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Posted: 9/29/2005 9:05:53 AM EDT
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I need/want one of these kits but can't find Xebec. I've sent him several emails but they've all bounced back. Can anyone help me find him? Thanks. |
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If you can't find Xebec, I would recommend the press kit from AK-Builder.com. The captive barrel pin remover works great with the Harbor Freight 12 ton press. It clamps right onto the ram so there are no more flying objects if something gets a little uneven. I cannot even imagine attempting to remove a barrel pin without it. |
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you dont need a press kit everythang you need can be had at your local hw store for a few bucks now if your building 50 kits it might be worth it but for most peeps its not for pressing the barrel pin buy a 3/8 allen head socket and few extra alen heads (they are cheap and if they bend o well) then just drill a 1/2 in hole threw 1 of your plates for pin to fall threw for pressing the barrel out use a 7/16 deepwel socket and a penny you can use the plates that came with your press to hold the trunnion its alot easyer if you get 2 10inch sticks of 1x2 in channel tho (can also be used on fsb,gb) |
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The piece in Xebec's kit that is most special and useful is the barrel clamp arangement we use to clamp the barrel to press the receiver back onto the barrel.... Xebec is a graduate student somewhere (as I understand things) so depending on the time of year he can be tough to get in touch with... I am working to make some alternate tools to support the barrel but it may quite some time before I have anything I can sell. Also, steel prices and availablity is really tight right now... It makes it tough! Here are some pictures of a tutorial I am trying to get up on the web... www.quarterbore.net/forums/showthread.php?t=563 "Part 7: Pressing in the barrel and Headspacing" shows where the Xebec press is most useful! |
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I tried making my own barrel/pin press tools, tried the hammer/punch method, and vise method. After a couple of evenings in the shop all I had to show for it was a mess of bent/mushroomed pieces of metal, dinged-up trunnion, and a sense of futility. I bought a Xebec kit some time ago and it worked great, though I did have a few flying pins when my rickety HF shop-press canted the wrong way. I misplaced my Xebec kit in a move, so I ordered a press kit from AK-Builder. I love the captive barrel-pin remover in the AK-Builder kit. The thing is practically fool-proof (even for a fool like me). The piece that makes the Xebec kit shine is the tool that puts the receiver back on the barrel - very solid and well made - again, no guess work and practically fool-proof. If I could imagine the "ultimate" barrel press kit, it would be with the AK-Builder barrel pin remover + the Xebec barrel/trunnion assembly tool. Since I have both kits, here is a summary of the two kits. Xebec kit: Barrel pin tool: Small partial cylinder with a hole to hold the pin. Pros: Works great if you have a solid press and everything square. Cons: Can still go flying (cover from flying objects is recommended). Barrel removal ram: Simple steel bar. Pros: simple Cons: Need to use a penny on the face of your barrel. Barrel/Trunnion installation: Beautifully contructed (bolted together) from various specially made pieces of metal. Pros: Pin removal/installation plate: Simple piece of metal with recesses/holes for accomodating rivets on an receiver w/trunnion installed. Barrel removal/installation bars: 2 simple bars to hold the trunnion/barrel for vertical pressing operations. AK-Builder Kit: Barrel pin tool: Heavy duty piece of metal that clamps onto the 1" ram of a shop press. This prevents the punch used for removing the barrel pin from turning into a projectile. Pros: beautifully constructed, solid, nearly fool-proof. Cons: You have to buy the whole kit to get this piece. Barrel removal ram: Heavy duty bolt with brass nut on the end. Brass nut has been contoured to fit the extractor relief on the barrel (nice touch). Pros: saves you 1-cent everytime you press a barrel, keeps things level. Cons: markings on the head of the bolt need to be ground off to keep it flush with the ram, bolt doesn't seem sturdy. Barrel/Trunnion installation: Piece of steel with two bolts of different lengths. Pros: Adjustable? Cons: Again, this doesn't seem as sturdy as the Xebec tool. Pin Removal/Installation plate: Very similar to the Xebec plate. Not much difference here. Barrel removal/installation bars: 2 simple bars, but these came with holes & bolts to hold them together (no nuts for the bolts included in my kit). I'm not sure what the purpose of the bolts are since you have to use the bars at an angle to allow for clearance for the rear sight when pressing out the barrel. Perhaps to use when pressing in the barrel? Pros: holes for bolts? Cons: none |
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