My homemade AK-47 Wood Kit! (WIP)

[BGrail25]

Hey guys! A few of you may know me as the 16 year old who made a guitar. For the rest, I enjoy woodworking.
I've had my Kraken AK for a while, and when I painted it, I painted the plastic kit urban digital camo. Well, it's gotten to the point where I'm bored of it and can't stand to look at it.

I've been looking at wooden kits for a long time, and I find them extremely sexy. I wanted to buy one, but like many other people my wallet did not agree. So, I did the next best thing... make one!

I got a small plank of mahogany, perfect for the top front guard. So I cut out the inside groove, shaped it, and made the tongue on the ends. And, it fits perfectly!

Here it is before.


Now, the wood kit so far.






I'm going to build the bottom part of the front guard, and hopefully the stock. I don't think I'm going to be able to make the grip.
I hope to have more to show off soon! Expect some more pictures.

Also, I plan to stain it, but I don't know what to colour it. Vote in the poll!

[R.I.T.Z]

Awesome work man

[GBear]

Mahogany!

[BoGrain]

Really nice work, I would pyrograph (you basically burn the surface of the wood using a special tool to create intricate design) a cool design on it and then finish it with a nice blond finish

[Thenooblord]

first thing I thought of YouTube- DBZAbridged - Mahogany

looks really good

[BGrail25]

Originally Posted by BoGrain

Really nice work, I would pyrograph (you basically burn the surface of the wood using a special tool to create intricate design) a cool design on it and then finish it with a nice blonde finish

Ah yes, wood burning. I've tried it before, don't think it will go over well.
That sounds like a really cool idea though.

EDIT: And thanks everyone!

[Kokanee]

No stain, shellac, just like the real thing. Get some amber shellac, mix in a little (a very little) "Minwax #255 Red Mahogany" stain for colour and apply in thin coats.

Here is a thread you should look at that has a variety of different AK's each with a different finish on the wood;

http://www.theakforum.net/phpBB3/vie...p?f=95&t=52761

*shellac source: canadian tire

[BGrail25]

Originally Posted by Kokanee

No stain, shellac, just like the real thing. Get some amber shellac, mix in a little (a very little) "Minwax #255 Red Mahogany" stain for colour and apply in thin coats.

Hmm, might check into that. I do think it would look nice with a light-red tint to it. And of course as shiny as possible.
Can you try to give me the URL again? It says I have to be logged in to see it.

[Rooster]

Looks great. I thought about making my own as well, but I don't know if I could make the lower I want (ak74 style) or the stock.

Are you planning to use the original Kraken butt plate on your stock? I think it'd work fine with some longer screws to hold it on.

[BGrail25]

Originally Posted by Rooster

Looks great. I thought about making my own as well, but I don't know if I could make the lower I want (ak74 style) or the stock.

Are you planning to use the original Kraken butt plate on your stock? I think it'd work fine with some longer screws to hold it on.

Thanks! Yep, I was just gonna screw it in. Nothing too hard.

[Rooster]

Oh and for the grip, I'd say just glue some styrene to the sides of the kraken grip and cut a cross hatched pattern on it. Then give it a bakelite stle paintjob.

What kind of tools did you use?

[BGrail25]

Table saw, chisel, Dremel, disk sander, file... The usual.


And I must say, I rather like this wood burning design idea. I'm drawing up some tribal designs, seeing if I like it. If anyone else has some designs, show me!!

[Rooster]

You're really inspiring me to try this here. could you post a pic of the inside cuts?

[BGrail25]

Originally Posted by Rooster

You're really inspiring me to try this here. could you post a pic of the inside cuts?

For sure. I could have used a table router, but mine was acting up. So, I used a table saw instead. It's nothing more than a square groove that rests on the bars.

[Kokanee]

It's worth it to get registered on that site, best US "AK" themed web board. ALthough by your "as shiny as possible" statement I think that you're probably not after a historically correct finish... If you want "shiny!!!!" then go with a mix of minwas #255 and then some oak, forget the number.... Then use some fast drying gloss clearcoat, thin coats sanding in between w/ fine grit sandpaper.

You have a lot of talent that you are wasting on that Kraken.