ongoing restoration of a USA HiCap Maadi

[colonel kalashnikov]

Need some advice....., as I am a novice, but am loving every second of redoing my favorite 'ugly duckling' AK. I have just finished redoing the wood, got over twenty coats of rubbed linseed oil cut with turpentine on the wood. Took me a month. Smooth as a baby's bottom....They cleaned up very nicely....look sharp as heck now. I started to reassemble the rifle, but the rest of the gun and cosmetics still look like crap. I would love to have it re-finished, and replace the crappy black plastic pistol grip, rear site, and buttstock 'cushion' (the thin black piece on the buttstock that goes against one's shoulder upon firing). The only guy who does parkerizing on an AK (in my area) gave me a quote at $100. I aspire to achieve a nice look, but is that too much money to spend for the work......can anyone out there beat this price? Basically, i am a beginner in all guns, but am an appreciative collector, and have a deep passion for the AK.


ALSO!!! can I replace the pistol grip on a Maadi/USA hi cap with a euro made version, like a e german or bulgarian? Will the new grip fit on my rifle, and is it legal (due to the 10 import parts law)?

Thank you in advance for all correspondences....

[Gun Plumber]

Colonel,
Get yourself a couple cans of Brownells www.brownells.com (http://www.brownells.com) matt black baking lacquer. It's easy to apply and the result is fantactic! My new Maadi MISR actually looks new now! LOL

[Mr. Inbetween]

Do a search on past posts. Some great pictures and techniques have been on this board in the last 2 months or so.

[colonel kalashnikov]

I don't have the tools to apply the TRgunkote that keychain recommended, but I might try the spray lacquer as mentioned. The look that keychain has achieved is fantastic. Gentlemen....thanx for the advice

[colonel kalashnikov]

On using Brownell's lacquer spray, how do you spray inside of the receiver w/o getting runs all over the place? I understand about masking off, but I just can't envision spraying with a spray can inside of that rec. w/o getting runs......And do you strip the old finish before spraying........then i've heard that you should polish the metal parts.....polish with what? What about the crappy finish on the bolt, carrier, and gas tube.....polish? Sorry, but I am a total amateur at working on any gus......I refinished the wood, but that's the extint of my know-how. I also don't have a whole shop full of tools, either.

any help appreciated, thanx in advance gentlemen!!!!

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[This message has been edited by colonel kalashnikov (edited 01-31-2000).]

[patsue]

Colonel,
The brownells product if you are careful and follow the directions, won't run. It covers very well. It takes 3 treatments to get it ready for the final baking. As far as the stripper, I used an aircraft stripper I bought at an auto parts store. It was the nastiest stuff they had and what it didn't get came off easily with a wire brush. You remove everything off the rifle down to just the lower reciever barrel assembly. You have to remove all the fire control parts and everything to get to do this right. SOme have painted over the existing bad finish and had good results. I did it the harder way and am so satisfied i would do it again. As far as the gas tube and upper handguard on mine, I left it alone other then refinishing the wood. The metal wasn't that bad and I didn't want to risk damaging the tube or the wood. SOmeone else will have to help you with that. As far as polishing the metal parts, I just buffed the flat areas with some steel wool before the final degreasing and painting. It really isn't that hard. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions.

[patsue]

Well,
I didn't repaint any of the fire control parts, They can't be seen anyway, and I felt they were best left alone. Just clean them up is all. As far as taking the firecontrol parts out, I have the American Gunsmithing course on video on the ak 47 that helped me. If you don't want to spend the money on that I copied directions from someone on this site on how to do it and it helped alot also. I can't find the copies I made and I can't find the thread that talked about it. Look around here or maybe someone out there knows where the directions are. You have to look at the trigger group and note what you see and where stuff is. THat is important as it is confusing to look at the parts and the rifle picture how it is supposed to look. Look along the left side of the inside of the reciever at the trigger group, there should be a long wire deal with a curl circle at the front. You have to remove that before you can tap the pins out, the wire-spring holds them in with the grooves that are in the springs. after you get it out, then Remove the hammer pin and hammer spring assembly, trigger pin and trigger assembly, then the safety can lift all the way up to be removed through its hole. I hope that helps a little, not as good as the directions I can't find but it will help. Don't forget when you put it back together to put the safty in first. I forgot, got the whole thing back together, then had to do it all over again to get the saftey back on. If someowne out there has better directions give it a try.


