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Posted: 2/24/2010 5:50:11 PM EDT
No jigs, no milling machine or drill press - just a hand-held dremel tool with a metal cutting bit.
I've searched around, but cannot find any threads on it (apologies if I missed one). It seems like it should be eminently do-able for a patient and anal-retentive person, but I am curious how common (if at all), it is. 
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Posted: 2/24/2010 5:55:15 PM EDT
[#1]
uhhh.....have you seen a 80%?
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:00:32 PM EDT
[#2]
Go for it. Why not?
458 |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:04:17 PM EDT
[#3]
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:24:41 PM EDT
[#4]
 Are you going to try this? Make sure you post pics.
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:25:53 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
uhhh.....have you seen a 80%? Of course I have. What's your point? |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:30:34 PM EDT
[#6]
That's the kind of thing I was talking about! Thanks for the link. 
Has anyone here (in this forum) actually done it? |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:33:52 PM EDT
[#7]
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:43:31 PM EDT
[#8]
Not trying to knock your skills..
A couple friends and I went in on some 80%ers.....and bought the finishing kit....jig...drills, taps....instructions. I just see it being a pain in the ass w/o the jig....not impossible.
we sold the kit for 90% what we paid for it when we were done. did the same with the tapco AK flats. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:46:46 PM EDT
[#9]
Wow. I will not be trying this, but I am impressed. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:52:28 PM EDT
[#10]
that looks like fun |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 6:58:49 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Wow. I will not be trying this, but I am impressed. 
And how did it turn out 458 |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:02:37 PM EDT
[#12]
This guy used a low-tech alternative to what looks like the most challenging step –– instead of milling threads into the buffer tube 'socket' (not sure what the proper name is), he just JB Weld's the buffer tube in place. 
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:10:31 PM EDT
[#13]
I've seen the pics of Pakis making knockoff S&W revolvers with bow drills using their feet to hold the frames.
Of course it can be done. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:13:06 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
I've seen the pics of Pakis making S&W revolvers with bow drills using their feet to hold the frames. Of course it can be done. See, that was my thinking all along - that a dremel tool, with a metal cutting bit, is actually a pretty sophistiated piece of machinery - and while stuff like jig and milling machines make everything easier, doing it with a dremel should be perfectly fine, as long as one is careful and precise. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:19:47 PM EDT
[#15]
I am currently attempting it. I did use a Drill press to clear out some of the material, but I did not use a vise of any kind just hand held it. I am currently working with the dremel to finish it out.
The mujahadeen build is cool, but he used an older style 80% that basically had the FCG already milled out. Those are not legal any more so it is a little more difficult to do now. Started with a Tactical Machining 80% 
Based the Idea off of the CNCGuns Jig 
Drilled out all the 1/8" Holes, and then drill out 3/8" 
The 3/8" Holes didn't go as smooth as planned because I didn't have a vise and I didn't want to lose a finger. I got a Tungsten Carbide Bit from my dremel and started grinding away at the left over material. I am currently 3/4 of the way finished, I would take another pic but my battery is dead. I'm pretty confident you could do the whole with with a dremel if you have the patients. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:31:40 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I've seen the pics of Pakis making S&W revolvers with bow drills using their feet to hold the frames. Of course it can be done. See, that was my thinking all along - that a dremel tool, with a metal cutting bit, is actually a pretty sophistiated piece of machinery - and while stuff like jig and milling machines make everything easier, doing it with a dremel should be perfectly fine, as long as one is careful and precise. Especially considering they're starting with an old truck leaf spring and not an 80% forging. They are also building all of the springs and lockwork from scratch. Even with a mill, your are going to do the final fit and finish with a hand file. If you had the patience you could hog it out with a spork. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:35:37 PM EDT
[#17]
wow....didn't understand....mine were milled already.
buy a vice....harbor freight has a bi directional for $49....can use it to mill aluminum on a press....lotta side pressure on the races though. I've done some projects useing few tools....makes you be creative....necessity....mother of invention.
That and the fact you made something work with bearskins and stone knives....it's kinda rewarding. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:46:17 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
... If you had the patience you could hog it out with a spork. I'm not trying that. 
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Posted: 2/25/2010 4:58:12 AM EDT
[#19]
While I think you are insane for trying with a dremmel........
....while cutting using melted parrafin wax or WD-40 as a lubricant will make the cutting go MUCH smother......
