AR Sponsor
Posted: 3/9/2011 7:08:55 AM EDT
| I should be getting my Del-Ton rifle kit in a week or so and have been thinking about what tools I'll need. I have all the basic mechanics tools, but nothing gun specific. I keep hearing brass punches but all I can find are the cheapo $20 import kits that everyone complains bend or breaks. I've also seen the videos where guys just tape up pliers, steel punches etc. What would you consider to be a necessary tool set for building ARs. I have a feeling this won't be my last... |
|
This should work fine:
Wheeler hammer and punch The front detent might be a pain first time around. I take a paper towel and roll it up into a little ball to fill the 1/4" pivot hole. Slide the spring into the detent hole, followed by the detent. The detent will be resting on the paper towel instead of falling through the hole. Use the front pivot pin to push the detent in until you can push the pivot pin through the pivot hole. In the pic below imagine the paper towel (spit ball) filling the hole beneath the spring. 
|
|
If you build more than a few, you will start to buy the special tools and make life easier. Its not worth the expense if you just build a couple of rifles.
A set of punches will allow you to press in the various pins and such. A brass punch allows you to tap in roll pins and not mar the finish of the rifle. When installing the bolt catch, protect the receiver finish by using a good amount of masking tape- the punch can slip and ding up the receiver. A barrel wrench and receiver block are needed to do barrel changes. A buttstock wrench is needed to do the M4 type castle nut. There is a few wrenches that have the ability to do both barrels and buttstocks, but they do not hold up to more than casual use. Later on, there are assembly tools to get the front takedown pivot installed, a wrench to grasp a gas tube and even a small tool that helps in installing the magazine catch. There are lots of neat tools available for specific tasks- Brownells sell a bunch of them. edit: I pulled some tools out of the box: 
1- Old barrel wrench 2- Another barrel wrench 3- Another barrel wrench 4- Upper receiver block 5- Gas tube tool 6- Bolt disassembly tool 7- Regular old standard screwdriver 8- Safety glasses 9- Angled tweezers 10- M4 castle buttstock tool 11- Magazine catch button assembly tool 12- Dumby round 13- Sight adjustment tools 14- Military headspace "Field Reject" gauge 15- Commercial headspace gauges, Go, No-Go & Field Reject 16- Brass mangler 17- Front takedown spring/detent assembly tool 18- Staking punch 19- Various punches. Brass and other replaceable tipped of various sizes. Many other tools like a torque wrench or other specialty tools, but you get the idea 
|
|
Quoted:
IWhen installing the bolt catch, protect the receiver finish by using a good amount of masking tape- the punch can slip and ding up the receiver. Brownell's sells a punch with one side ground down to do this task. Makes it a lot easier and greatly reduces the chance of the punch slipping. The most important tool is a good quantity of patience. Use the right tools for a given task and take your time and the assembly should take well under an hour and give you a good finished product. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
IWhen installing the bolt catch, protect the receiver finish by using a good amount of masking tape- the punch can slip and ding up the receiver. Brownell's sells a punch with one side ground down to do this task. Makes it a lot easier and greatly reduces the chance of the punch slipping. The most important tool is a good quantity of patience. Use the right tools for a given task and take your time and the assembly should take well under an hour and give you a good finished product. +1. This forum gets a few of the same questions about trouble shooting a new build, when the trouble was improper assembly. Taking the time to do it right will make things turn out very well. How may times do people install the hammer spring backwards? At least three people in the last several days...... Fancy tools make thing go easy, but do not overcome sloppy work. |
|
Quoted:
I should be getting my Del-Ton rifle kit in a week or so and have been thinking about what tools I'll need. I have all the basic mechanics tools, but nothing gun specific. I keep hearing brass punches but all I can find are the cheapo $20 import kits that everyone complains bend or breaks. I've also seen the videos where guys just tape up pliers, steel punches etc. What would you consider to be a necessary tool set for building ARs. I have a feeling this won't be my last... When I did my first lower receiver build years ago the only special tool I bought was my carbine stock castle nut installation wrench, and I had a hard time installing my pivot takedown pin so I also broke down and bought a pivot pin installation tool. The other tools that I used was my regular tools such as a steel punch set, small ball peen hammer, and I made a small piece block of wood to support the area of the lower receiver common to the rear trigger guard roll pin. As also said my other members, apply multiple layers of tape (I used thick duct tapes) to protect the finish of your lower and remember to always wear safety glasses when working to protect your eyes when some parts accidentally fly. The only area that I would warn you to be very careful is the ears of the lower in the area of the rear roll pin of the trigger guard, make sure it is fully supported at the bottom side while you're hammering the rear roll pin into place, to avoid the broken ear cries that we hear around here that seems weekly. And last have some spare takedown pin detent pins (those sometimes lauch into outer space never to be seen again  ) also maybe some takedown pin springs.
Before I did my fist lower build I already know how to disassemble lowers from my previous ARs, but I found this step by step instructions thread very helpful. Assemble Your Own Lower, Upper, Free Float, Trigger, Gas Block - Step by Step Instructions! - tacked thread link Good luck on your build and have some fun. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
1- Old barrel wrench - Has cut-out for the 3 prong flash hider. 2- Another barrel wrench - Flat handle can have a cheater bar added to break free stubborn barrel nut. 3- Another barrel wrench - Busted the tip of the M4 stock wrench end, but still works well for barrel nut. Which do you like best? I get the most use out of #2 for regular barrel without free floating handguard systems. It has a multiple tooth pattern for engaging about 75 percent of the barrel nut (flip wrench over from as pictured). I forget which company made it, but its holding up well. I still get use out of the others as I am too cheap to just throw them away 
|
| Thanks Guys.. I'm of the opnion that if you know what you're doing you can get the job done withouth the right tools but if you you don't know what you are doing then you have a lot better chance at a successful build with the proper tools. I definitely fall into the second category so I ordered a castle nut wrench, set of roll pin punches and a brass drift punch from Brownells. Total with shipping was like $30. Should be good to go!! |
|
Check pawn shops for basic tools like brass punches (1/16 will help a lot), brass hammer (3-6oz), other soft faced hammer, allen wrenches, center punch (for staking), .250 dowel (use a slave pin when installing front detent), etc. Beyond that, get a good upper action block and a solid AR multi-wrench. Can buy a lower mag block, or just sacrifice a mag (I filled one with spray foam - works fine). Tape works well to avoid scratching it up during build and be very careful when installing trigger guard (tap and squeeze - don't pound). If you have skills to drill / tap holes - tap the rear detent hole and install small set screw to make spring / pin captive - nice upgrade. Good luck - tool die maker here so feel free to ask questions. Happy to help if needed. |
| I used a Stanley punch set, hammer, block of wood (supporting the receiver ears), long handled hex wrench (attach pistol grip), tape (to protect finish), needle nose pliers, and a castle nut wrench. Anything else will simply make your life easier, and is probably not needed 100%. Hell, I didn't even need the pliers, but they helped with one of the detents. |
AR Sponsor