Patrick

[This message has been edited by patsue (edited 02-01-2000).]

[RogerLee]

Hey Patsue,
Is the AK video worth the 25 bucks. I was thinking about getting one but don't what to blow the money on a tape if it just cover the basics.
Thanks,
Roger

[patsue]

I enjoyed watching it, but honestly, there is nothing on there you couldn't learn on the elsewhere like this site for free. It was helpful to me on the taking out and reinstalling the firecontrol system. I could have figured it out eventually on my own but the video sped things up. I only have 2 of the videos, the other being the M16 video, now that one I think is worth the money, very excellent. THe ak is such a simple weapon that there just isn't much to do on a how to video. JMHO

Patrick

[colonel kalashnikov]

Hey Patsue,

Thanx for the needed advice!! How easy is it to disassemble and reassemble the trigger parts? And how do you refinish them? The Maadi AKs i've seen (mine is no exception)have polished or chromed metal parts, or polished parts that are now very weathered and stained. Just paint em with the brownell's or what?

thanx again...

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[LAgunman2K-3]

on those AGI videos --IMO they are BORING!!!, at least the instructor is, i admit he pretty much knows his stuff, and if you need to know how to dissemble something they are pretty good, but the video quality is Lacking, bad lighting, shadows, the guy OBVIOUSLY reading off cue cards

a few simple changes could make them a lot better, i say rent it, borrow it, for the amount of info it has it might be worth the $25 but its more like a $15 video

thats my opinion, i could be wrong

and dont get too comfortable when watching it or you will be off to laaaa laaaaa land dreaming of AKs real quick

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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

[colonel kalashnikov]

Hey Patsue et al,

Do you need any complicated tools to dis-assem and reassem the fire control parts? I have the basics....but not a whole shop full of toyz (toolz). All of my good stuff is still back in Georgia with Pops.

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[patsue]

All I used was a pair of Needle nose pliers to help remove and replace springs. You will find you need them. THen I used a plastic blunt instrument to poke the pins out. THey can be a little tough at first.

Just remember, even draw yourself a picture of how the assembly is put together, it can be confusing if you don't.

Patrick

[colonel kalashnikov]

Well, it's official, I just ordered a bottle of matte black baking lacq. from brownells http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif I still am wrestling with the idea of even disassembling the fire control parts or just masking that area off and just doing the rest of the rifle. Oh well, for now I gotta worry about getting it stripped down to the bare metal and detailing the metal.

Hey Patsue, how well did you sand/steelwool you bare metal? Also, you said you disassembled the entire rifle down to the lower receiver assembly....that just means disassem. down to the point w/o any wood and pistol grip, right? And did you just use your home oven for the baking process?

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[This message has been edited by colonel kalashnikov (edited 02-03-2000).]

[patsue]

You really need to take out the fire control parts as you are going to bake the reciever/barrel in your oven. I read that it is much easier to degrease without the springs and such in there. It is VERY important that there is NO grease or oil on the rifle when you paint it. Some could still run out onto everything when it gets hot. Also, some thought that the oven heat could damage some of the smaller springs. I painted the inside of the reciever also after wire brushing it out good. Makes it all look much better.

As far as the steel wool, I just went over the bare metal after I stripped it with a wire brush and steel wool to get all the loose paint off that the stripper didnt get. Thats all.


To define disassembly, Take off reciever cover, bolt-piston assembly, front top handguard/gas tube, lower handguard, buttstock.

take out long thin pin retainer spring

Then take out the firecontrol assembly: hammer pin, hammer spring.

Trigger pin, trigger assembly

safety.


All I stripped, painted, and baked was the reciever/barrel, and safety lever. The upper reciever cover on mine was in good shape appearancewise in a matte black paint finish that matches my new finish good enough so I left it alone. If yours is in bad shape you can strip and do it too, I didn't.

