[hcpookie]

Announcing...

IT WORKS!

Can't tell you how happy I am. The prototype is working, need to find sheet metal that isn't galvanized & then I'm going to start pumping these out.

Question about sheet metal cutting/stamping:

What's the easiest way? To make this practical for mass production, I need to find a quick/easy way to cut out sheet metal blanks cookie-cutter style.

Short of buying a press and die-stamping them, I'm wondering what are my options? Cut-off wheels work but are not easy. What about sheet metal shears or nibblers?

Enjoy while you can... in case the page doesn't show, my Internet connection is having problems and line maintenance is scheduled for this week... again.

http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/floorplates/us_floorplates.htm

 

[hcpookie]

I think I just found my shearing tool - only $30.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46681

 

[Vis]

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=H0731

$49.95

 

[Grendeljaeger]

It won't be long till you make every part of an AK Jerry!!

 

[kpd007]

Excellent!! I have my 74 build nearly done, and I said why doesn't anyone make floorplates? Way to go Pookie. Please post when you have them for sale. KPD

 

[Toten Kopf]

You are one amazing person!

 

[Vis]

:useless:

 

[Polish Taipan]

Don't they have to be pair with a US made follower to be considered one US part together, like handguards? Is there a place to get US made 5.45 followers?

 

[Grendeljaeger]

Don't they have to be pair with a US made follower to be considered one US part together, like handguards? Is there a place to get US made 5.45 followers?

No I believe they are each considered a part. See #15 and #16 on the AK's 16 countable parts.

1) Receiver
(2) Barrel*
(3) Trunnion*
(4) Muzzle attachments
(5) Bolt*
(6) Bolt carrier*
(7) Gas piston
(8) Trigger
(9) Hammer
(10) Disconnecter
(11) Buttstock
(12) Pistol grip
(13) Forearm handguards
(14) Magazine body*
(15) Follower
(16) Floorplate

 

[Polish Taipan]

Glad you're right. :thumbup1: I verified it in another place just to be sure. I'm not sure where I got that idea. Damn, I'm going to need like 35 of those. When are you going to start selling Pookie?

 

[hcpookie]

AHHH back online... again. Sorry for the intermittent website problems. Seems like every morning I get kicked off... someone once said that could mean moisture in the telco box(es). Whatever.

I think no one has made these before because why sell a US part for $1.00 when you can sell another one for $20? Capitalism at its finest

When am I going to make them en masse? Not sure yet... need to get some good sheet metal. The HD sheet metal is zine galvanized and of course the paint doesn't even stick to it. I'm sure you can't park zinc either.

Were I not to have just moved, I wanted to have already been producing limited runs. Once I get some non-galvanized sheet metal we'll see what I can do.

Vis, I'm having a hard time visualizing how that shear works - is that like a big paper cutter?

- Jerry

 

[Vis]

.

Vis, I'm having a hard time visualizing how that shear works - is that like a big paper cutter?

- Jerry

Yes , nice clean cut and no distortion . :thumbup1:

 

[Grendeljaeger]

Vis, would that work for cutting out flats from .40" 4130?

 

[Vis]

I don't see why not. I don't have experiance with this particular model. But it should work like a charm. :thumbup1:

 

[hcpookie]

Darn, Harbor Freight doesn't have anything like that. I may start with shears for now, just to see how things go.

I used 26-gauge steel for the prototype, and I'll be darned if it is rigid enough for production - was going to go with 22-gauge steel. Guess the dimples & bends really help out.

need non-galvanized sheet & will get all ready to go into production!

 

[Vis]

ITEM 38413-3VGA

 

[Vis]

http://www.onlinemetals.com/ :thumbup1:

 

[hcpookie]

Thanks for the links, Vis. I saw that one - $100. I want one for $15

I was looking at aircraftspruce.com as well, they are cheaper but the metal is thicker. If I have to do onlinemetals I will, but darn if they are pricey. I want to sell these for $1.00 each but I just don't think I have a big enough shop to do so. I hate to buy $200 worth of equipment/materials and not break even, ya know?

I don't know.. what do you think, would there be interest in these if I could keep them cheap? Heck shipping will jack the entire cost up another $5-10.

If I try to sell them outright, I want to be sure that I can keep the package under $20-$25. That's my goal. Otherwise, the cost will outweight the benefits.

Heck, for now, I think I'm going to make a test run, and just invest the bucks in the tools. Once always needs a sheet metal cutter, right?

 

[hcpookie]

Update - made another half dozen today. Trying to get the process down to make them more quickly. When I get my replacement mill, I will probably make a stamping jig to turn out several at once. The bending goes really quick, its the cutting and the center hole that is taking the longest.

I measure the retaining "lug" of the floorplate and it is 3/8" at the widest (diagonal) point.

QUESTION - would a round 3/8" hole be "acceptable" in place of the original square hole? Pics here of both, and the nifty stamped "US" on them

http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/floorplates/DSCN4413.JPG

These are more rough than I wanted but they work, and that's really what counts (who is really going to look at a floorplate anyway?)

What is your opinion of the round hole vs. square hole?

 

[mbadboyz]

I like the square hole and are you putting a finish on these? Ill take like ten of these when your ready to start shipping.