Stainless AK Flat ?

owlcreekok · October 18, 2006, 11:58

Feel free to slap me.

I keep having this recurring synapse lapse that tells me to try a flat out of 304 or 316 stainless. That happens to be what we have laying around the shop. I have no doubt that our plasma table will cut it out, almost clean enough to use. What I KNOW it won't do is make all the holes. Well, hell, I can do that by hand. (You would think I'd have learned my lesson on THAT by now,,,NOT)

So, now that I have removed all doubt that I am at least partially a fool, would anyone care to comment on the feasibility of using the 304 or 316 alloy sheet ? Think it will fall apart ? (ie-too soft)

Maybe I should go back to sleep ?

FTW2012 · October 18, 2006, 15:52

Why not just get a TAPCO flat for $15?

http://www.tapco.com/proddesc.aspx?i...c-97228269cdfa

owlcreekok · October 18, 2006, 16:13

BTDT. As well as a VBD flat, also a homemade flat, also a few Global Trades.

I just like putzing around with metal. I am wierd that way. Or is it 'wired' ?

Slow · October 18, 2006, 16:52

i dont see a problem with the stainless if you can harden the area around the pin holes. welding the rail is not a problem. but if you cant harden the holes, as much as You shoot you might not really need to.

owlcreekok · October 18, 2006, 17:54

Slow;

Eat my shorts

TRANSAM 79 · October 18, 2006, 17:59

As long as the pins fit tight enouph so they dont move and the hammer and trigger pivot freely on the pins like there suppose to,why do you need to harden the holes?

XHardrock · October 18, 2006, 18:40

Quote:

Originally posted by TRANSAM 79
As long as the pins fit tight enouph so they dont move and the hammer and trigger pivot freely on the pins like there suppose to,why do you need to harden the holes?

I have heard they will elongate, in time.
Not a metal person, I take it there is a problem heat treating stainless

Thunderbred · October 27, 2006, 16:28

You'd need a harder stainless, the holes would stretch. Forgot it also limits your finish options. Jeff

rudy · February 15, 2007, 21:37

I don't see a problem with it. I used galvanized 14 gauge sheetmetal for my first build.

Edgsmth · February 17, 2007, 22:04

The holes are said to elongate without hardening. Also, food grade stainless lacks the arbon needed to take a temper.

That said, my ammo stash is about 2,000 rounds of x39, not enough to appreciably hammer the holes in a rcvr. For low carbon steel I have a cheap case hardening recipe that could help.

5 Gal water
5 lbs table salt
8 oz Shaklee Basic-I or 7oz UNSCENTED Jet-Dry
32 oz of Dawn dishwashing liquid (the blue one)

For this or a 4130 flat the idea is to spot harden at the critical areas. Heating thin steel red hot will cause it to warp over larger areas. The tempering process for flats is to first hharden them "glass hard" then draw back the hardness (temper).

Caspian · February 17, 2007, 22:37

http://www.akforum.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17013

a guy on akforum makes and sells them. i bought one and it's pretty neat. i plan on having my Romy kit refinished in satin nickle and leaving the receiver stainless. it's going to be awhile before i finish it. got sidetracked by a 1919.

October 18, 2006, 11:58	#1
owlcreekok Registered FALaholic #: 15323 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tejas Posts: 9,331	Stainless AK Flat ? Feel free to slap me. I keep having this recurring synapse lapse that tells me to try a flat out of 304 or 316 stainless. That happens to be what we have laying around the shop. I have no doubt that our plasma table will cut it out, almost clean enough to use. What I KNOW it won't do is make all the holes. Well, hell, I can do that by hand. (You would think I'd have learned my lesson on THAT by now,,,NOT) So, now that I have removed all doubt that I am at least partially a fool, would anyone care to comment on the feasibility of using the 304 or 316 alloy sheet ? Think it will fall apart ? (ie-too soft) Maybe I should go back to sleep ? __________________ "It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men's lives be based on the principles of the Bible. No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible." - Theodore Roosevelt - (1858-1919) 26th President of the United States FOUNDER- Free ggiilliiee Foundation hehe

October 18, 2006, 16:13	#3
owlcreekok Registered FALaholic #: 15323 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tejas Posts: 9,331	BTDT. As well as a VBD flat, also a homemade flat, also a few Global Trades. I just like putzing around with metal. I am wierd that way. Or is it 'wired' ? __________________ "It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men's lives be based on the principles of the Bible. No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible." - Theodore Roosevelt - (1858-1919) 26th President of the United States FOUNDER- Free ggiilliiee Foundation hehe

October 18, 2006, 17:54	#5
owlcreekok Registered FALaholic #: 15323 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tejas Posts: 9,331	Slow; Eat my shorts __________________ "It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men's lives be based on the principles of the Bible. No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible." - Theodore Roosevelt - (1858-1919) 26th President of the United States FOUNDER- Free ggiilliiee Foundation hehe

October 27, 2006, 16:28	#8
Thunderbred Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 1393 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Grove, Oklahoma Posts: 274	You'd need a harder stainless, the holes would stretch. Forgot it also limits your finish options. Jeff __________________ When Hell freezes over, we'll have another place to keep our Beer cold! I can't afford bullets, so I flick boogers instead! Last edited by Thunderbred; October 27, 2006 at 23:14.

February 15, 2007, 21:37	#9
rudy Registered FALaholic #: 13184 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 14	I don't see a problem with it. I used galvanized 14 gauge sheetmetal for my first build. __________________ There's no government, like NO government.

October 18, 2006, 15:52	#2
FTW2012 Banned FALaholic #: 14375 Join Date: May 2004 Location: IDAHO Posts: 1,897	Why not just get a TAPCO flat for $15? http://www.tapco.com/proddesc.aspx?i...c-97228269cdfa

October 18, 2006, 16:52	#4
Slow Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 17330 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,653	i dont see a problem with the stainless if you can harden the area around the pin holes. welding the rail is not a problem. but if you cant harden the holes, as much as You shoot you might not really need to.

October 18, 2006, 17:59	#6
TRANSAM 79 Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 17867 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	As long as the pins fit tight enouph so they dont move and the hammer and trigger pivot freely on the pins like there suppose to,why do you need to harden the holes?

February 17, 2007, 22:04	#10
Edgsmth Registered FALaholic #: 25932 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: WNY Posts: 582	The holes are said to elongate without hardening. Also, food grade stainless lacks the arbon needed to take a temper. That said, my ammo stash is about 2,000 rounds of x39, not enough to appreciably hammer the holes in a rcvr. For low carbon steel I have a cheap case hardening recipe that could help. 5 Gal water 5 lbs table salt 8 oz Shaklee Basic-I or 7oz UNSCENTED Jet-Dry 32 oz of Dawn dishwashing liquid (the blue one) For this or a 4130 flat the idea is to spot harden at the critical areas. Heating thin steel red hot will cause it to warp over larger areas. The tempering process for flats is to first hharden them "glass hard" then draw back the hardness (temper).

February 17, 2007, 22:37	#11
Caspian Registered FALaholic #: 26 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 914	http://www.akforum.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17013 a guy on akforum makes and sells them. i bought one and it's pretty neat. i plan on having my Romy kit refinished in satin nickle and leaving the receiver stainless. it's going to be awhile before i finish it. got sidetracked by a 1919.

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