 Mach-II 
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Joined: Oct 2010  PA, USA
 Posts: 3 Feedback: 0% (0) |
Posted: 4/11/2012 7:59:23 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT Does anyone recommend a certain brand or model. I went on Aircraft Spruce and saw several models but was not sure which would work best. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/to/rivet_1squeezers.html |
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AEnemaBay
2111 - USMC
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Joined: Jan 2007  UZB
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Posted: 4/11/2012 8:07:05 PM
Gunplumber would be able to answer that best since he uses pneumatic rivet squeezers. But I would recommend just getting a shop press and plinkers jig.
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Gunplumber
Master Gunsmith
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Joined: Jul 2002 AZ, USA
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Posted: 4/12/2012 10:13:29 AM
[Last Edit: 4/12/2012 10:16:02 AM by Gunplumber]
Not sure of the difference - mine was $700 rebuilt.
I'm guessing the Texas Pneumatic is of lower quality as I don't see where they can lose $200 in price http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,4020.html http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,6426.html It must be a tandem - single cylinder not enough pressure. You'll probably want a spare "C" at $100. It needs to be ground down to fit in the barrel channel. They do break. Key is the washers. (read my tutorial). Push the C past it's limit, bang, $100. I broke 2 of them in my first 100 builds, but only one in the next 600 builds. http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/notes/notesak/ak47build/pageak47build.shtml#anchor4 |
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Posted: 4/12/2012 10:36:18 AM
AK builder's tool are the best.
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Posted: 4/12/2012 10:57:32 AM
You might want to read the Shotgun News Gunsmithing Projects book. They have it on Amazon for about $14.00. There is an article by Mathews on an AK build and he does a great job of explaining riveting and it's done without expensive tools or even a press. Well woth the entire cost of the book. "Sides if they can rivet AKs together caves we ought to be able to do it!
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Gunplumber
Master Gunsmith
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Joined: Jul 2002 AZ, USA
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Posted: 4/12/2012 10:58:31 AM
Originally Posted By CajunX39:
AK builder's tool are the best. And I guess a big Mac is the best . . . until you've had steak. |
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eriear
Get Both!
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Joined: Nov 2006 PA, USA
Posts: 204 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/12/2012 5:40:55 PM
The AK builder tools and rivits are gtg.
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jdoming728
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Joined: Aug 2010 NM, USA
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Posted: 4/13/2012 11:53:42 AM
I have AKbuildingtools.com rivet squeezer and also the one from gunsnthings.com and also the bolt cutter tool... I actually like the bolt cutter for the front six smaller ones its quicker and less of a hassle to use but I can make perfect rivets with all of them I love the Guns squeezer for the long rear rivets but I think there is better control with the Ak squeezer... I think it depends on what you want... If I would have been smart I would have purchased the AK-Builders and save about 100 bucks from what I have but I purchased these over a period of 3 years and when I was going to purchase the first one a 70 buck squeezer seamed better than a 250 dollar one.... I probably have over 300 bucks total on all three,soooooo lesson learned....
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Gunplumber
Master Gunsmith
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Joined: Jul 2002 AZ, USA
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Posted: 4/13/2012 12:07:49 PM
[Last Edit: 4/13/2012 12:12:38 PM by Gunplumber]
you guys did read the OP right? He wants a PROFESSIONAL tool, not a home-hobbyist tool.
Your Harbor Freight drill press is not a Bridgeport Mill and wishing it so doesn't make it so. Curtis makes good stuff and I uses a lot of his products (with some modifications). One of the nicest guys around. If you're building a couple AKs in your garage, his tools are fine. Professionally? It takes me about 90 seconds to do the 6 front rivets and another 30 seconds for the scope rail. Perfect form every time. There is a huge difference between what is functional for a hobbyist and what is critical for production work. While $700-$800 might seem like a lot for a tool, after 700 builds that's only a dollar a gun. Yeah - the rivets cost more on a per gun basis than the riveting tool. |
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Posted: 4/13/2012 3:45:40 PM
[Last Edit: 4/13/2012 3:46:07 PM by poorman]
Originally Posted By Gunplumber:
you guys did read the OP right? He wants a PROFESSIONAL tool, not a home-hobbyist tool. Your Harbor Freight drill press is not a Bridgeport Mill and wishing it so doesn't make it so. Curtis makes good stuff and I uses a lot of his products (with some modifications). One of the nicest guys around. If you're building a couple AKs in your garage, his tools are fine. Professionally? It takes me about 90 seconds to do the 6 front rivets and another 30 seconds for the scope rail. Perfect form every time. There is a huge difference between what is functional for a hobbyist and what is critical for production work. While $700-$800 might seem like a lot for a tool, after 700 builds that's only a dollar a gun. Yeah - the rivets cost more on a per gun basis than the riveting tool. Your absolutely correct, AK Builder tools are great for us home builders who are going to assemble a few kits here and there. But nothing beats professional tools for high volume work  Its like comparing a dremel to CNC mill!
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Posted: 4/15/2012 2:03:54 PM
If you are only going to build a few AKs you won't get your moneys worth from a professional rivet tool.
But you can get professional looking rivets from the bolt cutter rivet tool.(check out the link) http://pookieweb.net/AK/rivet/boltcutters/boltcutter.htm You can easily make them out of the 18" or 24" boltcutters they are on sale now. http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/bolt-cutters/18-inch-bolt-cutters-41148.html |
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Posted: 8/22/2012 2:09:38 PM
[Last Edit: 8/24/2012 5:11:29 PM by jnatv]
I have had no luck at all with the bolt cutter rivet method. I have professional made rivet jaws I have put in 3 different bolt cutters. I have been unable to get them to stay aligned. I just threw them against the wall in disgust and came to this post after ordering a rivet tool from Curtis.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I rebuilt the rivet squeezer on a new pair of HF bolt cutters. This time they work perfectly. The old pair I used did not have the fulcrum button. I did a receiver yesterday afternoon and they look fine. |
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Posted: 9/10/2012 10:25:00 AM
Would these work for doing the front rivets?
http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,4747.html |
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Gunplumber
Master Gunsmith
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Joined: Jul 2002 AZ, USA
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Posted: 9/10/2012 10:31:01 AM
I don't think so - but I haven't tried them. From the image, the handles looked hollow. I assumed I'd bend the handles before setting a 4 mm rivet.
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