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Posted: 2/25/2010 6:59:27 AM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I've seen the pics of Pakis making S&W revolvers with bow drills using their feet to hold the frames. Of course it can be done. See, that was my thinking all along - that a dremel tool, with a metal cutting bit, is actually a pretty sophistiated piece of machinery - and while stuff like jig and milling machines make everything easier, doing it with a dremel should be perfectly fine, as long as one is careful and precise. Make sure that all of the holes line up, or things may rattle, not fit proper, or/ and look homemade. I understand that the Tannery pieces are cast, which is an inferior starting point. Others are forged or billet. |
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Posted: 2/25/2010 9:52:22 AM EDT
[#21]
I'm sorry........using a Dremel to try to finish an 80% lower is just too crude. What a waste of a good forging that would be.
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Posted: 2/25/2010 9:53:45 AM EDT
[#22]
Even if you do screw it up It'll still run better than a Hesse/Vulcan!
What do you guys do to finish them? Do you just gunkote 'em? |
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Posted: 2/25/2010 9:57:32 AM EDT
[#23]
Once I get my drill press moved I am going to give it a try.
I should have ordered an 80% when they could be had with the FCG area already machined! I guess that got ruled out and they are no longer available. Procrastination will never make things better! 
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Posted: 2/25/2010 12:54:29 PM EDT
[#24]
Quoted:
I'm sorry........using a Dremel to try to finish an 80% lower is just too crude. What a waste of a good forging that would be. If everything fit and functioned correctly, what would be crude about it? I'm not trying to attack you or anything, but I'm honestly not sure what you mean. Are you talking about how it looks cosmetically on the inside of the receiver? As long as it works, why would it matter how it looks internally?
Or are you saying that because it would be more crude (or rough) that using a mill/drill press, there would be greater risk of it not functioning correctly? |
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Posted: 2/25/2010 12:55:11 PM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
While I think you are insane for trying with a dremmel........ ....while cutting using melted parrafin wax or WD-40 as a lubricant will make the cutting go MUCH smother......I'm supposed to be using a lubricant?  
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Posted: 2/25/2010 1:13:34 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted: Quoted: While I think you are insane for trying with a dremmel........ ....while cutting using melted parrafin wax or WD-40 as a lubricant will make the cutting go MUCH smother......I'm supposed to be using a lubricant? Goosedown |
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Posted: 3/5/2010 11:48:53 AM EDT
[#27]
Behold:
+ 
= 
I have taken it to the shooting range, and it functions flawlessly. 
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Posted: 3/5/2010 11:51:49 AM EDT
[#28]
pics of the build process?
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Posted: 3/5/2010 12:04:58 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:
pics of the build process? Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of different stages - partly because I assumed that I'd screw it up and it wouldn't work.
It took me three evenings of spending several hours with the dremel, so probably somewhere between 6 and 8 hours of work. Here's a pic of it when I took it to the range to test it (before stripping the lower again to spray it with GunKote): 
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Posted: 3/5/2010 12:43:08 PM EDT
[#30]
Can we at least get a pic of the internals?
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Posted: 3/5/2010 12:46:33 PM EDT
[#31]
tag, how long did it take i read? and what receiver did you use?
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Posted: 3/5/2010 12:54:53 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
Can we at least get a pic of the internals? Here's a pic of what it looked like after the paint: 
ETA: Fresh off the digital camera: 
The trigger group LOOKS like it might be slightly crooked (suggesting the pin holes are not perfectly aligned), but it works reliably, and it might be a bit of an optical illusion because the "walls" aren't really cut to exactly the correct width right there, so it may just look like it's off-center when it really isn't |
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Posted: 3/5/2010 12:56:37 PM EDT
[#33]
Quoted:
tag, how long did it take i read? and what receiver did you use? I got one from Tactical Machining - while there's a LOT of metal to remove, I like it because the threads are already done for the receiver extension (buffer tube), because that obviously cannot be done with a dremel. 
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Posted: 3/5/2010 1:23:42 PM EDT
[#34]
ummmm.... glad to see it worked for you. ummmmmm.....I doubt I could do that with a dremel and ummmmmmm...... Im not so sure Id want your lower but kind of a good job anyway
hahaha. I guess you gotta start somewhere. Honestly, if you can do that with a dremel you probably should invest some time in learning to use a machining mill and really do something with it, wish I could. |
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Posted: 3/5/2010 1:25:21 PM EDT
[#35]
OST
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Posted: 3/5/2010 2:02:35 PM EDT
[#36]
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, sing and cry, "Valhalla, I am coming!"
