Hey GM280 I have a question?

[MTboatguy]

I was just wondering, if you were going to buy a small mill set up to finish 80% lowers on the AR, what would you buy?

 

[GA_Boater]

Let me do this to give gm280 a jingle. This may slip down the page and he might not see it, MT.

 

[MTboatguy]

Let me do this to give gm280 a jingle. This may slip down the page and he might not see it, MT.

Thanks GA, I know he has had a couple of tough days, just figured he would eventually see it.

 

[gm280]

Good morning all. Yes our Christmas this year has been mixed. Just within our family and friends, four people have dies this year either the day before, the day of and the day after Christmas. And I just receive word my brother in law is in the hospital this morning. Doesn't seem to be anything really serious, but it just adds to the situation.

MT that is a really good question. But honestly you don't need a milling machine to make 80% lowers. All you really need is a cross-slide vice and a good drill press. I have both and even a lot of end mill bits and will do the milling efforts using those items. I have read a lot of comments about folks only using the milling plates and a battery powered hand drill. Can't really mess up using the guide plates. They both guide and control the cutting and drilling actions.

If I were to buy a true milling setup, I would probably look at Grizzle Tools and see what they have to offer. OR, check out Craigslist for something usable. Grizzle Tools has a lower end model on sale right now for less then $700 dollars (model #G0781). But it honestly doesn't take anything expensive or large. But I would buy a large capably milling setup for other things if I were to go that direction. I do have a nice metal lathe (and a wood lathe as well) and I do use it to make certain parts I need. A milling operation would only open that capability wide open.

Now is a great time to buy up the 80% lowers and get started. And they offer not only AR15 80% lowers but also AR10 80% lowers as well. And how can you not want at least one of each...or more. :smile: Absolutely no paperwork, or need for an FFL or going through a local gun shop to buy those 80% receivers. You purchase them straight out like you would buy a part of your boat. And YES it is totally legal without any issues. JMHO

 

[Tim Frank]

If I were to buy a true milling setup, I>>>>>>I do have a nice metal lathe (and a wood lathe as well) and I do use it to make certain parts I need. A milling operation would only open that capability wide open.

I have an Atlas 10" x 54". I bought a milling fixture for it. Great addition.

 

[StarTed]

I bought a used Bridgeport through Craig's List. The extra tooling that came with it is well worth more than half the cost. That added to the American Machine Tools 15-80 lathe make a good team. I'm still learning how to use the Bridgeport.

Yesterday I tried to start the lathe and heard the motor groan but not start. It didn't take long to realize that I'd lost 1 leg of my 3 phase. The single phase is OK so my house and shop lights all work but I had to do the work on a small Unimat. Now the power company has the report and the long wait is on with all the other outages on their list.

My searches point out that one can do milling on a drill press but it greatly depends upon the drill press. Mine has a Morse #2 head so it'd fall out under the side thrust. Sometimes it even falls out when drilling. An end mill tends to pull out when milling so that could be a problem for a drill press.

Good luck with your projects and keep us posted.

 

[gm280]

I bought a used Bridgeport through Craig's List. The extra tooling that came with it is well worth more than half the cost. That added to the American Machine Tools 15-80 lathe make a good team. I'm still learning how to use the Bridgeport.

Yesterday I tried to start the lathe and heard the motor groan but not start. It didn't take long to realize that I'd lost 1 leg of my 3 phase. The single phase is OK so my house and shop lights all work but I had to do the work on a small Unimat. Now the power company has the report and the long wait is on with all the other outages on their list.

My searches point out that one can do milling on a drill press but it greatly depends upon the drill press. Mine has a Morse #2 head so it'd fall out under the side thrust. Sometimes it even falls out when drilling. An end mill tends to pull out when milling so that could be a problem for a drill press.

Good luck with your projects and keep us posted.

I hear yea. However, milling/drilling 80% lower receivers isn't really true standard milling per say. Because they are merely such soft aluminum material, little small bites is all you really have to do. And you can even do it without actual milling if you want. You simple bolt the guides on the 80% lower receiver and drill using the drill press. Then install the alternate drill guide and drill again. So there is only some smoothing out of the edges when all is said and done. And that is only if you really want to do that.

Actual milling isn't even needed to built an AR15. If you want it to look pretty disassembled, then either hand file or rotary file the edges or mill them. So many options. A hand drill can built one to perfection as well. The drill press is just a nicer way to make one. A cross -slide precision vice setup bolted to the drill press table and using end mill bits is another option.

I have a Jet, 16 speed, 3/4" chucked, commercial floor model drill press and tons of end mill and regular milling bits and a solid cross-slide vice. And I am reasonable sure it will cut them out without any issues. JMHO!

 

[bruceb58]

There is a reason a drill press is called a Mexican Mill. No precision at all.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Good morning all. Yes our Christmas this year has been mixed. Just within our family and friends, four people have dies this year either the day before, the day of and the day after Christmas. And I just receive word my brother in law is in the hospital this morning. Doesn't seem to be anything really serious, but it just adds to the situation.

Just saw this gm. Man, that's rough. Seems like loss of life around Christmas is always the toughest to deal with, not that any other day is easy by any stretch of the imagination. Sorry for all the loss in your life recently, you have the Musky's condolences and prayers...... Also, hope your BIL recovers quickly.........

 

[gm280]

Just saw this gm. Man, that's rough. Seems like loss of life around Christmas is always the toughest to deal with, not that any other day is easy by any stretch of the imagination. Sorry for all the loss in your life recently, you have the Musky's condolences and prayers...... Also, hope your BIL recovers quickly.........

Thanks WIMUSKY. We did go to a viewing yesterday for my friend and neighbor that I have been helping out over the last few years. I talked with him two days before is passed away. And his last words to me were "You need to get that boat finished so WE can go fishing". I honestly will miss him showing up in my shop where we would talk about anything and everything under the sun. He loved coming over to my shop, even when he was finally in a wheelchair (motorized).

And I have to admit, between family and close friends, we know of 8 deaths that have taken place in the last three or four days. It seems unbelievable the numbers. Some expected, and other certainly a shocking surprise. But live goes on and we have to acknowledge the bad with the good.

 

[WIMUSKY]

You're right gm, life still must go on. Sounds like you have a healthy attitude. Still will be sending you prayers along with the other families....