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Recently completed my AR-15 80% lower, with use of my Easy Jig. Started with a TM 7075 forged lower. I've read about how the billet lowers are easier to mill, but I was being cheap. My entire goal for this build was to build it as cheap as possible, since it is my first. I think all in, not including the jig and tools, I'm in it for about $600.00!
Besides my Easy Jig, I used my trusty old 1940's Atlas drill press, which still runs like a champ, and a Makita RTO701C router. I initially had a Bosch Colt (I know, not recommended, but $45 on CL! But found out after I started, that it won't maintain speed under load, probably why it was on craigslist. Doh!). Was going to go with the Ridgid, but just couldn't do it. I'm a Makita man, never had a bad one. Two notes with the Makita- it gets HOT! I think because of the aluminum casing, I had to use welding gloves to hold the thing. And the collet is deep, I had to move the cutter down in the collet to finish the last cuts.
Setting my lower in the Easy Jig was cake, it pretty much lines itself up. Using it in my drill press made drilling the pocket holes easy. Found it best to line each hole up with the bit to center it with the drill press off, then tighten the jig down in the vise, then pull the bit up, turn the press on, and drill the hole. Repeat for each. I didn't have an x/y vise, just a drill press vise, so I had to move the jig in my vise manually, but it worked out fine.
Onto the milling. Found out the used Bosch wouldn't even finish the first cut, since it wouldn't maintain speed, so of to the home center for a new one. The router plate on the Easy jig is plenty big for a compact router, and all pieces of the jig line up well. The depth guide makes depth adjustment easy. I think I went at 1/8 hash mark at a time, must have taken 25-30 passes total (lost count), but it got the job done. Vacuum your chips out frequently! I noticed after I had the pocket all milled, that I must've chipped the cutter somewhere along the line, obviously not bad enough to render it useless, but I think my pocket would be smoother if it hadn't been. Probably happened early on with the Colt. Since the end of the cutter isn't used for the trigger slot, it didn't seem to affect that. The rear shelf was already milled on my lower, so I left that as-is. Finished with some fine tuning of the edges with a fine file.
Following the directions, I drilled the safety/trigger/hammer pin holes, from either side. No troubles there.
Assembly went smooth, everything seems to fit as it should, and even though I haven't fired it yet, dry function seems fine. Overall, I found the use of the Easy Jig very easy. The printed directions (highly recommended) were clear and easy to follow. This one was my first, and probably took longer than some. I'm already planning a few more builds using the jig. Definitely worth it!
Besides my Easy Jig, I used my trusty old 1940's Atlas drill press, which still runs like a champ, and a Makita RTO701C router. I initially had a Bosch Colt (I know, not recommended, but $45 on CL! But found out after I started, that it won't maintain speed under load, probably why it was on craigslist. Doh!). Was going to go with the Ridgid, but just couldn't do it. I'm a Makita man, never had a bad one. Two notes with the Makita- it gets HOT! I think because of the aluminum casing, I had to use welding gloves to hold the thing. And the collet is deep, I had to move the cutter down in the collet to finish the last cuts.
Setting my lower in the Easy Jig was cake, it pretty much lines itself up. Using it in my drill press made drilling the pocket holes easy. Found it best to line each hole up with the bit to center it with the drill press off, then tighten the jig down in the vise, then pull the bit up, turn the press on, and drill the hole. Repeat for each. I didn't have an x/y vise, just a drill press vise, so I had to move the jig in my vise manually, but it worked out fine.
Onto the milling. Found out the used Bosch wouldn't even finish the first cut, since it wouldn't maintain speed, so of to the home center for a new one. The router plate on the Easy jig is plenty big for a compact router, and all pieces of the jig line up well. The depth guide makes depth adjustment easy. I think I went at 1/8 hash mark at a time, must have taken 25-30 passes total (lost count), but it got the job done. Vacuum your chips out frequently! I noticed after I had the pocket all milled, that I must've chipped the cutter somewhere along the line, obviously not bad enough to render it useless, but I think my pocket would be smoother if it hadn't been. Probably happened early on with the Colt. Since the end of the cutter isn't used for the trigger slot, it didn't seem to affect that. The rear shelf was already milled on my lower, so I left that as-is. Finished with some fine tuning of the edges with a fine file.
Following the directions, I drilled the safety/trigger/hammer pin holes, from either side. No troubles there.
Assembly went smooth, everything seems to fit as it should, and even though I haven't fired it yet, dry function seems fine. Overall, I found the use of the Easy Jig very easy. The printed directions (highly recommended) were clear and easy to follow. This one was my first, and probably took longer than some. I'm already planning a few more builds using the jig. Definitely worth it!
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