rivets--help

[mark9mmp]

Hey,
I feel like an idiot wrapped in a moron for asking this but how the hell do you install rivets. I am planning on buying a folding stock from kvar and installing it on my ak (after permanantly pinning it open of course). I can remove the rear tang and drill the new holes for everything but then I cant figure out how to put in rivets. Do I need special tools?
I am obviously new at this but i feel if i could figure out how to do the damn rivets ill be ok. thanks a bunch.
-----mark

[CAMPYBOB]

here's what you need:

a hammer in the 20 oz. range

a set of rivet setting punches. some are shown here: http://www.usatco.com/rivet_sets_18.asp

a couple of scrap pieces of steel sized to act as bucking bars on the inside of the receiver...to beat the rivet stems againt and form the inner head.

mark, it's simply a matter of practice after that. trust me, experimentation is required before one achieves a nice looking head formation. this really is a 'learn as you go' process.

good luck!

[flanigan]

If you have access to a compressor, obtain a pneumatic hammer kit (about $12-$20), take the pointed chisel that comes with it and grind/cut it down until you have about 1/2" surface available. Then clamp it in a vise and using a 3/8" ball-end mill ($6), drill a small pocket into the end of the chisel - this will create a perfectly rounded rivet head every time. You can change the radius of the head by varying the depth of the pocket. You can either use the air-hammer (easier to do, but easy to make mistakes) or use the chisel the old fashioned way with a hammer.

[gtbehary]

Go on Ebay and do a search on rivet gun. You can get complete sets reasonable. If you want the ultimate AK riveting tool, go to the AK-47.net forums and do a search on "plinker's rivet jig. All you will need is a 12 ton press to go with it. It does factory professional rivets.
gtbehary

[Rhino_66]

These are the links for Plinker's Rivet Jig info. The first link shows the jig in action, and how the thing reaches into the trunnion to set the rivets. The second link has measured drawings for building your own jig.

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=124615&perpage=50&pagenumber=1

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=126423&highlight=plinker

I'm sure you've seen that K-var has rivets in complete or partial sets. They also have single long rivets if needed.

[ricochet]

If you have access to a compressor, obtain a pneumatic hammer kit (about $12-$20), take the pointed chisel that comes with it and grind/cut it down until you have about 1/2" surface available. Then clamp it in a vise and using a 3/8" ball-end mill ($6), drill a small pocket into the end of the chisel - this will create a perfectly rounded rivet head every time. You can change the radius of the head by varying the depth of the pocket. You can either use the air-hammer (easier to do, but easy to make mistakes) or use the chisel the old fashioned way with a hammer.

WOW !!!
I followed your advice and this thing works GREAT! I just set several MacMaster-carr steel rivets and danged if they don't look sweet. For $15 for a CH air hammer, and an old piece of anvil, I am IMPRESSED Thanks Flannigan, I had been waiting to use a friends Plinker jig and press, but I sure don't need those now. It did take me MAYBE 45 minutes to cut, set up, and drill the chisel. Then it took me 2-3 minutes to set 4 rivets. Try it guys, these rivets are set and will not come out.

[mark9mmp]

hey guys thanks for all the info, its exactly what i needed. thanks again.

[Batman]

WOW !!!
I followed your advice and this thing works GREAT! I just set several MacMaster-carr steel rivets and danged if they don't look sweet. For $15 for a CH air hammer, and an old piece of anvil, I am IMPRESSED Thanks Flannigan, I had been waiting to use a friends Plinker jig and press, but I sure don't need those now. It did take me MAYBE 45 minutes to cut, set up, and drill the chisel. Then it took me 2-3 minutes to set 4 rivets. Try it guys, these rivets are set and will not come out.

Would it be possible to post a picture of how you modified the hammer and chisel?

I'm having a hard time visualizing this set up.

[Mike Wiskirchen]

i made a jig similar to plinkers and i have to say it works very well. good job plinker

[53stude]

We are trying to link to the above pages (and are registered at that site) and we are unable to display these pages. Does anyone have a more up to date link for this information? Or possibly, does anyone have the information in a text file they would be willing to share?

Thanks!

[Rhino_66]

We are trying to link to the above pages (and are registered at that site) and we are unable to display these pages. Does anyone have a more up to date link for this information? Or possibly, does anyone have the information in a text file they would be willing to share?

Thanks!

The links are in the BIY I forum which is now only accessible if you are at least a bronze contributor. Gunsnet photo gallery access is currently not functioning. When they get it up and running, do a search for Plinker's gallery.

[hcpookie]

Here you go:

http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/AK/rivet/rivets.htm

[Rhino_66]

Jerry, you're a good man!

[packratt]

Has anyone found the correct (or close to correct) bucking bars commercially made? USATCOhttp://www.usatco.com/bucking_bars_01.asp has a large number but they are too expensive to buy a bunch and find out they don't work.

If none of these are suitable, do any members have plans/instructions for making them.

thanks
packratt