AK Sponsor
Posted: 12/3/2008 10:14:25 PM EDT
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I've done my homework and I have a few questions.
Another Fn first time builder... 
1) I'm trying not to be lazy, but do I REALLY need to press the barrel out of the front trunnion? I have carefully removed the rivets and am ready to tap the holes and use cap screws for the front trunnion. But I keep thinking I might regret not doing a full rivet job. But at the same time I can see a lot of possible frustration in trying to remove the barrel. (no shop press - but I know how it can be done manually) 2) I plan on parkerizing everything and have supplies on order. Tonight I read one of the most informative builder tutorials online and it suggested the spray on route - I've got an airbrush setup already and can do this easily. But again, is this just lazy? (using a nodakspud receiver) 3) I don't really want to beat a dead horse - but the entire screw build rivet build thing is messing with me - I have rivets and I have screws - lazy or do it right? 4) One stupid thing - I can't seem to remove the gas tub wood (upper portion of the hand guard). I've taken this piece off of other AKs - But this one seems to be freakin stuck - and I don't really want to start beating on it too hard. Any ideas? |
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Quoted:
I've done my homework and I have a few questions. Another Fn first time builder...
1) I'm trying not to be lazy, but do I REALLY need to press the barrel out of the front trunnion? I have carefully removed the rivets and am ready to tap the holes and use cap screws for the front trunnion. But I keep thinking I might regret not doing a full rivet job. But at the same time I can see a lot of possible frustration in trying to remove the barrel. (no shop press - but I know how it can be done manually) 2) I plan on parkerizing everything and have supplies on order. Tonight I read one of the most informative builder tutorials online and it suggested the spray on route - I've got an airbrush setup already and can do this easily. But again, is this just lazy? (using a nodakspud receiver) 3) I don't really want to beat a dead horse - but the entire screw build rivet build thing is messing with me - I have rivets and I have screws - lazy or do it right? 4) One stupid thing - I can't seem to remove the gas tub wood (upper portion of the hand guard). I've taken this piece off of other AKs - But this one seems to be freakin stuck - and I don't really want to start beating on it too hard. Any ideas? 1) Yes. Take it out and rivet it properly. You can get a 12 ton press from Harbor Freight for around $100 and buy or make any jigs you need. (this is only my opinion of course... If you really want to do a screw build, have at it I guess) 2) One easy thing you could do would be to just clean up the receiver really well with acetone, then use cold blue on it, then paint over that with something along the lines of Brownells Alumahyde or Gunkote. Those need to be cured in an oven to dry completely though. Not a big deal... but you absolutely _must_ get _all_ oils off before applying the paint or it will peel up when you go to cure it in the oven. Don't even let oil from your skin get on there. Acetone is best for getting all oils off. Once you get one of the oven cured paints on there, it will be pretty impervious to most cleaning stuff. 3) As I said above, personally, I think it's better to do it "right" with rivets. Even though it's more expensive and time consuming. You can always re-sell any special tools you buy for the purpose when you're done. Check around on the EE here and on other boards. You can find used tools pretty regularly. 4) Yep. Some can be very tight. First, try putting it in the freezer for a while, then maybe some _slight_ heat. The point being to get things to expand/contract at different rates and hopefully loosen things up a bit. When doing this, when you're ready to twist on the wood, put the rear part of the gas tube (the flat part where it meets the trunion) in a vice, being very careful not to over tighten things, then use a rag or something to protect your hand while you do your best to twist the wood around. If all this doesn't work, you can try putting some oil around the ends if you need to, then just start twisting on the wood again. If it gets to a certain point and sticks, go back the other way and try again. Keep repeating this. That will spread the oil you put in there and eventually you'll get it twisted all the way around. But you are correct... you need to be careful not to beat on it or anything. You can and may crack the wood if you do. Take your time and be patient with it. I'm sure someone else will be along before long who might have a better idea, but that's the way I've done it several times. - Once you get it out, slowly sand down the ends a bit at a time and keep checking the fit of the wood to the gas tube until you get it to the point where it's snug but not loose, so next time you won't have to go through the same mess. Again, if you want to do it as a screw build, have at it. I just prefer the rivet method. Either way, good luck with it, and I'm sure you'll end up with a good shooting rifle. 
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Alright! I get it - I went to harbor freight today and bought a shop press, a sand blaster, and some other shit I didn't really need....
I'm going to put the press together tomorrow and Maybe get the barrel pressed out!! Thanks for keeping me motivated and NOT lazy. |
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