AK Build Party?

[762]

I do have a small air compressor that could be used. Also a spot welder isn't on the list, people that don't have receivers prepped and ready to go would need that also.

[safaridave]

I do have a small air compressor that could be used. Also a spot welder isn't on the list, people that don't have receivers prepped and ready to go would need that also.

Thanks for the assist 762.. BTW what size is your air compressor? 21 gallon would be enough to power a blaster and the fact no one would have to schlep one up there is a HUGE plus.

Okay here is the updated commitment list--
SITE- Harrisonburg (762's place)

TOOLS-

Flat Die + punches- Safaridave ( have all the punches from 1mm to 1.5mm)
Toth rivet jaws- 762
Long Rivet Jig-
Trigger Guard Rivet Jig-
Spot Welder- OakRidgeStars ( I will buy the special tongs)
Barrel Press tools-
Air Compressor-
Blast Cabinet-
Park Tank- dorminWS
Park tank burners-
Drill press-
Used motor oil--
MAPP torch--
Dremel tools--


Burger grill, food, beer?

If anyone intends on buying flats without trunnion holes, a receiver drilling tool or jig is necessary.

Anyone have additional ideas?

[762]

It's only a small 5.9 gal tank. I'd be willing to buy more tools if I had a job or source of steady income. I've got a dremel, too.

[dorminWS]

If you're talking about a 6" x 6" x 48" tank, .5x.5x4=1 cubic foot. there are 7.48 gallons in a cubic foot of water. So that tank, allowing for not running it over, would hold 7-7.25 gallons. Really, the only 3 constraints on the size of a tank if I get it made is how much parkerizing solution you want to have to buy to fill it up, how you heat it as it gets bigger and the shipping.

[safaridave]

If you're talking about a 6" x 6" x 48" tank, .5x.5x4=1 cubic foot. there are 7.48 gallons in a cubic foot of water. So that tank, allowing for not running it over, would hold 7-7.25 gallons. Really, the only 3 constraints on the size of a tank if I get it made is how much parkerizing solution you want to have to buy to fill it up, how you heat it as it gets bigger and the shipping.

My thinking is about 5 gallons total. Usually you can get a park solution in 1 gallon containers and add 4 gallons of distilled water. I talked to Tinner666 and he has something akin to fryer burners that will probably work to keep the solution at a good 180.

User Jakeiscrazy has a blasting setup that he might be conviced to bring up. Not sure...

here is the park solution I am thinking of using....

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/184124 ... ion-liquid

[dorminWS]

5 gallons of park solution will fill a 6" x 6" x 48" tank up just a dab more than 4" deep. (6" x 4" x 48" will hold 4.98667 gallons).

[safaridave]

5 gallons of park solution will fill a 6" x 6" x 48" tank up just a dab more than 4" deep. (6" x 4" x 48" will hold 4.98667 gallons).

That fill depth sounds about right.

[Jakeiscrazy]

If you're talking about a 6" x 6" x 48" tank, .5x.5x4=1 cubic foot. there are 7.48 gallons in a cubic foot of water. So that tank, allowing for not running it over, would hold 7-7.25 gallons. Really, the only 3 constraints on the size of a tank if I get it made is how much parkerizing solution you want to have to buy to fill it up, how you heat it as it gets bigger and the shipping.

My thinking is about 5 gallons total. Usually you can get a park solution in 1 gallon containers and add 4 gallons of distilled water. I talked to Tinner666 and he has something akin to fryer burners that will probably work to keep the solution at a good 180.

User Jakeiscrazy has a blasting setup that he might be conviced to bring up. Not sure...

here is the park solution I am thinking of using....

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/184124 ... ion-liquid

I have a siphon feed blaster, no blasting cabinet yet but I have plans for it. Shouldn't be to hard.

I could use a compressor however. I have one but it has a number of leaks that I haven't had a chance to fix. With compressors the gal size is less important than the CFM(Cubic feet per minute) air rating. Those blasters are real air hogs and need about 11-12 CFM at 90 PSI. I have yet to try it out with my compressor but I know it isn't that big(most that big are 220v). What you can do as an alternative is just give the compressor breaks to cool off. Annoying but it will work.

Hey with the motor oil that's just used post parkerizing right? I have about 2 quarts now, about to change the oil so I will have 6 quarts total. Think that's enough?

