Average Build Time?

[MeanGreen]

Hi all, quick question: Not counting your first build, what is the average build time for an "experienced" builder?

My first build took me about three months worth of "puttering", where I would work a few hours on it here and there. And of course this time also involved me making alot of the tooling, i.e. spot welder tong, bolt cutter rivet tool, rivet bucking bars, etc.

I'm on to my second build now (Polish AKMS Underfolder), and I've noticed that my build speed has increased drastically. This time I've knocked out in hours what took me weeks last time. I think if I went on a dedicated thrash-fest, I could go from tapco flat and parts kit to firing rifle in a weekend now.

So how long does it take you guys to build? I know there are some of you out there who can do it in an afternoon. Sound off!

[dvanncvann]

takes me about 4 1/2- 5 hours from a flat not including final finish. dura coat takes about another hour.

[MeanGreen]

Wow, that's awesome. I've got about 5-6 hours in my current build, and I've got the flat bent, holes heat treated, trigger guard riveted, and front trunnion holes drilled, ready to be riveted. I figure I'm about halfway through at this point. Still not bad, being able to go from raw materials to a working rifle in 12 hours.

[KernelKrink]

If things go well, prepping the kit by removing rivets and bbl usually takes about an hour. Those TG rivets are really in there!

Flat bends takes about 15 minutes, maybe another fifteen to adjust and weld in the rails. 10 minutes to heat treat, maybe another half hour or so to drill the holes in a no-holes type. I usually batch the receiver builds, but drill the holes when I assemble.

The actual rivetting and bbl press back in varies somewhat, the AKM type rear trunnions with the two long rivets go quickest, the AK74 type with the short front rivets make me set up my modified Plinker's rivet setter and that takes some time. The front trunnion is done in 5 minutes with bolt cutter rivet squeezers.

All in all, I'd say about 3-4 hours total time not counting finishing. I parkerize my builds then paint, so add a couple hours for blasting and the rest. Folders and other specialty types like pistol builds add considerably to the time.

[my-rifle]

My last is a Polish underfolder, and it's taken four weeks. Most of the work happened last night though - welding, rail-trimming, hole drilling (AK-Builder flat), underfolder assembly (seven hours - argh!), barrel press, barrel pin press, and finally cleaning and FCG fitting. All this happened between 5AM and 9AM. Figuring out the underfolder assembly was the hardest part - and I had a diagram! They just don't tell you things like the inside ring has two different sized holes, and if you put it in upside down you can't do the final step of pinning the push-button to the retaining rings.

My nezt one is going to be a Tantal, and except for figuring out how to press the barrel (5.45mm won't accept the all-thread), I think it should go pretty quickly. After this I'm going to have to blue all these receivers :-)

[Fred324]

I am to the point that I can go from a pile of parts and a flat to test firing at the range in 3 hours. Having all of the jigs, power tools and work space makes it realy easy.

[creator0203]

I average about 6 hours without refinishing. Thats if im not BSing with other local builders that are hanging around or drinking. Less if I already have predrilled trunnion holes but I only use pre drilled on G kits. They always seem to lign up perfect. Nicer kits I like making my own. Again this time is with the G kits. If im making a pmkms or the AK74SF thats coming I like to take my time.

[6526]

I would guess that most of us "binge build", witch to me means 2 hrs. of demilling and prepping, and 3 hrs. of running around like an idiot looking for the right tools!!!!!!!!!!!

[creator0203]

Dont forget running to the store for more beer and dealing with the wife inbetween things.

[16r40]

I was with my firend Glen (MAGNUM GUNSMITHING) when he built a AK, from demilling the rest of the parts of kit, to finish, it took him about a little over 2 hours to build a AK, that does not include the finishing. he built so many that he has it down to a science, but most importantly he has all the tools, along with the templates, rivets etc.... he fabricated a couple of neat tool for taking out the barrel from the trunion, and riveting the trunions to the receiver, that made it as simple as tying a shoe. in about 15 minutes or so, he had both trunions in place

[glen avon]

just built my second

from a 100% receiver, and a cope's romanian kit, rivet build, all the way to parkerizing (receiver and parts blasted and parked before assy, completed receiver blasted and reparked after assy), 9 hours. including modding boltcutters. could have shaved a little time off, but was showing somebody what was going on.

runs flawlessly

[mcamp]

Originally Posted by 6526

I would guess that most of us "binge build", witch to me means 2 hrs. of demilling and prepping, and 3 hrs. of running around like an idiot looking for the right tools!!!!!!!!!!!

lol...thats me...I'll set something down & when I go to pick it up again I cant find it....it's usually under a rag or something...sometimes right in front of my face & I'll look past it 2 or3 times before I see it.

[resting]

I thought it was just me suffering incipient old timer's.

[creator0203]

I have this problem with dropping small parts and they always seem to bounce far away or into somewhere never to be found again.

[richardc951]

My average is one to two hours to de-mill, then three to four hours to re-assemble. This doesn't include time to refinish, which seems to take much more time. RTC