I see all the discussion on 80% AR lowers and I was just currious about the 1911 lowers.  I think the AR lower is a bit much for my skill level and would like to try some thing smaller or easier first.  Any one finish one and was it difficult to do?

Go to the link below & read up. Alot of good info in what you need to do. As far as hard I haven't got into one yet but William from the tannery shop finished one with just hand files & some guys have done em with a dremmel tool. So go look around and enjoy.

[url]www.roderuscustom.tzo.com[/url]

I have done a couple of 1911s.  The gunsmithing is harder than the actual machining of the frame slide rails.  

The first one I did I kinda screwed up and machined  one of the rails oversize, but the gun stll works fine.  I am thinking of welding the rail shut and re-cutting.

On the second I am debating what to do about the finish.  I really like the dark black park I see on some commercial 1911s (Springfield comes to mind).  I am thinking parking first and then trying a homemade hot blue to blacken the park job... although maybe I am just being too anal about the final color.

since i aint that good with gunsmithing(putting it together) if i cut the rails could i have someone else install the parts???

Just generally, and for those of us who don't osn a 1911, how difficult is the gunsmithing that needs to be done other than the rails.

Could you outline the tasks that will / could be "tough?"

Things like fitting parts... barrel, bushing and and link, installing sights, grinding, stoning and sandings stuff like trigger well, hammer slot, parts of the slide, exterior of the frame.  Also, you can run into problems with the trigger group, especially if you don't buy top of the line parts.

This is real gunsmithing, not AR15 'slap it together' buids where everything pretty much goes together and fits.  

It ain't brain surgery but you have to know what you are doing and be patient.

I think so, as long as the frame is 100% complete.  Finding a gunsmith who would work on someones homemade 80% casting build is another story.