Tweet
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to write a quick review of the 80% Arms AR 15 Easy Jig. The easy jig retails for $149 on their website. You can find it here: http://www.80percentarms.com/collect...ar-15-easy-jig. In addition to the jig, you will need a laminate router, 3 drill bits, 1 end mill bit, and a drill stop. 80% Arms also has a Tool Kit for $45 that includes everything needed except the router. I’d recommend going with this. I decided to obtain the bits individually from the hard ware store, but ended up spending more than I would have had I just ordered the tool kit with the jig.
A little bit about myself before I start, I’m 23 years old and I’m an IT “geek”. I am a Systems and Network Administrator. I’m nowhere near a mechanic or a handy man. I got my first 80% lower from a friend as a gift for helping him with some home networking tasks. I got the “bug” that most of us get. I wanted to finish it and build another rifle.
I did a lot of research when it came to the jig. I was originally set on the Broken Armory Drill Press jig, but I kept seeing the 80% Arms Easy Jig pop up in the forums and online. I wasn’t so sure of how a router would work (mainly because I’ve never used one). I put the brakes on and decided to wait. Finally one day, I just bit the bullet on the easy jig. As mentioned above, I got the tool kit elsewhere, but I recommend getting it with the jig from 8-% arms.
The jig was on back order when I ordered it so I had a good amount of time to read up on the instructions, watch youtube videos, read other reviews, gather supplies etc. Let me warn you, it was a bad idea. It made this already stressful and scary project that much more confusing and intimidating. The instructions are long and very detailed, but intimidating. Especially to someone who doesn’t know the lingo 100%. I always got trigger pocket, rear shelf, etc confused.
Fast forward 3-4 weeks. My easy jig and end mill arrives. I have my router. I have my tool kit. I have cutting fluid. I have everything I need to start. I read the instructions again and decided to give it a try. I started assembling the jig, but realized that the threads weren’t threaded correctly on the jig wall that I received. I called 80% arms and they sent a replacement wall ASAP. Huge props for the quick and fast response.
I received the fixed wall and started what felt like the hardest and most confusing project I’ve done, next to building my first AR. I assembled the Jig with a tactical machining 80% lower and started at the drill press. The instructions mention doing one “hash” at a time. I ended up setting the drill stop at the final depth and just taking it slow and often clearing the debris. I got all 10 holes drilled. (8 deep, 2 shallow).
I re-assembled the jig and went away with the router. This was the most time consuming as I only did a small layer of removal at a time. I probably could have gone with deeper passes but I didn’t want it to look bad. I wanted it as clean and smooth as possible. Having an air compressor or shop vac handy makes clearing the shavings a lot easier than removing the jig from the vise every time. After about 2.5 hours I got the main trigger pocket done. Off to the rear shelf next.
The rear shelf was a piece of cake compared to the trigger pocket. It only look about 15 minutes and was very easy. After this step, the rest is very easy.
I moved to the trigger hole. The trigger hole is easy, but for some reason I could never get it to be smooth. It was always rough.
The last and final step is drilling the 4 firing pin holes (2 on each side) and the 2 safety selector holes (1 on each side). This was easily accomplished with a hand drill.
Overall the process took 3-4 hours. Not the 1 hour that 80% arms claims. It was incredibly simple but be prepared to have a lot of patience and do repetitive work.
Here is what I liked:
1. Customer service is top notch
2. Vast amount of documentation and manuals on their website.
3. It really is “EASY”
4. The jig is very well made.
5. The instructions are great. ( I now understand them as I have one under my belt)
6. Price is competitive.
7. Hard to mess up. The jig only goes together one way. It’s fool proof.
Here is what I didn’t like:
1. Shavings got caught between the jig and lower which caused some of the anodizing to wear off. (Note for next time: clear any chips that may have gotten between lower and jig)
2. When using the tactical machining lower, one of the 8 holes isn’t aligned properly causing the trigger pocket to be “rounded” in one corner. This doesn’t affect functionality. It’s only aesthetic.
3. Time it takes, it isn’t an hour like they claimed.
4. For some reason, the trigger hole never turns out nicely. It’s probably my error.
To re-cap… The easy jig is probably indeed the easiest way to finish an 80% lower. To date, I’ve done 4 and they keep getting better every time as I learn how to and how not to do things. It’s fairly priced and well made. It will last a life time, as long as you take care of it. Don’t be afraid to try, just buy 2 lowers so you have one to test on and one to perfect.
