GBExpat
Member
<nodding> That is what I was referring to in Post#15. I have found that it doesn't take much side loading time before those pups disengage and it is, once again, hammer time.
80% AR10 Lower
- Thread starter Robert
- Start date
- Status
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
The most important thing to keep in mind when going this route is to work to the strength of the drill press as much as possible.
Basically, remove as much material as you can with the drill heads before taking out material with the end mill bits.
This will reduce the overall stress on the drill press, and hopefully reduce some of the time you spend milling.
The bottom line is that if you want to use a drill press to do this, you need to be tremendously meticulous, and have a great deal of patience.
Basically, remove as much material as you can with the drill heads before taking out material with the end mill bits.
This will reduce the overall stress on the drill press, and hopefully reduce some of the time you spend milling.
The bottom line is that if you want to use a drill press to do this, you need to be tremendously meticulous, and have a great deal of patience.
GBExpat
Member
If I were doing the job on my drill press, for those large openings, I would be doing multiple close small holes around the edges in order to remove the unneeded center section in one piece (rather than trying to drill-out most of that material).
I would then use a mill bastard (out of the jig, probably) and the end mill (back in the jig)for simple clean-up around the edge.
That should minimize the end mill chuck side-loading issues.
Just a thought.
I would then use a mill bastard (out of the jig, probably) and the end mill (back in the jig)for simple clean-up around the edge.
That should minimize the end mill chuck side-loading issues.
Just a thought.
OP
OP
If you take a look at other jigs like the one from 80% Arms they have you drill out as much material from the center of the pocket as possible. Is that the best and only method? I have no idea, but it seems to be the popular choice with jig makers. Why Tactical Machining did not go with a drill out method I have no idea. I just eyeballed my holes and put them in.
But, so far so good. Slow and steady wins the race on this one. I know that there are many different ways to skin this cat.
But, so far so good. Slow and steady wins the race on this one. I know that there are many different ways to skin this cat.
MachIVshooter
Member
Can't do it that way. AR fire control pockets aren't through holes.
If all one has is a drill press, a whole bunch of little holes are going to be the best way. I'd probably opt for 1/4"; small enough to make the pieces you must break away easy to deal with, but large enough to bore straight when the hole you're drilling slightly eclipses one already drilled.
Me? I'm spoiled:
I probably wouldn't have bothered with an 80% if I had to buy a $150 jig to finish it. But I couldn't pass up the $60 shipped price from Ares Armor on their raw 7075 forged 80 percenters. Just chucked it in a 6" Palmgren vise and went to town. Took a little under an hour:
Would've been quicker with DROs, but I'm still deciding which system I want. Have 3 axis DRO on my mini mill, but that thing isn't much better than a drill press.
GBExpat
Member
Ahhhh ... now I understand what I am looking at in those pics.
In the words (word?) of Emily Littella, "Nevermind".
OP
OP
OK, so we cheated. After spending 4 hours on the drill press and getting less than halfway we took up an offer to use an actual mill. Holy cow it was awesome. Here are a few pics:
Attachments
OP
OP
While one can produce a functioning lower with a drill press it will take a long time and the results will be rough at best. But then not everyone has access to a mill. So if you take your time and don't get in a hurry it is doable.
Here is my finished lower wearing the parts off my AR15 for test fit and function.
Here is my finished lower wearing the parts off my AR15 for test fit and function.
Attachments
Very cool indeed. Nothing like the right tool for the job, but as you say, it can be done with a drill press. I did some "milling" with a drill press and just wood one time. It was a pain. I can imagine that doing metal would be very slow.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Milling machines are awesome.
That is all.
That is all.
Hello Robert - You asked if drilling out as much material as possible from the fire control pocket was the best and only method. It's not the only method, but it's usually the most efficient method when finishing an 80% lower at home.
We can drill out the fire control pocket holes using a hand drill in close to 5 minutes. That removes the bulk of the material and saves a lot of time and wear on your end mill. If you are using our Easy Jig to finish a lower, the milling is done using a compact router, which is much easier and faster than using a drill press to do the milling. Experienced builders can crank out a lower using our jig in under an hour. We believe that's the fastest and easiest way to finish one at home unless you have a mill.
Video drilling out holes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccO1Day60sA
Overview video of finishing a lower with our router jig:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiHdV5slQps
We can drill out the fire control pocket holes using a hand drill in close to 5 minutes. That removes the bulk of the material and saves a lot of time and wear on your end mill. If you are using our Easy Jig to finish a lower, the milling is done using a compact router, which is much easier and faster than using a drill press to do the milling. Experienced builders can crank out a lower using our jig in under an hour. We believe that's the fastest and easiest way to finish one at home unless you have a mill.
Video drilling out holes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccO1Day60sA
Overview video of finishing a lower with our router jig:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiHdV5slQps
- Status
