Assembling an AR using a Workmate or Keter table

[yardin1]

I was wondering if these tables, or better yet the clamps/vises they come with are adequate enough for a bench block to hold the lower receiver?

I'm trying to make my first AR build but don't have the type of funds to purchase a work bench and vises, etc.

Here's the links to the tables:
Keter

http://www.amazon.com/Keter-17182239-Folding-Work-Table/dp/B001CWX26Y/ref=pd_cp_hi_0

Black&Decker Workmate

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-WM425-Workmate-550-Pound/dp/B0000224R9/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1411755168&sr=1-6&keywords=workmate

Thanks!

[baih777]

the workmate is a very sturdy table. I have had one for years. you actually only need a vise to torque the barrel and install the muzzle brake. everything else you can do on the kitchen table.

[yardin1]

the workmate is a very sturdy table. I have had one for years. you actually only need a vise to torque the barrel and install the muzzle brake. everything else you can do on the kitchen table.

Interesting, so then would the vise that's on the Workmate do the job for the barrel and muzzle procedure?

[baka]

I used a $35 B&D bench and a $15 vise from harbour freight - Make sure you buy a mag block for $10 from amazon

[yardin1]

I used a $35 B&D bench and a $15 vise from harbour freight - Make sure you buy a mag block for $10 from amazon

Thanks, so would something like the following vise be good enough for B&D bench?

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-portable-carpenters-vise-95203.html

Also, which $35 B&D bench are you referring to?

Thanks!

[m16]

A vise and block come in handy when torquing the castle nut (or the receiver extension if you're going with a rifle length buttstock).

[baka]

Try These:

Black & Decker WM125 Workmate - $29.39

ProMag AR-15/M16 Lower Receiver Magazine Well Vise Block - $10.00

3 in. Swivel Vise with Double Anvil - $29.99 Print and use below coupon ($22.50)

Harbour Freight 25% off Printable Coupon

[yardin1]

Try These:

Black & Decker WM125 Workmate - $29.39

ProMag AR-15/M16 Lower Receiver Magazine Well Vise Block - $10.00

3 in. Swivel Vise with Double Anvil - $29.99 Print and use below coupon ($22.50)

Harbour Freight 25% off Printable Coupon

Awesome... thank you very much, I appreciate it!

[baih777]

get a vise and mount it to a piece of wood and use c-clamps to hold it to the workmate.
this is what you need to assemble the AR.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/310152/promag-armorers-upper-and-lower-receiver-action-block-set-ar-15?cm_vc=ProductFinding

it comes with both upper and lower vise blocks. the big clamp is what you use to torque the barrel.

to install the muzzle brake you need these or make some blocks of wood to clamp the barrel.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/608967/dpms-barrel-vise-jaws-ar-15-aluminum?cm_vc=ProductFinding

[bohoki]

ive never needed a clamp to assemble a lower

i do use a little mini smoothface vice to squish in the triggerguard pin with one side covered in leather

[Jeff213]

I can build ARs on the kitchen table with no vise. One thing I do use quite a bit is a block of delrin plastic for supporting the ar while I pound in various pins. I also do not have any roll pin punches, and have still managed to assemble various ARs. One thing that is useful is a castle nut wrench if you are going with an m4 stock or a buffer tube which uses a castle nut.

[yardin1]

Thanks everyone!

[dmosco]

These might help...

I absolutely love my Keter folding work table - although I have not used it for AR assembly (yet), it has been nothing short of great for other strenuous tasks.

I wasn't sure whether to buy one either when I was looking, but these pages helped me out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byoJUKYXqJU

http://www.keter.com/products/folding-work-table

[kcstott]

Work table or work bench??? a work bench is never designed to fold.


Now that said my first AR i built was on a essential arms j-15 lower assembled in the garage from a hodge podge of part collect at the gun show. Used my dads tools and the to of one of his roll aways to do it. Hell could have done it on my desk for that matter.

[klewan]

When you try torqueing the barrel nut to 35-80 ft lbs, that's when you'll find out you need a bench, something heavy and ideally bolted to the wall. I could see the Workmate working if you had a large, gorilla like friend to hang onto it while you're cranking on the torque wrench.