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AZ, USA
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Posted: 9/7/2024 6:31:25 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Vettepilot]
Hi,
Yeah, I'm a welder/fabricator, and I think it would be a riot to build an AR-15 lower receiver out of steel. I was thinking of a super crude one I had seen a picture of some time ago. In doing a search for that, I stumbled across the "Flat Spot" steel receiver kit. I never knew such a thing existed!! Anyway, links to them don't work anymore. Are any steel kits still being sold, or are there other offerings similar?? Kudos to Flat Spot for some really "out of the box" thinking on making that kind of thing!! Vettepilot PS: It's rather "entertaining" if you try to go to the old flatspot.net site... |
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Posted: 9/7/2024 6:39:33 PM EDT
[#1]
I remember the DPMS Stainless lowers. I think I've seen some uppers as well but can't remember who did them. Every time one pops up somewhere they don't seem to sell well.
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AZ, USA
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Posted: 9/7/2024 6:47:00 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Vettepilot]
[#2]
Yeah, I think those stainless ones were kind of boutique type lowers.
Those flatspot kits were apparently like 25 bucks. I would buy a couple at that rate to tinker with... I want to build something rude/crude. Possibly even steampunkt-esque.... we'll see. Vettepilot |
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Posted: 9/7/2024 9:44:36 PM EDT
[#3]
They are no longer in business, AFAIK.
Another source picked up where they left off, I do not recall who/whether they still offer them. @backbencher |
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Posted: 9/7/2024 10:01:04 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ScoutH57]
[#4]
I saw a guy do a brass lower receiver just for funsies. Forget if he’s a member here. Go for it.
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Posted: 9/7/2024 10:47:14 PM EDT
[#5]
Those stainless steel DPMS lowers don’t look any different than an aluminum lower so they would not be suitable for your project.
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Posted: 9/7/2024 11:01:12 PM EDT
[#6]
The history of the Flatspot lower as I understand it.
1st, it was just a set of plates w/ all the FCS holes. All parts were LASER cut. They were cheap. Then, an internal part was added to enhance the safety detent channel. Prices began rising, and the design was offered for sale. The TDP was sold to someone who decided not(never intended?) to produce it, and declined to sell it back to The Flat Spot. The Flat Spot then reintroduced the lower w/o the FCS holes, but prices were still high at a time when aluminum 80% and complete lowers were trending below the steel kit prices. The Flat Spot then closed its virtual doors. There was an AR-15 kit and a DPMS Gen 1 .308 class AR kit. The flats could be welded or brazed. Superglue didn't work so well. You could tap the receiver extension ring/buffer tube boss, or weld a castle nut on. Some ARFCOMers made some pretty nice builds. |
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Posted: 9/7/2024 11:04:32 PM EDT
[#7]
I remember wanting to try one as an exercise in can I make it work. Too bad they’re gone.
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Posted: 9/7/2024 11:09:50 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: I remember the DPMS Stainless lowers. I think I've seen some uppers as well but can't remember who did them. Every time one pops up somewhere they don't seem to sell well. Always kind of wanted one. I guess it's an oddity, but they are hard to find, but kind of a neat concept. I'd use it high-power to increase the gun weight. |
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Posted: 9/7/2024 11:25:04 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lazyengineer: Always kind of wanted one. I guess it's an oddity, but they are hard to find, but kind of a neat concept. I'd use it high-power to increase the gun weight. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lazyengineer: Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: I remember the DPMS Stainless lowers. I think I've seen some uppers as well but can't remember who did them. Every time one pops up somewhere they don't seem to sell well. Always kind of wanted one. I guess it's an oddity, but they are hard to find, but kind of a neat concept. I'd use it high-power to increase the gun weight. They were Heavy. Even Titanium lowers were crazy heavy. I believe Olympic did a few lowers and maybe uppers out of some semi exotic metals as well. I believe you could get a beryllium lower at one point. |
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Posted: 9/8/2024 3:53:09 AM EDT
[#10]
I have at least two hiding somewhere but they're hiding.
My son built one. After a lot of tweeking, it worked. He assenbled the large plates with superglue then drilled through and put in some nuts and bolts, copper wire and tubing, gears, a gauge of somekind, and used a side charging right hand upper with a reciprocating bolt handle instead of a standard charging handle. By the time he was finished he had a nice steampunk rifle. |
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Posted: 9/8/2024 12:06:04 PM EDT
[#11]
Im surprised theres not more options out there like the Glock pistol builds.