Flat Die + punches- Safaridave ( have all the punches from 1mm to 1.5mm)
Toth rivet jaws- 762
Long Rivet Jig-
Trigger Guard Rivet Jig-
Spot Welder- OakRidgeStars ( I will buy the special tongs)
Barrel Press tools-
Air Compressor-
Blast Cabinet-
Park Tank- dorminWS
Park tank burners-
Drill press-Jake(although it's a cheapie)
Used motor oil-- Jake
MAPP torch--
Dremel tools--Jake

[chuckyzfr1]

Hi all,

I'm new to this site, but not to AK building. I used to have a well-equipped shop (used car and motorcycle repair shop) but I closed it this past summer. I have built several AK's, one Romy, one Maadi, and one frankenAK, so I have some experience to share and would be glad to do so. I recently accepted a position with a financial services company, so my free time is dramatically limited, but I can answer questions and provide advice from my own experience, which I'm glad to do. CC any posts you put here directed at me to caulino@yahoo.com so that I'll be sure to see them quickly. Oh, and for the purists out there, the AK's I've built have been using screw kits, so I don't have any firsthand riveting experience (on AK's at least, I've done plenty of riveting on auto/truck applications). I've got over a thousand trouble-free rounds through my Romy screw build, so imho they can be every bit as good as riveted guns. Anyway, just wanted to drop a line on this thread and offer help to anyone looking to build one, it's great fun and will make you really well-versed at diagnosing problems and fixing them on AK's! I do agree with some of the other posters re cost though, the kits have gotten far too expensive to make it worth it from a financial standpoint. My first kit with original barrel was only $100, and the most I've paid for a kit was $225, and frankly that's the most I'd pay for one, given how much time and effort it takes to turn those parts into a functioning firearm..... Good luck to all who decide to build one!

Chuck

[safaridave]

My first kit was 99 dollars... WITH a Tapco G2 trigger group. I hear you about the kits... but disagree about price. I see quite a bit of AKs going in the 650-850 range. AKbuilder has kits with a barrel for around 500. So you see, You can either buy a premade AK or build for a bit cheaper than the average price.
But I am not trying to get a build party together because of price. Its actually going to cost *me* quite a bit of time and money in tooling, organization, shipping etc...

I'm doing it because its fun and gun owners in VA should get together more... it helps our cause and keeps us from getting complacent. In CA, where I am from... gun owners get together a LOT over there because we NEED to... we are constantly under siege in that state. Complacency is a luxury we never had... we are fighting an uphill battle to regain what we lost.

If the price is the only reason, then this build party wont get off the ground. I guess when the official sign up time comes we will see.

[tinner666]

I dug out the bench drill press.

[bryanrheem]

I agree with safari. I'm interested more to get together, have some community, network and build an AK. That to me is worth the current price of the build kits.

[wpoppert]

Perhaps now a combined build party and memorial service would be appropriate. I wish I could participate, but Harrisonburg is too far a haul for me. Anyone in Tidewater interested in doing something at this end of the Commonwealth?

[TallEd]

Harrisonburg is kinda far for me too. However, depending on the day, I may be able to make it. I would need to stay in a hotel though. I have hand tools, drills, a cheap Ryobi drill press, belt sander, and a dremel router (heavier duty than a normal dremel but can be used the same way). I would be willing to buy a rivet tool, but wouldn't know where to start... I imagine the Harbor Freight models aren't good for this application.

I don't know much about parkerizing, Bill from Zombie Defense gets my AR barrells parkerized for under $20 each. I have a can of the spray that is supposed to work on metal 90-100 degrees... Sounds like you have that part under control already though.

[RWBlue01]

For those looking to build, you may want to look at the videos on Youtube.

Part of me wants to build one, just so I can say I built my own.

[safaridave]

I am now 75% tooled to build... with the exception of sandblasting and park tank. My rivet jig will be here in 2 weeks and I now have a spot welder.

[762]

That's great. We may want to turn it into a FAL party, too. I saw somewhere where kits w/barrels (VG condition) were $325. That is a great deal. Unfortunately I've never even seen a FAL let alone handled one.

[gaudard]

I would be interested in building/attending. Don't have an AK, and need one so this would be a good opportunity for that.

Looking forward to the sign up.

[safaridave]

Gaudard... looking forward to having you. 762... FAL party? Never seen one of those built. Zero experience there... might be interesting though....

[762]

Those kits are a total steal. Everything except the receiver, the receiver is ~$300, depending on which one you get. I think the only real tools required are a fixture to time the barrel to the receiver, then check headspace.