Most tufting gun "reviews" online are written by people who've never used one. This isn't that. The AK-V is the gun we use daily at Cheeky Studio in Hackney Wick in workshops, in commissions, in our own work. We've put hundreds of hours through these machines and we know exactly where they shine and where they don't.
Here's the honest version.
Quick Verdict
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What it is: a 2-in-1 electric tufting gun that switches between cut pile and loop pile
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Best for: beginners, hobbyists, workshops, schools, and anyone who wants both pile styles from one machine
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Build quality: solid and reliable for its price point not a professional industrial machine, and it doesn't pretend to be
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Ease of use: genuinely beginner-friendly most people are tufting confidently within one session
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Main strength: versatility. Two techniques, one purchase
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Main limitation: standard pile height only if you specifically want 40mm long pile, you need the AK-2
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Verdict: yes, it's worth it and it's the gun we recommend to nearly every beginner who walks through our door
What Is the AK-V?
The AK-V is an electric handheld tufting gun that drives yarn through primary tufting cloth to create rug pile. Its defining feature is the 2-in-1 mechanism a switch on the body lets you toggle between cut pile mode (soft, fluffy fibres) and loop pile mode (rounded, structured loops).
Most tufting guns do one or the other. The AK-V does both, which is why it's become the default recommendation for people buying their first machine.It plugs into a standard UK mains socket with no compressor, no air line, no additional equipment.
Build Quality: Honest Assessment
The AK-V is a mid-range machine, and it feels like one in a good way.
What's good:
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The body is solid and doesn't flex or creak under normal use
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The weight is well balanced comfortable to hold for extended sessions without wrist fatigue
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The mode switch is mechanical and positive; it doesn't slip mid-session
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The motor has enough power to handle super bulky yarn without bogging down
What it isn't:
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This isn't an industrial machine built for eight-hour production days without a break
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The housing is plastic, not metal fine for its intended use, but treat it with care
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Like all tufting guns, it needs regular oiling to stay smooth (see our maintenance guide)
For the price, the build is genuinely good. We've had AK-Vs running in workshops for extended periods with no issues beyond routine maintenance.
Performance: How It Actually Tufts
Cut Pile Mode
The cut pile is where the AK-V performs most consistently. The blade cuts cleanly through the yarn as it feeds, producing an even, dense pile with minimal skipped stitches.
We've run it with everything from standard acrylic to our own super bulky Loop 8 recycled yarn; the feed handles all of it without jamming, provided the yarn is within the bulky-to-super-bulky range.Pile quality: dense, soft, and even. The kind of finish that reads as professional rather than homemade.
Loop Pile Mode
Loop pile is slightly more demanding of the operator; you need to maintain steadier tension and a more consistent pace to get uniform loops. That's true of any loop pile gun, not an AK-V-specific issue. Once you've got the feel for it, the loops come out clean and evenly sized. Switching between modes takes seconds.
Speed
Fast enough to cover ground quickly, controlled enough that beginners don't feel like they're wrestling with it. A medium rug (50 x 50cm) is comfortably a 3–5 hour job for someone who's had a couple of practice sessions.
Ease of Use: The Beginner Test
This is where the AK-V earns its reputation.
We run tufting workshops constantly, with complete beginners including school groups and people who've never used a power tool of any kind. The AK-V is consistently the machine people pick up fastest.
Typical learning curve:
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First 15 minutes: getting used to the trigger, speed, and how it feels against the fabric
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First 30 minutes: producing recognisable, reasonably even pile
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First session: finishing a small practice piece you'd actually be happy with
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Second session: confident enough to start a real project
The threading process is straightforward with a threader (see how to thread a ㅍtufting gun), and the mode switch is intuitive.
Who Should Buy the AK-V?
Buy the AK-V if:
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It's your first tufting gun and you're not sure which pile style you'll prefer
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You want both cut and loop pile without buying two machines
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You're a hobbyist or home maker working on projects rather than production runs
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You're setting up a workshop, school, or classroom it's easy to teach on and forgiving with beginners
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You want a machine that will grow with you for a good while before you need to specialise
Don't buy the AK-V if:
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You specifically need 40mm long pile for carving and sculptural work get the AK-2 Long Pile instead
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You're running industrial-scale production all day, every day you'd want a heavier-duty machine
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You already own a cut pile gun and only want loop pile
AK-V vs AK-2: Quick Comparison
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AK-V 2-in-1 |
AK-2 Long Pile |
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Pile styles |
Cut + loop |
Cut pile only |
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Pile height |
Standard |
Up to 40mm |
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Best for |
Beginners, versatility |
Carving, long pile, upgraders |
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First gun? |
Yes |
Usually second gun |
Most makers start with the AK-V and add an AK-2 later if they get into long pile and carving work. Very few people regret starting with the AK-V.
Common Questions
Does it need a compressor?
No. It's fully electric and plugs into a standard UK socket. UK plug included.
Is it loud?
Moderate roughly comparable to a sewing machine. Fine for home use; consider ear protection for very long sessions.
What yarn does it take?
Bulky or super bulky (Category 5–6), low twist. Our Loop 8 recycled yarn is designed for exactly this.
Does it come with everything I need?
The gun alone doesn't you'll also need a frame, tufting cloth, yarn, adhesive and backing fabric. Our starter kits from £225 bundle it all together.
What if it arrives faulty?
We quality-check every gun before dispatch, and if something does go wrong we sort it out quickly. We've shipped replacement units internationally to customers mid-project. That's not marketing copy it's just how we handle it.
The Verdict
The AK-V isn't the most powerful tufting gun on the market, and it doesn't need to be. What it is, is the most sensible first machine for the overwhelming majority of people getting into rug tufting.It does two things well instead of one thing perfectly. It's forgiving enough to learn on and capable enough that you won't outgrow it quickly. And it's priced so that starting tufting doesn't require a serious financial commitment.
We recommend it because we use it. That's the whole reason.
Shop the AK-V 2-in-1 Tufting Gun at UK Tufting available in Pink Blossom and Desert Brown, in stock now. Fast UK delivery, Click & Collect from Hackney Wick, and you're welcome to visit the studio and try it before you buy.
Try it. Learn it. Make something.