I decided to start my foray into AK building by doing a front end conversion on my Saiga 7.62x39. I managed to press off the old gas block and front sight with my press. I tried using the Toth Tool barrel populating tool to press on the new gas block (Bulgarian AK74 type) and that's not going so well. I can only get the gas block going about a quarter of an inch before the threaded rods start bending. I am guessing the tolerances on the Saiga barrel are just too tight for the Toth so I need to use the press to put on the new parts as well.

My question is how do I support the barrel or receiver so I can press the parts on? I don't really see a good way. Is there some special jig I need to buy? And what should I use to press on the gas block? Some kind of steel pipe? I used a 15mm open end wrench as a support to press off the parts but that isn't going to work so well for installation.

Hoping those of you who have built AKs can give me some pointers.