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Posted: 1/5/2006 10:02:42 PM EDT
| I am looking into buy the equipment needed for building my own AK's. What's the cost of getting into it and are there any tutorials for the newbies? |
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it really is all up to how handy you are you can make all your own tools and be into them under 50 for everythang or you can buy them all and be into them 500 ive always said the best teacher is failure just start building if you get stuck someone is always willing to help but the best way to learn is just to do it |
| I agree with socandyman in regards to getting the hands on experience to learning. I went into building my first AK build with no knowledge, nor the tools, whatsoever. Reading the online postings here and elsewhere, I figured out what was needed. The first thing I purchased was a 12 ton press from Harbor Freight for about $100. Then I figured I needed some gear pullers, to help with the barrel removal process, for $12 (3 piece set). The only other thing that I purchased to help facilitate my builds was a $59 dremel kit. Now I am wanting to purchase a $155 flat bending jig so that I can bend my own receivers. Figure in a $199 spot welder for the rails. All in all, it's to what extent you want to get into building, that'll determine how much it will cost to get into building an AK. Over time, that ramp up cost will more than pay off with the amount of builds you do. |
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If you buy ready-made receivers and do screw builds, it can be damn cheap and pretty easy. These new "push rivet" thingies look even easier than a screw build. Hell, you wouldn't even need a tap. Like socandyman says, failure is a learning experience. Get a $80 wore out Yugo to screw up on, before buying a $600 M92 kit... |
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I really didn't need much for my build. Grinder to make rivet squisher. Cheap $8.00 bolt cutters drill press drill bits Dremel Bench grinder to disassemble Romy kit set of cheap punches big hammer (2 or 3 pounder) to knock barrel and barrel pin in and out. 5 pennys stacked and taped together to protect barrel from pounding. Vise. Not bad if you already have some of this stuff. I think thats about it  Oh yeah...after the build I bought a set of headspace gauges to check the headspace. Then traded them for some mags on the I.E. 
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AMEN!!! I have built one that runs flawlessly out of a Tapco flat, bent without a jig, and used screws and loc-tite red. Then did a prebent Yugo from coldsteel solutions with minimal tools. The 39.00 drill press came in real handy, along with 14.00 tap and die kit. Couldnt have done any of it without the Dremmel. Eseacialy the prebent. The re-enforced cut off wheels are a must. The next one is going to be with rivets, but I may try the U drive screws first. Either way, I have a very used Yugo, and a brandspanking new Romy, and I am a happy camper.  Edited to add: A nice vice would be the first place to start. |
| Well I plan on setting up shop in a small section of my girlfriend's parent's pole barn. So I could even get by without having a 12 ton press? Just use a BFH? What's the disadvantage of a screw build? If a rivet build isn't too much harder I'd be willing to do that. I'm gonna buy a kit and see if I can get someone near me (hometown forum) to show me the ropes. Where's a good place for a reciever and kit? |
DPH on the kit, and coldsteel solutions on the reciever if you want to dremmel it out yourself. If you wany a 100% reciever, DPH sell EW Banks. I know nothing of them, but FREEFALL-E7 has built a really sharp build. The two kits I got from DPH were unfired, and un-used period. NO Wear at all!!! Anywhere. The stocks didnt even have sratches from storeage, and from the looks of FREE's, his was the same way. I did both of mine with screws and did not have to pull the barrel. If you pull the barrel, you will need GO/NO-GO gauges to make sure you head space is correct before fireing. |
| You would only need to pull the barrel if you plan on using rivets to attach the receiver to the front trunion. If you are doing a screw build, you don't need to pull the barrel; just drill the old rivets out (be careful not to drill into the barrel), tap the threads and screw on the receiver. |
If you want to do it right you should pull the barrel, SCREW screws, use rivets, most people who have done screw builds in the past are redoing their builds with rivets, I say do it right the first time. If you do a build use a 100% receiver, all you really need is a good hammer, good set of punches, a good set of drill bits, a bench vise, a hand drill or a drill press, a 20 dollar pulley puller, some files, a dremel is a big help, a nice ruler or dial caliper. For under a hundred bucks you can have all the tools u need really. Rommy kits are easy the only problem i've had have been the barrel pins, but i finally figured that kroil penetrating oil really works, so you should pick up a can of that too. All in all the investment in the tools isnt all that bad because once you build that first one you will want to do more (its that easy) and its really addicting! McM Edit to add that a set of bolt cutters is the best bet for ya too, theres instructions on this site that will show you how to modify them. |
I used 6-32 screws on the first and cut down nuts to fit them and red lok-tited them in. I plan to get my own spot welder, and when I do (someday) I will modify the tongs and do it myself. I have heard of many people useing screws without a problem. One fella said he screwed them from the inside, and ground the outside down flush and finished over them. I forget how many rounds he said he had throuh it, but it was quite a few. Thats what I did with the second, and it is doing fine as well. I am doing all of this on an extremly tight budget, and will gather other tools as I go along. Doing it "cheap" was my sole goal. A realiable weapon, on the cheap. The DPH kits are so nice that I have decided to hold off, gather the tools and do it as it was intended. However, I am waiting on the U drive screws as mentioned in another thread. I believe the title is "Easiest AK build ever". |
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Scotts Romy kits are great! In addition to Scott, Bocefus (look him up at gunco.net) has kits with matching numbers for a good price and fixed rate shipping. You will not go wrong with either Scott at DPHArms in NC or Bocefus in OH. Both will take care of you! Terry in NC  (fuzzy_dba) |
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