My 2nd Krag

[ssgross]

See above for a source of 1/4 head rivets with 1/8 shanks, soft steel, on eBay.
Here is step one..after fitting the handgaurd (sides flush with stock, sight cutout finalized, etc.
I laid out with pencil the centerline, and the center of the pre-milled grooves of the handgaurd. then measured the distance between rivets on my original on a piece of paper, and transferred to the new. I lightly dimpled with a center punch...lightly. the handgaurd at the grooves is < 1/4 thick..
Next, a 1/4 forstner bit on my drill press. I tilted the table until I had tangent to the curve of the handgaurd.

Handgaurd is tapered, so only one way to do it and that is holding it freehand. It was easier than it seems. Go just a little bit to trace the outline, check for even depth for-aft, side-side, and adjust. go a little more. I have no room for error on the depth. the new gaurd came a bit thin to begin with.

Next, use a 1/8 bit on a hand tap to drill the through hole. The advantage of the hand tap is it will not clean the hole out. You don't want it clean. This way, the loose fibers will keep the rivet really tight when you push it in.


Double check the depth of the countersink...cleaning out the bottom if needed. Be very careful. just a kiss of the forstner bit, twisted with your fingers not the drill press - and we are all done!


Now I can start on the finish while I wait on my sheet metal in the mail.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.