tempering the semi grip stick

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue May 31, 2005 2:12 pm

Just noticed that holes in the grip stick for the ar hammer and trigger are getting chewed up a bit.

the steel used was 10 gauge (I think) and I was having some trigger snap problems, but that is fixed. Has anyone else had trouble with the holes growing or does everyone temper them? thanks

Post by **TOM R** » Tue May 31, 2005 8:20 pm

I would say pm huntsinmtns he would know

Post by **Intruder196** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 12:04 am

I was planing on hardening mine like the AK builders do with the stamped sheetmetal type receivers. From what I have read on the net they heat the holes with a torch and then cool it by immersing in oil. It is supposed to harden up and prevent the holes from stretching.

huntsinmtns · Post by **huntsinmtns** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:49 pm

I ream the axis pin holes for a snug fit, no one has said if they have had any problems with them oblonging the holes. The wall thickness is .125 flat stock sheared out.

GR

ak47dennis · Post by **ak47dennis** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:56 pm

My first grip stick was made from thin gauge plate (and egged the holes.) When I made my second one the plates are twice as thick, just like huntsinmtns my trigger/hammer pins are a real snug fit. I did also heat the holes red and cool it in used dsl oils.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:13 pm

thanks for the replys

the holes are 'egged' a little. maybe I can peen them back a bit and harden. sure hate to replace the plates because the trigger and hammer hole locations were the hardest thing to do on the whole build for me. I guess if it doesnt work I'll have to rebuild.

Karbinator · Post by **Karbinator** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:09 pm

jason,
how many rnds would you guesstimate took these holes to Elongate?

skip

Post by **salt6** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:56 pm

Can you just wield one plate on do the holes? Then wield the other plate and do the holes. You could probably even harden the holes before you wield them on.

Steve

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:42 am

Karbinator, I will guess about 200+ rounds, It reallly showed up after it was shot off of the ground tripod. I had a bad case of trigger snap and when fired with the remote trigger bar there was no 'give' to the trigger like if you were using a finger. I have fixed the snap with a newly remodled disconnect (the hammer is set a little low so I had to file on the disconnect) and am hopeing that this will cure a share of the pressure on the holes in the grip stick.

Salt, great idea. no idea why I never thought of it

I did think about welding them shut and re drilling but after a test on a scrap piece went really bad I gave up. the weld is harder than the surrounding material and is a bearcat to keep things lined up.

Post by **hcpookie** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:44 pm

Intruder196 wrote:I was planing on hardening mine like the AK builders do with the stamped sheetmetal type receivers. From what I have read on the net they heat the holes with a torch and then cool it by immersing in oil. It is supposed to harden up and prevent the holes from stretching.

That's exactly right. Takes a propane or MAPP torch no time at all to heat that sheet metal. Possibility of an oil fire, and makes a TON of smoke when the oil quenches. I put a listing (with pics) of the steps on my site here:

http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/AK/do ... ttreat.htm

Quick-List Steps
The quick-and-dirty short list for tempering the steel:

1. TEMPILAQ the holes and heat to 1600 degrees. The metal should lose all magnetism and no longer attract a magnet. If using a Tempilstik, the heat has been reached when the stik starts to run.

2. Quench in sand (or ash or dirt) and allow to cool - kitty litter works too. (metal now annealed)

3. TEMPILAQ the holes and heat to 750 degrees.

4. Quench in oil (motor oil)... this may start an oil fire, so be prepared w/sand, lid on container, etc. (metal now tempered)

OPTIONAL - KASENIT the rest of the receiver shell.
That should be it. You'll need to do the holes one by one.

hth,
- Jerry

Post by **TOM R** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:24 pm

man we are realy rackin up the membership #'s btw nice site

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:44 pm

thanks hcpookie

wish I would have found your site when I was building my yugo

Post by **hcpookie** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:10 pm

Still haven't built my Yugo - the receiver is sitting there, taunting me!

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:03 pm

hcpookie. ya just gotta get-er-dun