Your oven should work fine. It has a certain odor when it gets hot but not too bad. Leave a window open. Of course I painted it in the basement with good ventilation.

Let me know if you have anyother questions, I'll check back.

Patrick

Hope that helps.

Patrick


[This message has been edited by patsue (edited 02-03-2000).]

[colonel kalashnikov]

if there is any way you could elaborate as far as disassembling the firecontrol parts.....which spring comes out first, and what pins are pushed out? http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/redface.gif

sorry for my naivety!!

[patsue]

I will try.

First look in the reciever. Along the left side you will see a long straight wire that has a curl on the end. That has to be carefully removed as that is what holds the pins in. The pins have retention grooves that the wire fits in to hold them in place. Once you get the wire retention spring out, you can wiggle the hammer assembly while pulling the pin out. Between wiggling, and pushing\pulling, you should be able to get the pin out. Then you can grab the hammer and hammer spring and work it out.

THen do the same thing to the trigger assembly pin. Then the trigger and sear assembly should come out easily.

Then the safety has nothing to hold it in so it can now come out.

Do all that in reverse to put it together.

By the way, notice how the hammer spring comes back straddling the trigger \ sear assembly and wraps over the assembly in the back. That is how it has to go on, it not only is the hammer spring but is the trigger return spring. So it must be placed on the trigger assembly properly.

I would practice taking it apart and together a couple of times, it will make sense once you figure it out.

Just be careful with that wire-type retention spring, it has to bend a little to get it out, I would'nt want to break that.

Hope that helps,

Patrick

[colonel kalashnikov]

Yo Patrick,

thanx for all of your advice. I got the brownells on the way, and I just got off of the phone with ACE. They're sending two FAL pistol grips for AKs. One for the Maadi, and the other is going onto my favorite SAR-1. I am gonna go on some AR pages right now though, to see the AR pistol grip as I may have ACE send me one AR grip and one FAL grip instead.........I feel like a kid in a toy store!!!! Someone on the board said the AR grip looks super on the AK.

Also, I think I should be able to figure out the trigger ass'y, with your instructions!!! Thanx again. I may have more questions for ya, though......

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[colonel kalashnikov]

Hey Patsue,

Oh well, guess I'm diving in head first now. I got the fire control pieces all out. They were much easier to get out than expected. I carefully labeled each part and put em away for later cleaning. I am scared about re-ass'y, though, hope I can pull it off. BTW, what did you do about your rear sight? Did you remove or what? I may replace it with a RPK sight, but they are kinda pricey (to intall on the cheap ass Maadi, at least). $19.95 plus s+h at classic.

Also, to what degree were you able to strip the bare gun down to the steel? What about hard to reach (and hard to spray areas) like the buttstock well and underneath where the gas tube connects onto the barrel?

My piston/bolt carrier has a horribly bubbled finish where it connects up to the piston. I am gonna refinish that piece, did you? ACtually, I noticed your carrier is a polished steel color. Did you just remove the finish and leave it bare or what? Another type of refinish just for the carrier?

Anyway, I am off to the auto paints store tomorrow. Hope the remover doesn't costs too much...Actually, I work part time at a paint store while I'm finishing my studies, and I could get a strong remover there, but don't know if any of our stuff would be strong enough.

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[patsue]

To answer your questions:

I did remove the rear site to do the refinishing. You must depress the leaf spring right in front of where the site hinges on the base. See the little "nubs" on each side of the site? With a screwdriver or some kind of device press down the spring and push the site down as you lower the spring and then pull it straight back. The spring is very stout and it will take you a little bit to figure it out and do it.

To what degree was I able to get down to bare metal? The stripper removed most of it except at corners and tight places. Then I went at the whole thing corners and all with a stout metal brush. Just do the best you can, you won't get all of it. Especially brush the inside of the reciever. I had a big brush and a little brush for the tight places. had to look awhile for the little brush. Found it at a local hardware store.

As far as the bolt carrier. I used a friends belt sander to buff off the flat areas. This was an aggressive way to do it as it removed a little metal. Then between sand paper and my wire brush I got the rest. I only buffed what can be seen and left the rest. I would use your stripper to get the paint off before doing what I did. Looking back, it was risky.
After I got the paint off, I used different grades of sandpaper to polish it. It was fun to see how much better it looked.

