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Originally Posted By squashpup:
You have a machine...make one! My Dad did this when he did a 0%. He figured it would only have to be hard enough to cut aluminum, so he didn't have to do any hardening to it or mill it out of anything exotic. Just cut the threads to the correct size then milled the fluting into it. Worked just fine! Originally Posted By squashpup:
Originally Posted By AFCarbon15:
...Waiting on delivery of the tap for the receiver extension. Then a little Cerakoat and she's ready to rock. You have a machine...make one! My Dad did this when he did a 0%. He figured it would only have to be hard enough to cut aluminum, so he didn't have to do any hardening to it or mill it out of anything exotic. Just cut the threads to the correct size then milled the fluting into it. Worked just fine! All of that was prior to having a lathe capable of threading. Now, for larger holes, I do a lot more threading, internal and external on the lathe than I do tap or die. Fun playing with sizing and thread engagement. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
| Here's a recent project. Knock-off of Serbu's GB22 It doesn't qualify as AR-15 or Milling, but it is as "Build it Yourself" as possible. Fun project, but many would just call it a waste of time. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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I like using 3/8" end mills, though ideally they should be 5/16" or something, but it doesn't really matter as long as the FCG will fit. If you are using carbide end mill you can really crank the speed (more than 6000RPM) to get a smooth cut.
Those carbide end mills designed for aluminum works very well. |
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Originally Posted By fpcopo:
That fcg pocket looks really nice. I hope my first 80% comes out that good when I try it! What kind and size end mills should I use for the smoothest cut and correct radius when I cut my fcg out? |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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I haven't had much time for shop time, but I have made a few investments in equipment. A new HF bandsaw and a new bench grinder for a wire wheel and buffing wheel.
Helped a local ARFcom'er with a cool project too. Threading the receiver extension on a flatspot lower. Lined it all up in the lathe to ensure concentricity. 
@sublimeshooter 's Build Link |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Been way too long since I've had any time to play in the shop. This one is a few months old. Stainless 9mm brake. Pretty sure that's the first time I ever cut 1/2x36 threads. Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Been a slow winter in the shop. Not much time at all really. This summer I picked up a lot of old tooling. One of the pieces is an old Brown & Sharpe indexer that is missing a few pieces. I'm attempting to build those pieces now.
Gotta start somewhere. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Lazy man's keyway. Split the difference, drill and tap a hole. Screw is the key. Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Still have to bore for the worm drive, FAB a indexing plate, handle and lock.
But I'm getting there. Attached File Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Brown & Sharpe #249. I can't find anything on the ol girl anywhere. As I found her Attached File After many hours of boring and threading, testing and fitting Attached File Some of this stuff just eats days worth of time. Progress is progress. She's finally coming together Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Finally got her finished! The stops for the indexing plate, I'm sure they have a name, were not easy to design. They look simple now, but it took me a while to work it all out. They are aluminum as to not wear anything important, sacrificial if yiu will, with a stainless toggle type lock. They now ride around the out side of the thrust bearings.
The lock does a 1/4 twist to drop the pin. And is in a slot for additional rows of holes. So far I only have this one plate with one row of holes, but I have an additional blank plate all done and ready for holes. 3 degrees per turn, so divide 120 by the number of indexes desired and turn that many full turns. So until I need gears cut or the like, one hole in the dividing plate will do for most stuff I need. I can't express enough how excited I am to get the ol piece from the 40's or 50's back into working order. First project will probably be a muzzle brake, but I need to machine a suomi reunion and this should do the trick quite nicely! Dividers roughed out Attached File Dividers done with the locking toggle and close up of the new locking pin Attached File I know, the handles don't look lime they belong together. Function>Form. Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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I can't lie and say it took a lot of time, but adding in all of parts deal hunting, it consumed a lot of attention too. It didn't require and hi-tech tools, but I kinda like it so far. Really need to find a deal on an RMR now. Polymer 80%, 100% non-Glock Glock. Attached File ETA: Got the RMR Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Originally Posted By AFCarbon15:
I can't lie and say it took a lot of time, but adding in all of parts deal hunting, it consumed a lot of attention too. It didn't require and hi-tech tools, but I kinda like it so far. Really need to find a deal on an RMR now. Polymer 80%, 100% non-Glock Glock. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/89127/19691-486864.JPG 
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We are the People...!
