I've been a darkside member for about a month now after being a G3/HK91 guy for quite a few years.  I've built a few G3 clones and thought I'd try something interesting.  My least favorite part of my MAK90 is the open sight system.  I wanted to make a pseudo-HK/Galil by Tig welding an HK rear sight onto the dust cover while completely removing the MAK's rear sight.  The front sight might work okay with the HK rear sight as is, but I like the visibility of the HK front sight.  I had two ideas for this:  1)shave down the front sight flat and weld an HK91 sight on top(the top 1/3 of the HK91 triple frame); or 2)weld the top 1/2 of the HK triple frame directly onto the gas block(while still shaving the top of the original sight off).  I like the looks of the second method, and the triple frame will fit nicely since the open hole of the middle portion is approximately the same diameter as the top of the MAK's gas block.  Both methods will allow proper sighting of the rifle; however, I would hesitate on the second method since I don't know about the metallurgy of the gas block.  Is this hardened steel, and would welding on it anneal it?  Just trying to avoid the schrapnel.  Thanks in advance for any help!

Rich

Guys chop and weld their front sights to the gas block all the time.
No problems reported.
That said,I would get on and off quickly.

i hane TIG welded AK gas blocks before - I used er70s2 and s6 - no probs !!!!!

Sounds good.  Thanks for the help!