I don't have any "experience" yet, but I'll be welding one on Saturday.

It just seems too simple not to.

 

I seem to recall that doc's first one he posted up was a screw and JB Weld build.

 

:grinpimp:

 

Weld it. Fifteen times faster and easier than any other method.



THE OTHER WAY:
"Oh shit. These holes don't line up *perfectly* ... It's going to be a bitch to tap or get my rivets installed".

THE WELD WAY:
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT. "Those holes were supposed to line up?" :laughing:



Plus it pisses off the purists.

 

Weld it, it pisses off the purists.

For me, I'm combining a Romanian National Guard kit with some kind of underfolder, a Yugoslavian pistol grip, a mix of Bulgarian and Chinese handguards, and a SKS sling.

It's enough of a mix that any "purist" should probably throw in under the bus with a tapco-laden rifle.

 

I've decided I'm going to use bolts on mine and safety wire them.

 

I have done all 3.
1st I ever did was a screw build with JB weld as a "loc-tite", then I did a weld build and liked how it looked better so the screw one got taken apart and welded :emb:
Then a rivet
then a shit ton of welded.

Personal preference, have fun, just do it right and use the right rivets or the right size screws

I am a form follows function guy so I don'y give a fuck if welded do not "look right"
That and every motherfucker on every AK forum who has ever even tried to say why a weld would not work (other than a crappy weldor) was clueless.

:laughing::laughing: :evil: oh fuck ya :laughing:
"Well how the fuck do you think most of whats on a M2HB is attached"

weld it in these spots:

yup, and I use a Harbor Freight step drill (the little fat one) to do 1/4" ish holes/bowls and do a plug weld by starting in the middle and rosette out.

 

I've done weld and I've done rivet.


I prefer rivet.

 

ive done both, i perfer rivet. to me on the front trunnion doing a screw build, theres just not enough meat there to thread it.

 

Screw or weld for me. Both have worked equally well.

 

I welded the front trunion and screwed the rear :laughing:

Weld was wayyy easier. The only reason I stuck with screws in the rear is because I thought I may change to a folding stock at some point.

 

Can you weld? Sure about that?

 

i started on a screw build my first one. apparently forgot how to measure that day, and drilled the holes in the receiver waaaaaay out of place. VIOLA.. instant weld build.. LOL

2nd one, didnt even fuck with measureing holes. just stabe a couple in random places and welded.

3rd one. gonna be the same as the 2nd as soon as i get around to it. (next couple of weeks when my duracoat gets here.)

 

All mine are rivet or screws cause I dont have a welder right now.

 

Have not built one yet, but all the welding on the Saiga's and AK's has turned out geat. I say weld it if you are able.

 

It looks like welding is the consensus, but where are you welding? Do you plug-weld the screw/rivet holes, spot weld, or do some edge welding?

Since this is my first AK build, I want try to do it right the first time.

 

PM Numidian. He is the AK welding expert around here.



























































:flipoff2:

 

Plug welds. Drill all the holes out larger - I use one of the fawesome harbor freight unibits to open them up to around 1/4" or so. I don't edge/stitch/lap weld anything on the gun, except for two tack in the magwell and at the front edge of the rear trunion.

Again, the toothpick build lasted 3 shots. You'd have to really suck to have a weld cold enough to break. I cut my first rifle apart because of an out-of-spec receiver and built it again. That was hell, and I'm not worried about my weld builds at all.

Do the opposite of this, and you'll be fine.

 

Plug welds. Drill all the holes out larger - I use one of the fawesome harbor freight unibits to open them up to around 1/4" or so. I don't edge/stitch/lap weld anything on the gun, except for two tack in the magwell and at the front edge of the rear trunion.

weld it in these spots:

 

mine is screwed, but I am still working on it and have already moved the holes once to move the front trunnion back a little...

 

Me and an accomplice, 2 weld builds so far. Will test fire on Saturday.

 

All weld-built, and none have failed

But I still prefer rivets.

 

I hate you all LOL

 

Weld it!

I am still waiting to borrow a jig:homer:

 

Are you always up in the White Mountains? Or are you down in the valley right now by any chance?

I have something you might need/want. :flipoff2:

 

Just to verify: You are leaving the rivets in and grinding them flat with the trunion and welding over the top of them?

 

Yes, and yes

 

Im thinking about drilling and tapping the trunion holes as I would for a regular screw build, then drilling a few extra 1/4 inch holes on the receiver to line up with the front trunion. I will then attach the front trunion to the receiver by using the screws. Then I tack weld the receiver to the trunion and remove the screws. After that I will do rosette welds on the 1/4 inch holes to the trunion. Finally I will use JB Weld on the threads of the screws and thread them back into the trunion. Has anyone tried a combinaton of screws and welding on an ak before? It may be overkill but in my opinion, the stronger you build it, the better.

 

Complete





waste




of




time.

 

flap wheel rivets flat
correct space front trunnion.
center punch where I will drill or use existing flat holes
drill with step drill to create a "bowl" into the trunnion
---\____/---

weld

 

I'm doing a rivet build, mainly due the fact I don't have the heart to weld up a $400 kit.

 

Holy shit!! Did you get lube with that or did they stick it in dry?

Need any more of those $400 kits? :flipoff2:

 

Meh, $400 is close to going rate anyway. No need to defend you're butt virginity.