Colo Spgs AK47 Build Party??

Is there any interest for a Colo Spgs AK47 build party? I have room enough for several people at my place. I don't have many tools, but can provide the space.

I'm interested... I'm in need of some assistance with a part that just came yesterday and isn't what I thought/was told it would be.

So WillysWagon, if you are an assembly guru is there a chance we could chat on the phone here some time?

Thanks..

I'm not a guru, but have some kits I'd like to assemble. This would be a first time build for me. I have already bent 2 flats and have demilled my kits and they're ready for assembly. My main problem is finding someone with a spot welder to weld the rails on.

Lets see who has an interest and get together :)

What kind of welding is needed to be done? I could probably do it for you.

ideally it should be a spot weld. need to stick 2 pieces of 1mm sheet metal to each other.

Like Merl said, a Harbour Freight 115V Spot Welder is the perfect tool for the job. I did pick up some tools today, but no welder.

Merl & The1andOnlyKC, would you be in on a build party?

I don't have anything to build, I'll show up for the grins and giggles though. :lol:

I would have to be a "maybe" I've been sent to china twice in the last couple months for work with little notice.
barring that, sure. I'm in the process of collecting/making the tools & jigs to build a couple. I keep hoping the HF welder will go on sale again.

talk to us about leads on parts kits and what ever else we would need to participate.

You need a parts kit, receiver (100%, 80% or a flat) and US parts to satisfy section 922r (?) to have a certain number of parts in the rifle US made, and tools. I'm hoping to get a group of people together so we have all the tools. They'd include a press, flat bending jig, spot welder, go & no-go gauges, grinder, punches, bf-hammer, vise & a few more. There's a ton of info on AFCOM under the AK47 Build-it-Yourself forum. If you get the kit, receiver flat, fire control group, muzzle break and gas tube, then you'd have enough parts for a legal build. If we can get the people with the tools here, you can make an awesome AK47 for $200 or so.

As willyswagon said, the kit, reciever, US compliance parts, and rivets (or screws). AKs need 6 total US made parts to count as US made. Standard sets of parts are FCG, gas piston, and muzzle brake (or pistol grip).
Tapco has a decent deal on a parts set and FCG or there is decent deal running on FalFiles by bocefus. tons of places out there with parts, average running price is ~100 for the kit, 30-35 for the FCG.
Willy, you mentioned bending some flats to make recievers, do you have the bending tool?

I'd like to do this, but (lazy me) I don't want to do the homework.. I just want to pay the money, show up and have fun :D


and come back home with a new EBR ;)

I would love to do it and you could count me in 200$ for a nice ak :) just tell me where to buy the parts i need and when to show up.

I'm not a guru either, but i have a working ak that we could work off of and use as an example i guess...

I am like 7 I would be interested in doing it if someone points me to some quick info links so I can piece some stuff together. I have a bunch of those tools mentioned.

I think it would be fun to build and AK.

Tapco has kits with the FCG for $125, Midwest Armory has the flats, pistol grip, gas tube and many other parts. Centerfire Systems, Aim Surplus, Bocefus & many others have kits for sale, anywhere from $89.99 - $129.00 for a Romanian fixed stock kit. If we can get enough people together with all the tools needed, it wouldn't cost that much to build. We could also do a few build parties, you could just come by to see what's involved and see if it's something you'd like to do.

Go to
www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=4&f=51
for info on how to build, vendors, parts, etc..

I think it would be a fun time, if for no other reason than to BS and meet people. I can supply soda & snacks for the group too. I have a decent size garage to work in. It's not heated, but I have a propane forced air heater we can use if needed.

Kyle[/url]

If any of these need Electrical hook-ups, I do have the tools for that. :wink:

This sounds like fun, and it seems like I have good company in not being up to date on the details of what parts to get and where to get them http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...illy_nilly.gif

Seeing how any complex mechanical device is assembled and how the parts work together is just interesting. I'm a dork :oops:

If the spotwelder turns out to be an obstacle I can probably come up with one, this is the type typically used for automotive sheet metal, right. Oh, and what kind of schedule are y'all thinking - days, weeks, or months?

well, I really want to do this.. but I have a surgery coming up pretty quick and I won't be able to do much. so maybe we can plan one for about May? :oops:

Give me time to get the parts together too. ;)

I plan on doing a few build parties this year :) ,it's a fun way to meet when there's no shoot. So if you can't make one, don't worry, I'll be hosting more. Another thing to think about is you can come to one and see how involved assembling the AK47 is, then make your decision from there about wether or not you want to get your own kit.


If you want to get together, e-mail me with what tools you have so I can make a list, want to make sure to have everything here we need :mrgreen:



Later,
Kyle

Very cool, if I can find the underfolder kit i`ve been looking for I will show up for one.I don`t know if I can supply all the needed tools, but would have no problem doing any needed manual labor for the group.

8)

Hey RG,

I ordered a Yugo UF and still have to get the receiver for it. The kit was from Centerfire and looks decent. I'll probably get an 80% prebent receiver and cut my own holes out.

when it comes to recievers what do you suggest? Cause i'm really not very skilled with handwork so cutting my own holes and stuff would be kinda.... umn well i dunno...

and how would you get the metal heat treated and the black finish on it?

I have a drill press with a milling vise we could use to cut the receiver. I just need to get the milling bits. For the heat treating, we'll use a Mapp Gas Torch, seeds to work fine on the receiver I did this past weekend. I was planning on using DuraCoat for the finish, the surface of the AK would need to be blasted using aluminiun oxide or other rough media, I got a hand held blaster from HF for this. If the barrel and all would fit in the oven, I'll use Moly Resin or another type of temp cured finish. The posibilities for finishes are numerous.

i think laser cut recievers wouldnt be that good.... the weld would show and it would detract from the beuty of the rifle.... i saw some really good results with the bent recievers... but they need to be "hardened" whats that mean?

The 4 holes that support the FCG need to be heat treated along with the rails. Not a hard process using the mapp gas torch I have. Heat once to a glowing yellow/red and quickly quench in water, then heat again to a dark blue/purple and let air cool.

I have many different handouts on the process (from various sources). I'll make copies of everything for anyone who shows up at the build.

I ordered a flat bending jig today from DPH Arms :D

I'll be hosting my first build party on Feb 25th in Colo Spgs. I'll include names and tools people say they can bring, let me know if I make an error and I'll correct it. There's also a post on AR15.com/Hometown/Colorado
Start Time: 8am
End Time: Whenever we want 8)
Don't forget, I'll have more build parties to go to.

I'm providing soda & snacks for all who come (to build or watch), so a head count would be nice. We can go in on some pizza or whatever if everyone wants when it's lunch time. Come on by to build or just say hello.

Please e-mail me for directions :D