can't be trusted with foreign made barrels. Supplies dwindling means prices are hiking skyward, buy sooner than later. They will not be getting cheaper.

US made parts, plenty of vendors have them. Search on AKfiles.com, or just play with google. Punch in "AK parts" and spend some time surfing. Expect that you will -not- find everything you need at any one vendor. I think I needed to get something shipped from at least 5-7 vendors for my last build. YMMV.

Finally, there are more and more vendors stocking complete AK rifles now in California, either with locked mags or no pistol grips/evil features. And tons of vendors out of state that are building fine rifles, and other vendors willing to take these naughty, evil things and making them Cali-legal and shipping it to your FFL. If you can't afford the time and money to build it correctly, just buy a complete rifle. Its not much more expensive than building one when you factor in the cost of your time, tools and US parts, and at least you know it was assembled by someone with a bit of experience, might even have a warranty.

[plinkmeister]

So the answer is Yes, it CAN be done. If uneducated people in caves can make them with hand tools, then you can do it too. Now how sucessfully.... pretty.... quickly.... etc. Well that's another story all together.

While I totally agree with the rest of your post, I was asking myself what makes you think that the ragheads in Laffghanistan and Aye-rack are building them from scratch, bending flats and such?

[PolishMike]

I want to know how you plan to attach the rails without some type of welder.


Mike

[plinkmeister]

I want to know how you plan to attach the rails without some type of welder.


Mike

Screws.

[motorhead]

the rails can be screwed. (i didn't say should be) your chances of damage demilling without a drill press multiply exponentially. only you can judge your skill level. as i said earlier, check the tutorials, many photos, see how you feel about the work described. btw, nothing wrong with properly done screws, just a cosmetic thing (heresy!). the real issue is not pulling the barrel. there are hundreds of threads beginning;"how far can i drill into my barrel and still be safe"? magnify by 100 for hand drill. and yes they have invented the drill press in pakistan. they don't build ak's there with stone hammers.

[fusionstar]

I want to know how you plan to attach the rails without some type of welder.


Mike

I have thought about that... and will get back to you when I finish thinking about it. LOL

I understand I would be better off just buying a 100% Receiver but the closest thing I can get here would be $55 + $50 + $25, in my book that does not add up. I have, I would say good to excellent mechanical knowledge and have done many projects in the past that included bending cutting drilling welding steel. Personally, I just like to do this because I can. If I wanted to. I could withdraw some cash from the ATM drive to the gun shop and get one, But I want to test my ingenuity. I honestly dont care if it turns out like crap, as long as it looks like a receiver and operates correctly.

This has to do more with pride than anything else. Ether I end up in the fetal position crying on tyra or bragging on how I did it with just good ol besy is to be determined..

Perhaps I can rivet everything with a modified bolt cutter, scrap steel and a hammer.


Torn