AR build tools

[flyboy3394]

Gonna be building my first AR very soon here and want to figure out what tools are necessary to ensure I put the gun together correctly.

I know I will need
- punches (not sure what kind)
- receiver vise blocks
- AR armorers wrench (have one)


What else do I need?

Also, any tips for not damaging/marring my stuff up unnecessarily?

[milotrain]

I didn't use any punches. I had a brass screw lying around that I used. Use brass for your punches if you can. I didn't care about marring up the bolt catch pin, and the hole was undersized so it got stuck half way. Had to heat it up to get it out, then build an aircraft drill extension and redrill it. You can still barely see the marring. Unless you have some fancy lower with some fancy coating the descriptions of taping everything and rubber wrapping pliers seems like massive overkill but to each his own.

Other than the barrel nut all the tools are things most handy folks have lying around.

[REDdawn6]

Punches are nice. I also use a set of roll pin starter punches. Has hole in end to start roll pins. I got on Ebay for like $5

[SquidBilly]

Those 3 are all i used. A small hammer is recommended for driving the punches and masking tape so you don't bang things up or put a scratch on it during assembly.

I got my punches from eBay. A set of six. Half brass half steel. I only used 2 of them. I believe a 1/16" and the 1/8" brass.

[KyleGunGuns]

Found that I didn't need any of those tools. For the pins I used an adjustable wrench to squeeze the pins instead of hammering. Make sure you wrap the teeth of the wrench with electrical tape so you don't scratch anything. Looking back a vise would have been nice to free up both hands but it can be done without one.

[TrinityArm]

Torque wrench for the barrel nut and some moly-lithium grease from your local auto parts store or aeroshell grease 64 (33ms) which is supposedly mil-spec. Make sure it doesn't contain granite or copper, (check msds online if you have to). Some rails come with a wrench for the barrel nut so you may not even need a armorer's wrench.