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Posted: 4/13/2005 5:55:55 AM EDT
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I thought some of you guys might appreciate this web site. I set it up a few years ago as I was logging my first 80% build. It makes use of a Shade Tree Armory 'Stage 2" forging. STA seemed to be out of business for a while, or at least inactive, but I see that they are now offering 80% lowers once more. The forging I received was top-quality, and the finished lower turned out great. This site sequence is composed of perhaps 20 pages showing some detailed machine work. It makes use of a knee mill, but it is possible to produce an 80% using small "mini-mills" as well. Enjoy!href=Stage 2 machining |
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Outstanding. If you don't live in one of those states, you gotta update your text to reflect the end of the Assault Weapons Ban. Maybe I should put up a pictorial of how to do an 80% receiver with a $90 drill press from home depot and a jig. Someday, I'll have a shed full of machining equipment. Until then, I'll be building AR's with my crappy drill press. |
I'd like to see that....I always wanted to build an 80% lower |
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TY guys, I agree, the text needs editing to reflect the end of the AWB... but one thing I stressed on the first page is that it is the builder's job to comply with their own state laws. I have bad images of some clown producing a state-illegal weapon, then saying "Well this dude on a web site said it was O.K!" I still haven't pursued home anodizing yet. That's something I'd really like to be able to do. Moly finishes are nice, but even normal, softer anodizing lends some protection to the bare aluminum. |
Well, hell. I guess this means I have to buy another 80% lower. I finished the first one, so it's time to get started on another. My buddy wants to build one. I guess I could rent him the jig and the crappy drill press to get my money back, then I'll take pictures while he makes chips. |
I'd like to see a good article on that. There's a couple out there on Caswell kits and/or hobby anodizing, but I only need to do two lowers and then I'll call it quits...~$300+ isn't practical, IMHO... |
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Anodizing is little more than sulfuric (battery) acid, a D.C. power supply, and a preferably sheet lead anode (or is it cathode? I forget). The dyes can be trickier, but Caswell's dyes are available separately. Clear anodizing is a snap. I've done scrap just to confirm it works, but I haven't pursued anything dyed yet. Google searches will reveal a number of homebrew setups. I'll see if I can find some. The only thing that makes me hesitate is that home anodizing is considered "soft" compared to hard commercial anodizing. But even soft anodizing is a surface far harder than bare aluminum or a moly coat. |
True hard coat anodizing is harder to do at home, as you need to keep the bath at around 40F and it takes a bit more amps to do it, but I've heard that a good, thick Type II coat is nearly as good as a Type III, hardcoat, although I have no hands on experience with this..................................yet.
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Here's a site with some anodizing info and some nice photos: www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize99.html |
Those look pretty nice. What magazines do they take? |
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