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Posted: 9/4/2006 8:44:12 AM EDT
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I swear I am a college graduate. I feel like a moron for asking this, but: how do you get the rivets apart? I have a Yugo underfolder "kit" (actually just an AK that's been torch cut). I took my Dremel and filed down the head of one rivet and then tried using my punch and punching it out. I succeeded in almost destroying my punch. I did look through a few topics and didnt see anything on this. Thanks. |
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drill them all out use a drillbit smaller then the rivet, drill all the way through, it will give room for hte rivet to expand indwards to punch it out. makes it 100x times easier. for the large rivets i use american rivets and i have to open up to 3/16 anyway so i just dril 3/16 through the entire trunion and tap out whatever small pieces of the rivet might be left. |
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Use a very small drill bit. You should be able to just pound them out without drilling them. I've never done anything but punching them. Get a good punch and hammer. It shouldn't be that hard DO NOT TRY AND PRESS THEM OUT If you do you run the risk of compressing the trunnion. It is unlikely, but possible and not worth the risk. |
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I hope you recognize that the front four rivets (two each side) on the front trunnion set against the barrel. You must remove the barrel before knocking or drilling them out. I have read of several people on this forum accidentally drilling way into the barrel and ruining their barrel because of this. The fact that you said you about ruined a punch made me think that you may still have the barrel in place. Either that or you have a long thin punch that is prone to bend. Anyways, if this is not the case, ignore my post & no offense meant. If it is the case, don't beat yourself to death, you are not the first to make that mistake. |
| Press out the barrel pin,then press out the barrel. Some barrel pins are a bear to remove,I did mine in a vise.Then I used an arbor press and a pice of round stock to push the barrel out of the trunnion. Use a couple of pennies as a spacer between the press and the breach to prevent damage. |
This tool from Curtis is the super easy way to drill through short rivets like those on the trigger guard. I use it and a cheap Harbor Freight drill press to remove almost all of my rivets, even though I have a milling machine too. I use Curtis' Barrel Press Kit to remove/install the barrel pin and barrel. This after trying other methods. As luck would have it my first barrel pin was a real PITA. The vise method works, and can be more cost effective if you are only building one. Once you get the pin out, you can borrow or buy a two armed gear puller that will grab the front edges of the trunnion. I would take a stack of a about a dozen pennies and electrical tape them together and use the stack of pennies to protect the barrel/chamber face. With the arms of the puller each firmly on the front edge of the trunnion, and with the center shaft against the stack of pennies on the barrel face, just turn the threaded shaft with a wrench and it will pull the trunnion off the barrel. Another thought. You may be able to look around in the Hometown forum and find "build parties" in your area. Or maybe someone who lives close to you that would be happy to let you borrow, rent or come over and use tools to do those things that you have a tough time with. |
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Rabbi, Center punch and drill with a small bit,once you get a small pilot hole drilled in the center use a larger bit like 1/8" of 3/32. Most of the time I have found once you get the 3/32 about halfway through the rivet will heat up and start to spin loose.You are now ready pound those little SOB's out . WARNING if your pilot hole isn't centered you will make an egg shaped hole when you go to the larger bits. BTW you are gonna bend/break punches. A few months ago I got inspired to do some late night work in my boxer shorts and flip flops,don't worry I had on protective eyewear.My best Craftsman punch shattered sending about a 1" piece of the punch into my gut(better than my nut). I now do all of my building with clothes on. 
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I'm glad to hear that. I didn't think that it would be needed to mention that for our South Florida Build party, but now that you mention this, all bets are off! 
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But I can hold a dozen dounuts and 2 cups of coffie... |
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