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Posted: 3/5/2010 2:06:12 PM EDT
[#37]
Nice job...that must have tough.
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Posted: 3/5/2010 2:32:42 PM EDT
[#38]
That's awesome dude, nice work.
That said, I'm not trying it. 
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Posted: 3/5/2010 2:44:03 PM EDT
[#39]
This... is..... very... interesting. And I do have a drill press
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Posted: 3/5/2010 2:44:32 PM EDT
[#40]
Quoted:
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, To fight the horde, sing and cry, "Valhalla, I am coming!"
I'm totally an immigrant!!
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Posted: 3/5/2010 2:47:00 PM EDT
[#41]
Quoted:
Nice job...that must have tough. I am actually surprised at how relatively easy it was, because going into it I was 95% sure I would screw it up. So it was a very pleasant surprise to have it work out.
For instance, I figured it would be incredibly hard to get the thickness of the walls right, but by using the vernier caliper (the only other "tool" I used), I could gradually work my way down to the correct thickness incrementally, by constantly comparing it to a stripped receiver. (Incidentally, I used my brand spankin' new ARFCOM lower for that )
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Posted: 3/5/2010 4:44:59 PM EDT
[#42]
Good job. Now you are qualified to become a machinist where i work.
 I just finished a tactical machine lower also but I used a mill.
I can say the new requirement for a solid FCG area actually makes it easier for me to finish it since I don't have to toss it in the lathe with the 4 jaw chuck and the fixture I made to do the buffer tube threads. I can do it all on the mill in 2 set ups. I think i need to order a few more of the TM lowers when they restock. |
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Posted: 3/5/2010 5:59:26 PM EDT
[#43]
I'm supposed to be using a lubricant?
There are so many comments I could make, but all I'll say is that WD40 is your friend when drilling metal. Maybe not so much when drilling other things. But for metal it greatly increases the life of your bits, makes your drill easier to control, and makes your bits cut faster. |
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Posted: 3/6/2010 4:08:44 AM EDT
[#44]
How does it fit your upper?
Does it rattle? I was a doubter, but you prooved me wrong. Good job. |
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Posted: 3/6/2010 7:56:18 AM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
This... is..... very... interesting. And I do have a drill press You took the words right out of my mouth. Not too long ago, I was given a little Harbor Freight press. It looks kind of "light" for serious work, but for something like this, it would probably be fine. Excellent job, DK! 
You have inspired me! |
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Posted: 3/6/2010 8:22:02 AM EDT
[#46]
Quoted:
How does it fit your upper? Does it rattle? It fits very well. In fact, it very slowly removed material until it JUST fit. I'd dremel a little, and it wouldn't fit. I'd dremel a little more, and it would almost fit, then I'd dremel a smidge more, and it would just fit - so based on that very incremental approach, it actually fits VERY tightly, with no rattle or anything. I guess that's the benefit of not having it clamped into a drill press, or in a vise or anything - I could go from machining to trying fit, to back to machining, with no loss or effort. I was a doubter, but you proved me wrong. Good job. I was a doubter too.
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Posted: 3/6/2010 8:23:57 AM EDT
[#47]
Quoted:
Quoted:
This... is..... very... interesting. And I do have a drill press You took the words right out of my mouth. Not too long ago, I was given a little Harbor Freight press. It looks kind of "light" for serious work, but for something like this, it would probably be fine. Considering that this was literally "hand held" with no vise or clamping or anything, it should be pretty straightforward with a drill press, even a small one - since that'll still be better than a dremel. Excellent job, DK!
You have inspired me! Thanks!
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Posted: 3/6/2010 8:39:58 AM EDT
[#48]
nice
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Posted: 3/6/2010 6:10:42 PM EDT
[#49]
Quoted:
ummmm.... glad to see it worked for you. ummmmmm.....I doubt I could do that with a dremel and ummmmmmm...... Im not so sure Id want your lower but kind of a good job anyway hahaha. I guess you gotta start somewhere. Honestly, if you can do that with a dremel you probably should invest some time in learning to use a machining mill and really do something with it, wish I could. Mighty polite for a noob. 
Pretty dang cool. The buffer threads have always spooked me. This one looks doable. How did you buy the 80% lower? I would assume you used an off brand money order purchased with funds from an offshore account of a fictitious company and delivered to an abandoned building? |
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Posted: 3/6/2010 6:12:34 PM EDT
[#50]
BTW, you should have fluted the barrel while you still had the dremel out and warmed up.
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