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Posted: 9/8/2024 12:59:23 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Tango: Im surprised theres not more options out there like the Glock pistol builds. Are there multiple steel options for Glock builds? |
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Posted: 9/8/2024 1:33:04 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: Are there multiple steel options for Glock builds? Not that im aware of. |
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Posted: 9/9/2024 12:29:58 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: Are there multiple steel options for Glock builds? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: Originally Posted By Tango: Im surprised theres not more options out there like the Glock pistol builds. Are there multiple steel options for Glock builds? Das Eiserne Glock: https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/07/18/diy-iron-glock/ https://www.northeastshooters.com/xen/threads/iron-glock.214022/ Hopefully NE Shooters is a friendly & known forum to ARFCOM, if not, please delete my entire post IOT make it entirely useless. |
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LA, USA
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Posted: 9/9/2024 11:30:56 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Dex223]
[#15]
@Vettepilot
Here's a discussion on the Flat-Spot lower from two years ago. Posts #15 and #16 might interest you. |
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Posted: 9/9/2024 11:42:31 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Dex223: @Vettepilot Here's a discussion on the Flat-Spot lower from two years ago. Posts #15 and #16 might interest you. Uh - a link? |
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Posted: 9/9/2024 11:44:07 AM EDT
[#17]
https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/Anyone-remember-The-Flat-Spot-ar15-lower-/4-772558/?page=1&anc=bottom#bottom
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/06/02/weldable-ar15-flat-spot/ Just a heads up....clicking on any of the Flatspot hot links takes me to a Strip Chat web page. 
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LA, USA
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Posted: 9/9/2024 11:45:25 AM EDT
[#18]
There's always this; the plans are out there on the web. While most people would make it out of aluminum, it could be made of steel instead. And, you could get a post-apocalyptic/steampunk look.
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Posted: 9/9/2024 11:52:22 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Dex223: There's always this; the plans are out there on the web. While most people would make it out of aluminum, it could be made of steel instead. And, you could get a post-apocalyptic/steampunk look. http://i.imgur.com/kORCT26.jpg https://www.scribd.com/document/97323902/60995712-Scratch-Built-AR-15-Bolt-Together-Receiver-Plans |
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Posted: 9/9/2024 12:22:35 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Wirebrush: They were Heavy. Even Titanium lowers were crazy heavy. I believe Olympic did a few lowers and maybe uppers out of some semi exotic metals as well. I believe you could get a beryllium lower at one point. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Wirebrush: Originally Posted By lazyengineer: Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: I remember the DPMS Stainless lowers. I think I've seen some uppers as well but can't remember who did them. Every time one pops up somewhere they don't seem to sell well. Always kind of wanted one. I guess it's an oddity, but they are hard to find, but kind of a neat concept. I'd use it high-power to increase the gun weight. They were Heavy. Even Titanium lowers were crazy heavy. I believe Olympic did a few lowers and maybe uppers out of some semi exotic metals as well. I believe you could get a beryllium lower at one point. I remember seeing the berylco ones, as well as brass and wanting them bad but they were spendy |
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LA, USA
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Posted: 9/11/2024 12:20:18 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Dex223]
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By backbencher: Uh - a link? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By backbencher: Originally Posted By Dex223: @Vettepilot Here's a discussion on the Flat-Spot lower from two years ago. Posts #15 and #16 might interest you. Uh - a link? Sorry...I thought I attached it. The link is the one in TiG's post. (Post #19) |
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Posted: 9/11/2024 11:27:12 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TGWLDR: https://www.scribd.com/document/97323902/60995712-Scratch-Built-AR-15-Bolt-Together-Receiver-Plans I feel like it is a lot more machinery and ability is required to fabricate the pieces of that kit than to finish an 80%. I think that really would drive off the majority people who just want something they can weld together. |
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LA, USA
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Posted: 9/11/2024 5:03:26 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Postal0311: I feel like it is a lot more machinery and ability is required to fabricate the pieces of that kit than to finish an 80%. I think that really would drive off the majority people who just want something they can weld together. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Postal0311: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: https://www.scribd.com/document/97323902/60995712-Scratch-Built-AR-15-Bolt-Together-Receiver-Plans I feel like it is a lot more machinery and ability is required to fabricate the pieces of that kit than to finish an 80%. I think that really would drive off the majority people who just want something they can weld together. There is, since this is a 0% lower. It's just a set of plans for you to make all of the pieces yourself. The guy that created it only had a bench-top mini-mill with travel and clearance so small that he couldn't make a one-piece receiver. I think there was also some proof-of-concept involved. |
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Posted: 9/11/2024 11:08:36 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: I remember the DPMS Stainless lowers. I think I've seen some uppers as well but can't remember who did them. Every time one pops up somewhere they don't seem to sell well. Supposedly there are some stainless transferable lowers made by Group Industries . |
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Posted: 9/12/2024 4:20:35 PM EDT
[#25]
I always thought a stamped steel AR would be neat.
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Posted: 9/12/2024 4:23:34 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Blacktoothgrin: I always thought a stamped steel AR would be neat. +1. |
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Posted: 9/12/2024 9:08:45 PM EDT
[#27]
Stamped would be cool. Serbu was working on one. Not a direct replacement for an AR-15 lower, but an option.
I bet you could get send cut send to cut all the parts for the flat spot style weld together kit. Somewhere I have at least one if not 2 or 3 still in the bag. |
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Posted: 9/12/2024 9:34:17 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Cajun_Redneck]
[#28]
I created a program to machine one out of a block of alumibronze but was never able to find the time to actually get it in a vise and make chips. Still regret not going through with it
I did make an aluminum handguard and 17-4 stainless/aluminum buttstock and sold it here on the EE |
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