Nevermind LOL

[geoint]

I finally finished an 80% lower today. I started last night but my drill maxes out at 1500rpm and it took forever to get holes drilled.







This morning I got up early and this was where I picked up on drilling.



A few hours later.. I finished drilling the 3/8" holes.



At first, I had absolutely no idea how the router worked but a couple youtube videos got me straightened out.



I put the tape on even though I was using the 80% Arms carbide End Mill. I only found out halfway through milling out my receiver that I didn't need the tape lol






Very first pass and I was nervous as hell. I just connected the holes before removing the router to see how I did. I tore up some of the tape cuz I pulled the router out before waiting for it to completely stop spinning. Newbie mistakes, I made many of them today.

[geoint]

I noticed my router getting real hot so I put a fan on my workbench and started letting my router cool down every time I finished 1/3 of the depth notches.



My shopvac started having trouble pulling out all the chips as I milled deeper and deeper into my receiver.







It got pretty bad towards the end and I was getting tired.



So, idiot that I am, I forgot to get a pic of the Main section after I finished milling it. I was surprised to see how much I had gone past the indicated length with some of the holes. You can see how far I went in a few holes here in the next pic I took, after I finished milling out the trigger hole.



Drilling out the holes in the side walls of the receiver was pretty easy compared to everything else I had done, but it still took a few minutes given my crappy drill. Definitely going to go with either a stronger drill or a drill press for my future 80%'s.



And I was done!

[geoint]

Got a couple pics of my jig pieces. Is the wear and tear on them normal?

[mitch1]

I think you did an awesome job! That looks like normal wear on the jig to me

[vlady]

What happened with the trigger slot? Also, next time drill the main holes a little short of the final depth so you can get that with the end mill

[geoint]

Not sure, what are you referring to about the trigger slot?

And yes, I am going to be extra careful next time with drilling. Using my weak drill was a nightmare, it took an average of 25 minutes per hole and I mean like 25 rough minutes each freakin time. Next time itll go a loooot smoother and easier because I will not be using a weak drill.

Here I explain the problem with my drill. Long story short, I was using a much weaker drill than is suggested. Mine still got the job done but I had to work like a dog to get results.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1242525

[strongpoint]

My shopvac started having trouble pulling out all the chips as I milled deeper and deeper into my receiver.

Try using this.

So, idiot that I am, I forgot to get a pic of the Main section after I finished milling it. I was surprised to see how much I had gone past the indicated length with some of the holes. You can see how far I went in a few holes here in the next pic I took, after I finished milling out the trigger hole.

Um, I hate to break this to you, but the trigger hole is supposed to look like this:



Review the instructions: It appears that at Step 15 (page 14), you used the wrong end of the Rear Shelf Pocket Template. Note that in the first diagram, it's been moved forward and turned around so that the trigger slot template is in the proper position (and the second diagram on that page has the rear shelf template crossed out to warn you against using it). Also, contrast with the position of the Rear Shelf Pocket Template in the second diagram in Step 13 (page 12).

[geoint]

Try using this.




Um, I hate to break this to you, but the trigger hole is supposed to look like this:

OMG!!!

Well, at least I bought extras



But dangit, its still embarrassing lol

Thanks for explaining what I got wrong. Ill definitely get that last part turned around for my future attempts

[ElvenSoul]

The first one is allways a sacrifice to the 80% gods!

[mtenenhaus]

i've never tackled one of these....wondering what steps might have improved outcome?

[geoint]

The first one is allways a sacrifice to the 80% gods!

No kidding! Thinking I may hang it up somewhere near my computer to keep me humble

[strongpoint]

OMG!!!

Well, at least I bought extras

But dangit, its still embarrassing lol

Thanks for explaining what I got wrong. Ill definitely get that last part turned around for my future attempts

It's only fresh in my mind because I completed one using the 80% Arms Easy Jig (a .308) just a couple of weeks ago -- I saw yours and I instantly knew what had gone wrong.

I'm glad you're not despairing -- it might even be fixable.

[geoint]

It's only fresh in my mind because I completed one using the 80% Arms Easy Jig (a .308) just a couple of weeks ago -- I saw yours and I instantly knew what had gone wrong.

I'm glad you're not despairing -- it might even be fixable.

Ohh nice, with the 308 80%! I got these on sale a few weeks ago for $39.99 each. Was gonna get 4 but saw that if I spent over $200 I got free shipping lol. Thank goodness I trusted my gut and got the cheapo blems instead of a pair of nice anodized lowers.

And unfortunately its not salvageable, I just checked with a spare PSA trigger I swapped out for a geissele and the PSA trigger practically fell right out.

But hey, I learned this lesson so well today theres no way in hell Ill ever make this mistake again

[ElvenSoul]

i've never tackled one of these....wondering what steps might have improved outcome?

Allways be conservative in your drilling. Remember you can't unfixed it. Drill a little less than what they say to.

[strongpoint]

Ohh nice, with the 308 80%! I got these on sale a few weeks ago for $39.99 each. Was gonna get 4 but saw that if I spent over $200 I got free shipping lol. Thank goodness I trusted my gut and got the cheapo blems instead of a pair of nice anodized lowers.

And unfortunately its not salvageable, I just checked with a spare PSA trigger I swapped out for a geissele and the PSA trigger practically fell right out.

But hey, I learned this lesson so well today theres no way in hell Ill ever make this mistake again

Well, OK -- two things.

1) A self-contained cartridge trigger (this kind) would probably do just fine in that position, suspended in place by the pins.

2) You might be able to rebuild the floor of the receiver with epoxy or a similar substance and mill it back to spec.