I am considering purchasing some 80% AR15 lowers and a drilling jig to see how hard it is finish one. My question is after I finish the lower do I need to have the lower heat treated to harden it?
Generally no. The lower receiver is not where the primary stress is. Before beginning, go ahead and watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=SYUfcxnDSWg&NR=1 (similar videos also exist there, as well as some how to anondize videos) and know you also that some jigs are out there specifically designed for folks that have only a drill press instead of a mini-mill.
Check out the vendor links at the bottom of http://www.darksoultactical.com/workshop.html for prices and wait times. Demand drives up prices. There are other vendors out there too. Add the lower and upper and internal parts and you are probably in the $900 range. Your big decision will be whether or not to go with a mil spec lower or a non milspec unit. Read the fine print and ask questions of the vendor if you can't tell mil spec from non. Either way all the other parts should be the same, i.e., mil spec or after market manufacturer specific. You will need a jig. Which Jig will depend on which manufacturer's billet you are using as non mil spec billets use different jigs than do the mil spec ones. Likewise, will you be using a drill press or will you be using an actual mill (or mini mill)? Again different jigs for each. Jigs run about $100 but you can use them over and over. Or use, copy, and then sell one to the next guy. There are plenty of decent videos on you tube showing you what is involved. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=SYUfcxnDSWg&NR=1 is a good beginning. There are also videos dealing with anodizing with various colors unless you get one pre-anodized (I find that sometimes scuffs in a jig, and black is so boring anyway).
I am currently looking at the drill press style jigs now.I have a lot more thought and research before I consider venturing into this. Thank you for the links.
Trust me am fully aware that a drill press I not designed for this type of work. Please keep any other info coming as it is very much appreciated. I will let you know what I decide on doing. I also know in order to justify this type of expense to start manufacturing these I will really need a good size of capital and customer base.
Actually it's pretty easy to do with a drill press if you're using a jig. Just buy some end mill bits. Oh, and be sure to get some jb weld because you will mess up.
Okay, so you buy a lower, need a good drill press if you don't have a mill, need to buy the correct bits, need to buy the jig, and jb weld, as well as other things. Does it justify buy a 80% lower over a complete one cost wise? Or am I missing something?
I think alot of people do the 80% because they can ship them to your door, no FFL required , there is zero paperwork involved , no back ground checks , blah blah blah, personally with everything coming back in stock and lowers easily at $100 and lower , I will just buy one done . Yes , I have to go thru a FFL , no biggy , yes there is paperwork involved " I dont care I have alot of paperwork already out in the world, I get fingerprinted every 2 years for my job and I have nothing to hide from anyone so I just dont need to go that route , however it would be a fun project for my kids and I to call our own .
So after its completed there's nothing needed to do? 100% legal even without a serial number? Correct me if I'm missing something lol
hers another one in the jig now,theres no better feeling then finishing your own lower,and getting them stamped is personal prefrence.also i've been told by a couple people that once they are finished they wont touch them because they are now a firearm but we have them ingraved and anodized once they are done.
Please tell me you're joking about even thinking about using JB WELD if you mess up???? I mess up it's in trash and I start over, wouldn't even think about using JB weld to fix a mistake on a firearm.