I asked for the strongest paint stripper they sold at the store.
They directed me toward "mar-hyde" Tal-strip
extra strength paint remover. It is nasty stuff. Don't breath it even a little bit. It will burn your sinuses badly. An open garage is the best place to do this. The stuff sprays on like a foam. Coat the metal thoroughly and let it set for about 20 minutes or more. You can literally push the paint off with finger pressure when you are done, it almost slides off the metal. Make sure you have protective nylon or rubber gloves on, it will burn your skin. Try the process again if there is still too much paint left. Shouldn't be too much.

I doubt any stripper at a paint store would work as nasty as this stuff does. It was only around 4 bucks for the can I think. A lot cheaper then any powerful stripper at a paint store. Checker auto parts and Advance Auto parts here has this stuff.

Keep plugging away, it will be a thing of beauty.

Patrick

[colonel kalashnikov]

Sweet, gonna pick up the stripper tomorrow. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/biggrin.gif I'll just get some good solvent gloves, masks, wire brushes, detail brushes, sandpaper, steel wool, spirits/solvents , rags, masking stuff free from the paint store, too. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif Almost can't wait to start the process. I got to get her stripped b4 the brownells arrives!!! Oh well, I think I'm ordering a RPK sight from Classic.....the present is just too damned ugly to look at. Late.

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[Fragger]

Hey colonel kalashnikov...you'll love the RPK sight from Classic. I installed one that I got from them a couple of weeks ago on an SAR-1. The SAR-1 has a 74 brake with a full Ace stock set and FAL grip and a Bushmaster tac sling. Time to look for a new project.

[colonel kalashnikov]

Fragger,

ARen't gun projects fun!!! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/biggrin.gif Nice job on your SAR. I just received 2 FAL grips for AKs in the mail from ACE 15 min. ago, and just put one of em on my SAR-1.....nice improvement!!!! Gonna redo the buttstock on the SAR to match the orange foregrips after I'm done with the Maadi. The other FAL grip is for the fore-mentioned maadi.

Where did you get the 74 brake, and how was it installed (I can't weld, don't know how and don't have the equipmt, not even a home welding kit or anything)? Also, what stock sets are good from ACE, which did you put on your SAR? I was thinking about converting my SA-93 over to pistol grip. Are the trigger parts any different between stamped and milled recievers? And, how are those red dot scopes from ACE, might put one on my Maadi..... http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/wink.gif

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[Fragger]

Hey Col.K...The 74 brake is a US made that was threaded. Got it from Sarco.I put it on a lathe and bored out the threads, then made a bushing that was pressed. Rebored it to .001 undersize of the SAR-1 barrel. Pressed it on the end of the gun. Then I silver soldered it on to be legal. The Ace stock is the bi-tube aluninum job. Don't know about the red dot. I have a few red dots on other guns and they are all Tasco's. One of them is on a receiver mount of a SKS-D. Be sure to post a pic of your Maadi.

[colonel kalashnikov]

Well sorry to say, but I don't have the capacity or machinery to do the brake like yours. Thanks for explaining it anyway, though...

Well, I am actually letting the last application of stripper dry on the Maadi right now as I write this message!!! Gonna brush/scrape it off, then hose it off, dry, and then go to town on her with some 00 steel wool, and polish up the edges. Still waiting on the Brownells. Then pix are an assurity after I'm all thru.....


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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[colonel kalashnikov]

BTW.....oh shoot!!! I only ordered one can of brownells. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/redface.gif Is that gonna be enough to do one rifle? I think I've read on this topic that one can was enough to do two rifles, and another post said that I should buy 'a couple of cans' of brownells. Hope I don't have to order more, that'll delay the finishing process a few days.

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[patsue]

One can was more then enough for one rifle. I still have half a can left for another one.

Patrick

[colonel kalashnikov]

Hallelujah!!!