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Mini-mill power feed from a Baldor gear motor I acquired. Although it took several weeks and no progress pics until now, It is workin! Still have to wire up the limit switches and maybe fine tune the engagement a little. Even without CNC, standing back watching power feed run is nice! Disengaged for manual machining Attached File Engaged Attached File Square drive, for spark plug socket, gear motor and mount Attached File Unit ready to mount Attached File I don't have any pics from the top or video of it in action. I get in the groove and forget to take pics. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Made use of the power feed squaring up a saw cut drop in prep of making a lathe dog for pistol barrels. Needed to turn a pistol barrel on centers, had to make a mandrel for the chamber, no dead center I had available was small enough nor was the breach symmetric. "Turned" out great. It's amazing the finish difference when the motor feeds vs your hand crankin'
Attached File Attached File Attached File Also got the relays for the limit switches on the power feed. Attached File I refuse to buy Chi com gun parts, but I wouldn't have the electronics I do nor the ability to make them work for me as much as I do with out their prices. Arduino type electronics are ridiculously low prices. So low, I can't find an excuse not to learn with them. And the possibilities are endless. Who am I kidding, it's a Chinese mill too. Dammit. 
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Don't remember where I posted this before, but my buddy's 10 year old kid, who thinks I'm his uncle, managed to mill his own lower without me doing anything but verbal instructions. He even assembled the lower himself. Milling and assembly all in under 3 hours. I think that's pretty good for a 10 year old. Attached File Obviously he thinks I'm the coolest uncle ever! |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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The multi-machine's mill sucks. It would be better than trying to use a drill press as a mill. It has more power than my mini mill and more range of travel. But you have to lock everything down tight to compensate for the backlash everywhere. Which limits your abilities and greatly increases machine time. I used to think backlash was only an issue with counting turns, but tooling will attempt to walk around within your backlash if the machine's mass can't compensate enough. I end up having to tighten the gibbs so much I might as well lock them down. Otherwise, tooling walking around leads to chatter, chatter leads to poor finish in the best case and usually broken or chipped tooling, but in the worst cases it trashes your work. I'm glad I bought it for the deal it was, but I would highly advise against purchasing new. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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I finally got some time to play with my new rotary table. If I had a bigger piece of scrap laying around, this could have been another 0%'er!
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Originally Posted By AFCarbon15:
I finally got some time to play with my new rotary table. If I had a bigger piece of scrap laying around, this could have been another 0%'er! https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/89127/45997_jpeg-848522.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/89127/IMG_20190216_231311_193_jpg-848523.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/89127/20190217_093117_jpg-848524.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/89127/46004_jpeg-848525.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/89127/46006_jpeg-848527.JPG |
Married the most eligible woman on ARFCOM. https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/That-Every-Man-Be-Armed-Free-AR-parts-Please-contribute-your-parts-Trash-Panda-vid-Pg-15-/5-2146304/
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Originally Posted By backbencher: Congrats on the Lyndon lower. Add an AR57 upper and a $30 Vism thumbhole and you're in business. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Originally Posted By backbencher:
Or use em as a trigger jig on a semi-STEN. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Spent way too much time making something simple. But I'm satisfied with the results and will have them ready when a project pops up. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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A quick project to fix up somebody else's mess. 1890 Win 22WRF Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Originally Posted By AFCarbon15: Ha, yeah well that was for "fitting" the magwell. A very long and tedious process. Must have taken mags in and out 200 times between light passes with the file. It was easier to see where it was catching when I could lightly hold the lower with both hands an slide it on and off the mag. Then once it fit just right, well I had to sit back and marvel long enough for a celebratory pic. 
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Yeah, I had hi spot / dykem. But trying to get close as quick as possible, I just chewed away, then tried inserting the mag. Pretty sure I was watching some garbage on TV and drinking beer the whole time. I can't see ever doing another from a raw forging. Maybe from a billet, maybe. When its $35 for a decent 80%'er, I can't justify the other 50 hours of manual machining and setup. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Originally Posted By lysanderxiii:
Never say never... You might find yourself making something of your own imagination. 
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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did we address whether you have kids? i want to get into it, but the kid factor is perpetually hamstringing me... not complaining per se, having a blast, but its real hard to start and stop with the lil lemmings trying to do the dumbest things possible, hahaha
great work btw!! real ineresting |
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No kids myself, but the SO has a couple. They are teenagers, so they prefer their social lives 90% of the time. That said, I spend very little time in the shop outside of Ohio winters. I have the majority of my equipment in my dads garage. So it's not all alone time, I get to BS'ing with him most days. But again, it's an evolution for me. Time, experience, capabilities and tooling all progressing and compounding. |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Had a need for a sight I couldn't find. Figured I'd take it as an opportunity to see what I could do. Pretty simple requirement, but lots of options for setups. I think it turned out pretty nice. Nearly too good for the beat up 100'ish year old Steven's recipient.
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Much like launching pivot pin detents and springs, those who have tapped the rear takedown detent know the struggles with pushing in the spring with the tiny set screw. This sets on the back of the receiver, located on the RE and anti-rotation holes.
It will help keep the tap aligned, and then keep the spring, screw and tiny Allen wrench all aligned during assembly. Required, certainly not. Am I glad I spent the time to do it, hell yeah! Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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