18. Since I will be fitting a folding stock onto this particular Saiga, I needed to first remove (cutoff) the top rear tang. Again, I employed the Dermal and cutoff wheel. Tip – go slow, if you try to rush it, you will burn up your cutoff wheels.
19. The gun was next completely degreased and cleaned for painting. I masked off the section as best I could and used Aluma Hyde II in Matt black from Brownell. Tip – Aluma Hyde dries to the touch in about 20 mins or so. At this point you can apply a second coat if you wish. However, once it starts to cure, it requires about 6 – 7 days of actual cure time. If on day 1 or 2, you notice it requires a touch up, DON’T!!!! it will wrinkle up. The hotter you can keep it, the faster it will cure. For small parts, you can bake it in the oven at about 200 – 250 degrees F for about 2 hours. WARNING – it does produce toxic smells and should not be attempted in an oven you cook with! Besides, your wife gets really ******.
20. Time to put it all together.
21. I started by installing the trigger guard.
22. Next I installed the internal block.
23. Next, the folding mechanism and stock.
24. Before the Tapco hammer can be installed, I had to grind off the ‘hump’ on the back of the trigger and take about 0.050” off the pivot housing to allow the installation of the BOH (bolt hold open).