Glad I don't have to order more Brownells. Am so eager to get on with the painting as soon as the one can arrives!!!! The rec assy and metal parts (I stripped the gas tube in addition to selector) cleaned up slicker than Will-ham Klinton in front of a draft board!!!!! Still gotta say, I am a little skidish about spraying that Brownells in the hard to reach areas........Oh well, if I mess it up the first try, I'll just re-strip and do it all over again!!! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/eek.gif

Lovin every second of it.......BUT got to get all of these AK projects finished before the growing season gets here in April!!

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[patsue]

When you spray, just use short up and down strokes the proper distance away. have the rifle hanging by it's front site from a wire or something and just walk around it while you are spraying. You will be amazed how it covers so well. Follow the directions on the can, and have a little paint thinner to dab on the spray cap to keep it from clogging. Before every spray on the rifle, test the sprayer a little on a newspaper to make sure it isn't spraying big drops.

Patrick

[colonel kalashnikov]

Hey Patsue,

what did you clean up/degrease the parts with when you were thru stripping? I finished stripping all of my pieces (i am refinishing the dust cover and gas tube as well), and sanding them down. I wiped them all with a healthy dose of mineral spirits. Was just wondering.....is something stronger like lacquer thinner more appropriate to use to get all of the microscopic pieces of dirt and grease off? What did you use?

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[CAV Trooper]

Col,
A gunsmith I talked to, who does refinishing, says he does a degrease, bakes the barreled reciever in an oven at about 200 degrees for a while and then degreases again. The baking process seems to drive oil out of the nooks and crannies where you normally can't get at it. Then he applies the finish, lets it air dry and then bakes it to set the finish.
Any degreasing agent that doesn't leave a residue should work fine. I even knew one guy who ran a gun through his wifes dishwasher. Maybe that's why he's single now???

[colonel kalashnikov]

Yo CAV Trooper,

excellent tip about degreasing!! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif It's one of those...'why didn't i think of that?'.....but that is why I value all of the knowledge I receive from this message board!! I will try that idea tomorrow.

I just finished sanding the reciver/barrrel ass'y, selector, and gas tube. Used 00 steelwool and 400 grit sandpaper to detail them, as that's all I had laying around my garage

http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/eek.gif Hey CAV, i got to throw this in....I noticed you're an airline pilot. I was fortunate this past Christmas to spend 5-6 hours one night in a L-1011 simulator at Delta's Operations in ATL. Spent most of the time doing ILS approaches with low ceiling!!!! BEST activity I've done EVER....I'm jealous of your job!!!

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[LAgunman2K-3]

Cav trooper is right about heating something to extract water and/or oil

a good way to see this is by using a weldors cutting torch and cut some metal --you will see the heat pushing the water out of the metal and away from the heat

thanks for the tip Cav trooper

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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

[colonel kalashnikov]

Well, the brownells arrived and I went to work immediately....

I painted and baked the gas tube, rec cover, a 30 round mag, and the selector today. Looks Fab!!! Can't believe how nice they turned out. Tomorrow is the main rifle itself....I still am a little aprehensive about drips and runs inside of the receiver, but hopefully it will work out just fine.

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[Tom N]

Originally posted by colonel kalashnikov:
Looks Fab!!!

Groovey Bay-bee! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/rolleyes.gif

Sorry, just had to do that, keep up the good thread.

[CAV Trooper]

Col,
Had to go two whole days without an update on the continuing saga! Don't keep us in suspence like that http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

Anyway, doesn't the Brownells baking laquer want the gun to be warmed up (150-200 deg) in an oven prior to spraying? From what I've read, if you do that the stuff should dry on contact. No runs. A few light passes on the warm surface to get the coverage you want, let it sit for 20 minutes or so and then do the final bake. Make sure to use a clean rag, gloves, etc., to hold the thing while you hang it up for spraying. No oily fingerprints and no burned fingers. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

Good luck.

Oh yeah, we're going to have to see a TON of pictures when this things done!

[colonel kalashnikov]

<marquee>YOO-HOO!!!! It's a Success</marquee>


I finished painting the barell receiver ass'y last night http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/cool.gif The Brownells performed flawlessly even in adverse conditions.....I had to paint the pieces in my garage (free standing and no insulation). I live on the Front Range of Colorado and it was about 45-50 degrees (which is decent here) during the painting, so I had to rig up two different heat sources, as I don't have a big space heater, only a very small one. Anyway, I hanged the rifle from the rafters with thin wire, and walked around it painting it and blowing it with a powerful hair dryer at the same time. Always warmed up the steel as much as i could with the hair dryer prior to spraying each coat as well.

