80% finishing

[Eric P]

Thinking of getting a small drill press and mill vise

This
https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-5-speed-bench-drill-press-60238.html
Or this gor the drill press

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-in-12-speed-bench-drill-press-63471.html

And this slide vise
https://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-cross-slide-vise-32997.html

These should work, right?

[Grant H.]

Honestly, either borrow, or (since you're looking at buying tools) buy, a router Jig and a router.

I've completed a couple on a mill, and unless you have a DRO, it's a PITA.

I've also done some with a router jig, and it's way faster. With the 80% Arms Gen 2, it takes less than an hour... https://www.80percentarms.com/products/easy-jig-gen-2-multi-platform-ar-15-and-308-80-lower-jig.html
(https://www.80percentarms.com/products/easy-jig-gen-2-multi-platform-ar-15-and-308-80-lower-jig.html)
ETA:

It's a little more money than your drill press and slide vise, but the end result will be significantly better with the jig and a router.

[00tec]

Agreed

[Wulf202]

What grant said

[powerstroke79]

What grant said

+1

[Great-Kazoo]

What grant said

+4 A drill by itself is not a mill. Or ever intended to be one. happen. There's issues using a round column unit also.

[Rucker61]

Router recommendations?

[00tec]

I use a dewalt dwp611. Works well.

[Mazin]

5d Tactical jig (the thing will last foever since the design doesnt allow the end mill to ever meet the jig). You need to get the tooling kit (specialty end mill) and the dewalt dwp611 router. Should take About 30 min for a professional looking finish.

[ray1970]

I?ll have to hunt for them but I think I have some brand new bits somewhere around here that are supposed to be for doing an 80% lower.

I think there are one or two end mills and a couple of drill bits if I remember correctly.

If I can remember where I put them I?d be happy to loan them out if someone needs them.

Finding them might take a little while. I?m helplessly disorganized.

[Irving]

Reading this thread reminds me that I have an 80% jig I bought years ago and have no idea where it is.

[Great-Kazoo]

Reading this thread reminds me that I have an 80% jig I bought years ago and have no idea where it is.

:(

[Skully]

5d Tactical jig (the thing will last foever since the design doesnt allow the end mill to ever meet the jig). You need to get the tooling kit (specialty end mill) and the dewalt dwp611 router. Should take About 30 min for a professional looking finish.

Last forever yes, but not scratch proof as one impatience guy learned that mistake by not waiting until the router stopped before pulling it out.

I had the 5D as well and it is one super dooper awesome and easy jig, I don't need a drill press, my cordless ryobi is all I need for the first and only hole to start the milling with a router. Then the drill again for the fcg pins and the safety, done in less than 2 minutes.

[hatidua]

Last forever yes, but not scratch proof as one impatience guy learned that mistake by not waiting until the routed stopped before pulling it out.

Always stop routing before pulling out. Or so I hear...

[Grant H.]

Always stop routing before pulling out. Or so I hear...

Words to live by...

It prevents "breakage"....

That's it, I'm done...