A noob from Oregon shows up...

[CatCow]

Been having fun reading the forum, finally got a new door on the garage and cleaned it out, and brought up the ancient workbench from the basement to try and set everything up. Still trying to figure out how to sort everything out, and not a lot of room to work with... But I'm trying. Most of what I'm working on lately is household stuff and some minor gunsmithing, biggest project right now is trying to figure out how to install some rivets on an AK-47. Shaping the jaws of a Harbor Freight bolt cutter isn't exactly what I'm good at though

Some day I'd love to have a lathe and mill, but I just don't see that happening here with the space and power limitations I have(garage currently has only a single 120v outlet ).

 

[onelochevy]

(garage currently has only a single 120v outlet ).

i know exactly how you feel. My garage is the same way. Hoping to remedy that sometime this fall once the weather cools down a bit.

 

[flyingblind]

I had to put outlets in my garage. When I moved in, there were none at all. If I had to do it again I would have sheet rocked the walls right after the outlets were in.
As for the Modding of the bolt cutter, take it apart and use a vise and a 4" grinder to mod the jaws. You will also need a ball mill and a drill press/mill to drill the faces.

 

[flybefree]

Welcome...thanks for posting up some pics!

 

[CatCow]

As for the Modding of the bolt cutter, take it apart and use a vise and a 4" grinder to mod the jaws. You will also need a ball mill and a drill press/mill to drill the faces.

Took a few hours and a touch up, but I think it's pretty close

Now I just need a few more sets of rivets, some practice, and maybe I'll get some decent looking rivets put in there. The first try is pretty ugly!

 

[Wingnut65]

Welcome to GJ, Catcow. You've already learned in 4 posts that if you state a problem, a solution will be given. The jaws look nice. Just practice a few before the final one!

 

[flyingblind]

Took a few hours and a touch up, but I think it's pretty close

Now I just need a few more sets of rivets, some practice, and maybe I'll get some decent looking rivets put in there. The first try is pretty ugly!

Looks good. I can imagine it being difficult. Where are you getting your rivet sets?

 

[Ziggy'sSpeedShop]

I need to do the same thing. I have a screw build that needs to be changed to rivets. let us know how it looks when your done.

 

[CatCow]

Looks good. I can imagine it being difficult. Where are you getting your rivet sets?

Well, I was trying out the Tapco rivet set. I guess the newer sets are better than the old sets(which didn't have the swell necks or proper lengths), but I just ordered a few sets from AK-Builder. I do have two rifles to finish

Here's what my first try at riveting gave me... Pretty ugly(especially the middle one in the pic, the first one to go in), but a few touchups on the shape of the jaws and the depth of the divot on the one jaw helps a lot. Instead of trying any further mods to the jaws, I'm going to try to shape a small piece of flat stock to use as a bucking bar on the inside for those hard to reach rivets. I also need to more carefully check the lengths before I shove them in there, or trim them down a bit - one of the forward rivets wasn't crushing enough and wouldn't clear the barrel if I tried to press it in like that. Attempts at dremeling the back of the rivet led to an ugly chewed look, so I'm just going to drill them out and try again. I have one more set of Tapco rivets before I have to wait for a new shipment.

 

[flyingblind]

Well, I was trying out the Tapco rivet set. I guess the newer sets are better than the old sets(which didn't have the swell necks or proper lengths), but I just ordered a few sets from AK-Builder. I do have two rifles to finish

Here's what my first try at riveting gave me... Pretty ugly(especially the middle one in the pic, the first one to go in), but a few touchups on the shape of the jaws and the depth of the divot on the one jaw helps a lot. Instead of trying any further mods to the jaws, I'm going to try to shape a small piece of flat stock to use as a bucking bar on the inside for those hard to reach rivets. I also need to more carefully check the lengths before I shove them in there, or trim them down a bit - one of the forward rivets wasn't crushing enough and wouldn't clear the barrel if I tried to press it in like that. Attempts at dremeling the back of the rivet led to an ugly chewed look, so I'm just going to drill them out and try again. I have one more set of Tapco rivets before I have to wait for a new shipment.

Very cool. Did you bend your own flats or use a cut to fit? I considered doing this back when you could get kits for 150. I have a few 80% ars in the garage somewhere and will get to them some day.

 

[CatCow]

I have a flat or two, but no one will lend my a jig and I don't want to pay for one(I only have two parts kits anyway, I shoulda stocked up before the original barrels dried up). My current builds are going on NoDak Spud receivers. The AK47 receiver has the holes in place, but the AK74 receiver needs to have the rivet holes drilled. It's a nice Bulgarian kit, so I wanted to do this Romanian 47 first to make sure I was doing it right.

 

[dittle fart around]

If you need a place to buy rivets locally try Winks Hardware. It's a modern old fashion hardware store. Most everything is in bulk behind the counter. If they don't have what you need they'll order it. http://www.winkshardware.com/

 

[flyingblind]

I have a flat or two, but no one will lend my a jig and I don't want to pay for one(I only have two parts kits anyway, I shoulda stocked up before the original barrels dried up). My current builds are going on NoDak Spud receivers. The AK47 receiver has the holes in place, but the AK74 receiver needs to have the rivet holes drilled. It's a nice Bulgarian kit, so I wanted to do this Romanian 47 first to make sure I was doing it right.

You could make a 555th jig for the flats. I have the prints and picks if you need them. All you would need is a welder and press to make it.