I cannot frickin believe how awesome it looks. I spent alot of time detailing and degreasing and now am happy I did so (gotta admit, i loved every second of the work....it also gives me an excuse to drink some beer while workin on it!! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/rolleyes.gif ). The trick about degreasing it first, then warming it in an oven at 200 deg, and finally degreasing again worked like a charm. No dirt or oil worked its way out during the final baking like it did when I painted and baked one of my mags.

Anyhoo...can't wait to put it back together, but will have to wait a little while on a rpk site. I also am gonna work a little more on the wood. I will post pix of it as soon as it's ready.

This is actually a pic of it b4 the refinishing process. Sorry, it's a suck ass photo, but you can still see the degredation of it
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=203697&a=1498514&p=16308367&Sequence=1

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[CAV Trooper]

OUTSTANDING!! Can't wait to see the pic.

[Mr. Inbetween]

Dumb Q: What is the white square on the butt stock? Looks like the cat want to know, too. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/wink.gif

[colonel kalashnikov]

Good eye, mr i.

It is actually a sticker of an american flag emblem. Put it on there out of boredom.

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[colonel kalashnikov]

pic b4 refinishing......will be done soon...should have new pix of it this time next week

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=203697&a=1498514&p=16427116&Sequence=1

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[John S]

Geeze Colonel, my Maadi looked about 10 times worse then yours before I refinished it http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/biggrin.gif. If mine looked that good I would have left it alone. It's really amazing how nice the Maadi's can look with ALOT of work http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/biggrin.gif

[colonel kalashnikov]

Well I must profess....

The wood in the picture is already finished. Look at the prior pic in the thread where the maadi is assembled. NOtice how crappy the wood is in that pic. Both pics are low quality, but you can still see the crappy wood in the previous one. The picture does no justice. The wood pieces were f*#$ed up! Looked like that let Klinton smoke a big fat joint, and then they gave him the laquer gun to spray these wood pieces!! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[CAMPYBOB]

c.k. a job well done! looks too nice to shoot it. ok, i always say that right before i walk out the door with rifle, mags and rounds! you've taken "the worlds nastiest ak" and made something out of it. now, if i could only talk you into spiffin' up my "daily driver" maadi for me...

[colonel kalashnikov]

YO CAMPYBOB!!! Thanx...

Try fixin it up yourself....easy as pie!!! I knew nothing about working on guns, let alone AKs, before tackling the project. I also don't have a huge took kit, either, just the basics. I do work at a paint store part time, and I saved money by getting free stuff there, BUT many people have the items I used laying around in their workshop. Lacq. thinner, wire brushes, and sandpaper are really the only odd items to do the job. You of course need the stippers and paint, but other than that, not much too it!!!! Give her a whirl

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[colonel kalashnikov]

Well still workin' on it....slowly but surely. I polished up the trigger parts last night. Went at them with 00 steel wool, then 400 grit sandpaper, then 800, then 1500. Upon using the 1500, the last little bit of coating came off, and the trigger pieces looked like they've been chromed!!! Very nice.

I was gonna put the wood back on it today, but I want to hand rub 2 or 3 more coats of linseed oil on em. Still waiting on a cleaning rod and RPK sight from Classic, too.....

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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[colonel kalashnikov]

Wow, AKs are really easy to work on. I was able to get the trigger group back in the rifle w/in 5 minutes. I figured it would've been a 2 day ordeal, in which i would have to ask a bunch of quests. on the msg board. But fortunately, the pieces were quite easy to get in.

With all of the sanding and polishing I did, the trigger pull is almost as good as some of my better AKs!!!! Very smooth compared to its old state.

Still waiting on the RPK sight....and I am gonna rub in some more linseed oil into the wood. Hopefully will be 100% done within a week from now.



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Chicks dig the longball and the AK!!!

[AKDUDE47]

Did someone say strippers??