Need Advise: Drill Press For 80% Build.

[Major Bones]

Hello. I am wanting to build my 80% lower. I am limited to what I can buy because I am using my homedepot card to finance this. I need a drill press and vise to get started. I can get end mills, bits and clamps elsewhere. I really need advise on witch machine and vise to buy.

[edgerly779]

Unless your are good with hand and power tools forget it. Even so called experts like ares armor fxxxup with jigs and routers and drill presses. Buy a mill from harbor freight or a good drill press and buy an xy table at least.

[Major Bones]

Unless your are good with hand and power tools forget it. Even so called experts like ares armor fxxxup with jigs and routers and drill presses. Buy a mill from harbor freight or a good drill press and buy an xy table at least.

I am great with power tools and I use them at work every day. Just not experienced with milling on a drill press. I have watched many people on youtube explain the process and I know that I can do it. I just need advise on what to buy from homedepot NOT harbor freight since that is where I have to buy the machine at. Thank you though.

[edgerly779]

With an xy table you can use a drill press as a mini mill. That you cannot get at HD. Look on craigslist or ebay for the xy table.

[yari]

Drill presses are not designed to take a side load. You will never get a good finish trying to mill with a drill press. Go to a build party and pay 60 bucks for a factory like finished product. It's cheaper than the end mill you will need. For the price 80s are going for these days it's nutz to use a drill press.

[sacgsxr]

Just find a guy in your area that has a CNC and completes 80%s. Its easy and costs about $70. Far cheaper than a drill press and it seems like even with jig it is tricky.

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[vw69turbobug]

any press will do as long as you can change the speed heres a one from HD

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-10-in-Drill-Press-DP102L/100490179#specifications

as for a vise i use a x and y cross slide vise from harbor fright because it was cheaper. but i did not use it to cross slide and cut at the same time. only had it to move the jig and make a plunge....

the easy was to cut a 80% from a drill pres is to use drill bits set to .050 less then your final cut depth just to be safe. once you drill the center from butt stock to front of selector switch ( remember to use blueprints for correct measurements this is just a rough idea on where you are gonna be cutting) with a 1/2 in bit you can then setup to a 11/16 drill bit and drill from the front of the selector to the mag well. again use you blueprints to get your measurements. but once you have done all your drill bit passes you can now change up to and end mill and plunge out the rest of the material out, DO NOT USE YOUR cross slide while you are using your endmill bit it will chatter.

It might not look nice but u cant see the inside the fcg when a upper is attached. i have since moved up to a knee mill, just look on craigslist i pick mine up for 300$ !!!! best 300 i ever spent

[gunboat]

If you get a drill press with a taper shank -- the first time it spits the chuck and end mill into your lap you will realize why folks say you can't mill on a drill press.
my ha-penny

[Major Bones]

Great advice. Thank you all.

[Twistedsteel]

If you get a drill press with a taper shank -- the first time it spits the chuck and end mill into your lap you will realize why folks say you can't mill on a drill press.
my ha-penny

This. Won't happen to me again

[ar15barrels]

I just need advise on what to buy from homedepot NOT harbor freight since that is where I have to buy the machine at.

Home depot does NOT sell a drill press that is appropriate for milling.

[bob_e95482]

I bought a used HF mill/drill with a vise, collets(R8), mills, etc., for $350.

[h0use]

I have done 2 with a drill press and I think paying 60$ for a build party is well worth it. Time is money for me. It took about 5 hours to just do one on my drill press.

[wecf]

Where are you? I have a Bridgeport in my garage that I might let you use. I did 2 on it in less than an hour and will give you advice on setup and such.