Penguin handgaurd wecsog fix.

[hkshooter]

The last thread got railroaded, sort of, so here is a new one.
After studying the handgaurd and comparing to an original stg-58 part I have, I decided that the problem with the Penguin part is that the tabs that go in the retainer ring are molded to high on the handgaurd, pulling the top of the rear closer to the gas tube making the hg look to high in the front. This is what I did.
This pic shows the tabs which should be flush with the bottom of the hg.

[hkshooter]

I masked the parts to protect them while working. Here I have removed the original tabs and increased the size of the opening. Remember that the object is to lower the location of the tabs so when removing material, bias the cutter towards the bottom of the part. I taped them together to better keep the opening even while cutting.

[hkshooter]

I used a 7/8 socket as a mold for the new tabs. Wrapped the cloth around, let it set, split it to remove and reclaim my socket then began the grinding. You can see the beginning of a flat spot. That spot is the portion that goes on the bottom of the gaurd to allow the new tabs to be flush with the bottom of the part.

[hkshooter]

I used JB weld (300 deg) to glue in the new tab. Not seen well in the pic is a huge amount of JB weld that would be used to final fit the tab size. The less you can get by with using the better but use enough.

[hkshooter]

After the stuff hardens some I split the ring with an air saw. You can see the JB ran away from the ring some.

[hkshooter]

Here I've began fitting the JB coated tabs to the retainer rig. Also note that the gas tube passage needs to be elongated downward.

[hkshooter]

More fitting. Using mainly an xacto blade and a file. Be sure to keep the tab outside diameter uniform. I taped the parts together again for this.

[hkshooter]

Test fit often. Here, the gaurds will go on the gun by themselves but not as a pair.

[hkshooter]

After all the fitting is done shoot a little paint. I used bbq paint and warmed it with a heat gun. I doubt the paint will withstand solvents though, not being fully cured.

[hkshooter]

Here is the finished project. There is a very, very slight tilt up at the front. Can't even see it in the pic and it's not the moon shooter it was before. My anal self likes it a bunch.
In all about 4.5 hr worth of work including cure time for the glass, JB and paint.
Never mind the stainless 10X24 screw. I forgot the original at home.

[FWRA]

Great job hkshooter! That really looks great and is much more authentic.

Heads up. 200 Penguin handguards are on the way UPS Ground tomorrow. I'll understand if you can't get them done by Christmas....but please get them back to me by New Years at the very least.



Mark

[hkshooter]

Mark,
The job is kinda labor intensive.
By new years?
Hmmm... let me, uh, hmmm, get back to you.
Yeah! that's it! Let me get back to you!

[dougjones31]

I would think it would be easier to move the screw on the front down a little.

[rwwje]

hkshooter:

That's a super job and a great analysis of the problem to find this fix. The handguards look great and the angle issue is essentially gone; but the now straight handguards do sit a little higher than DSA's or OEM's. If "polished Penguins" looked like that, I'd be well satisfied.

On a separate but related note, has anyone used the new Kylon "plastic paint" which is advertised as chemically bonding with the plastic substrate to become "part of the plastic" as opposed to remaining a coating?

[Pa. Patriot]

Good job indeed


rwwje: Where did you hear of this paint?

[WadeP]

Krylon Fusion paint.
http://www.krylon.com/product/gp_pro....asp?sgID=GP07

I did some searching around and found this on a gardening website. The poster said she emailed Krylon and this was the reply. In that thread, most folks seemed satisfied with the paint's performance in coating plant pots. Another thread seemed to indicate that most of the colors are glossy or at least very bright.

Purported to be the reply from a Krylon representative...

"Fusion" is a product that can be applied to all plastics, PVC, rigid vinyl (not vinyl fabric) and resin surfaces for both interior and exterior applications. The surface must be clean prior to application with a good cleaner/degreaser. For "New or Unweathered Surfaces", wipe over surface with a standard 100% paint thinner. For "Aged or Weathered Surfaces", wipe surface down with ammonia based cleaner.

You may recoat the product before 1 hour or after 7 days, based on temperatures in the mid 70's and 50% relative humidity. Lower temperatures or higher humidity will slow the dry and cure times. Recoating outside the recoat window may result in wrinkling or lifting of the coating. Once fully curred, the paint is chip resistant.

The Fusion product uses an EZ Touch Fan Tip which may be adjusted to spray vertically or horizontally. The gloss range varies depending upon the surface profile of the item to be sprayed. No clear is recommended.

The Krylon Fusion For Plastic is offered in the following colors:

#2320 Gloss White
#2321 Gloss Black
#2322 Dover White
#2323 River Rock
#2324 Hunter Green
#2325 Burgundy
#2326 Navy
#2327 Spring Grass
#2328 Red Pepper
#2329 Patriotic Blue
#2330 Sunbeam
#2331 Fairytail Pink
#2332 Sun Dried Tomato
#2333 Blue Hyacinth
#2334 Buttercream
#2335 Honeydew

I do not believe that everybody has received that product yet, however, it should be on the store shelves in approximately the next few weeks. Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Ace, Five Star, True Value, True Serve and Do It Best stores all should be receiving the Fusion
product.

You might try www.acehotline.com for your on-line paint source.

Thank you,

[rwwje]

Thanks, WadeP.

[hkshooter]

DJ31,
Moving the screw lower would make the problem I was trying to fix worse.

rwwje, I thought that too but I'm not so sure. Gerald made the hangaurds more robust and wider/thicker all the way around and I think that may be where the height difference is comming from. From the front, these gaurds are dimensionally identical to my stg-58 originals so that tells me the front is located properly and the rest has to follow since the gaurds were made so straight. These plastic ones are quite a bit thicker and taller than my originals in the body area. Only the front portion that the screw goes through and the portion around the gas tube is the same as the originals.

Thanks for the complements guys.

[LarryLove]

hkshooter,

You are the MAN. Nice job.

Penguin handguards are overall really nice and affordable, so it's a real shame about the angle problem. Makes them pretty much unusable in my opinion. I never knew about the problem until I got a set

[rwwje]

That's a good point, hkshooter. I hope you will use your "realigned" Penguin handguards at lot and give us a few reports along the way on their longevity. Until/unless Gerald corrects this problem, yours is the only solution. I've noticed that several vendors appear to be out of Penguin sets. I'm hoping this is due to Gerald's effort to correct the problem; seems like it would be worth the expense on his part due to the significant increased sales potential. Thanks, hkshooter for biting the bullet and proceeding with your experiment in the face of the fact that it could have meant the loss of your serviceable Penguin hanguards.

edited for grammar, etc., doh!

[hkshooter]

rwwje,
Thanks for the kind words! As far as testing, thats a sure thing. This is my primary shooter out of three and I shoot it nearly every weekend. Infact, there is a match this weekend that I plan on using it in. After a few hundred rounds I'll come back and let everyone know how she holds.

[hkshooter]

Just to let any interested folks know, I've got another 400 rounds through the gun about 60 being very fast. Hand guards are still going strong!

[rwwje]

Thanks for the report, hkshooter.