I just wanted to write a quick review of the 80% Arms AR 15 Easy Jig. The easy jig retails for $149 on their website. You can find it here: http://www.80percentarms.com/collect...ar-15-easy-jig. In addition to the jig, you will need a laminate router, 3 drill bits, 1 end mill bit, and a drill stop. 80% Arms also has a Tool Kit for $45 that includes everything needed except the router. I’d recommend going with this. I decided to obtain the bits individually from the hard ware store, but ended up spending more than I would have had I just ordered the tool kit with the jig.
A little bit about myself before I start, I’m 23 years old and I’m an IT “geek”. I am a Systems and Network Administrator. I’m nowhere near a mechanic or a handy man. I got my first 80% lower from a friend as a gift for helping him with some home networking tasks. I got the “bug” that most of us get. I wanted to finish it and build another rifle.
I did a lot of research when it came to the jig. I was originally set on the Broken Armory Drill Press jig, but I kept seeing the 80% Arms Easy Jig pop up in the forums and online. I wasn’t so sure of how a router would work (mainly because I’ve never used one). I put the brakes on and decided to wait. Finally one day, I just bit the bullet on the easy jig. As mentioned above, I got the tool kit elsewhere, but I recommend getting it with the jig from 8-% arms.
The jig was on back order when I ordered it so I had a good amount of time to read up on the instructions, watch youtube videos, read other reviews, gather supplies etc. Let me warn you, it was a bad idea. It made this already stressful and scary project that much more confusing and intimidating. The instructions are long and very detailed, but intimidating. Especially to someone who doesn’t know the lingo 100%. I always got trigger pocket, rear shelf, etc confused.
Fast forward 3-4 weeks. My easy jig and end mill arrives. I have my router. I have my tool kit. I have cutting fluid. I have everything I need to start. I read the instructions again and decided to give it a try. I started assembling the jig, but realized that the threads weren’t threaded correctly on the jig wall that I received. I called 80% arms and they sent a replacement wall ASAP. Huge props for the quick and fast response.
I received the fixed wall and started what felt like the hardest and most confusing project I’ve done, next to building my first AR. I assembled the Jig with a tactical machining 80% lower and started at the drill press. The instructions mention doing one “hash” at a time. I ended up setting the drill stop at the final depth and just taking it slow and often clearing the debris. I got all 10 holes drilled. (8 deep, 2 shallow).
I re-assembled the jig and went away with the router. This was the most time consuming as I only did a small layer of removal at a time. I probably could have gone with deeper passes but I didn’t want it to look bad. I wanted it as clean and smooth as possible. Having an air compressor or shop vac handy makes clearing the shavings a lot easier than removing the jig from the vise every time. After about 2.5 hours I got the main trigger pocket done. Off to the rear shelf next.
The rear shelf was a piece of cake compared to the trigger pocket. It only look about 15 minutes and was very easy. After this step, the rest is very easy.
I moved to the trigger hole. The trigger hole is easy, but for some reason I could never get it to be smooth. It was always rough.
The last and final step is drilling the 4 firing pin holes (2 on each side) and the 2 safety selector holes (1 on each side). This was easily accomplished with a hand drill.
Overall the process took 3-4 hours. Not the 1 hour that 80% arms claims. It was incredibly simple but be prepared to have a lot of patience and do repetitive work.
Here is what I liked:
1. Customer service is top notch
2. Vast amount of documentation and manuals on their website.
3. It really is “EASY”
4. The jig is very well made.
5. The instructions are great. ( I now understand them as I have one under my belt)
6. Price is competitive.
7. Hard to mess up. The jig only goes together one way. It’s fool proof.
Here is what I didn’t like:
1. Shavings got caught between the jig and lower which caused some of the anodizing to wear off. (Note for next time: clear any chips that may have gotten between lower and jig)
2. When using the tactical machining lower, one of the 8 holes isn’t aligned properly causing the trigger pocket to be “rounded” in one corner. This doesn’t affect functionality. It’s only aesthetic.
3. Time it takes, it isn’t an hour like they claimed.
4. For some reason, the trigger hole never turns out nicely. It’s probably my error.
To re-cap… The easy jig is probably indeed the easiest way to finish an 80% lower. To date, I’ve done 4 and they keep getting better every time as I learn how to and how not to do things. It’s fairly priced and well made. It will last a life time, as long as you take care of it. Don’t be afraid to try, just buy 2 lowers so you have one to test on and one to perfect.
Comment