Guide to finishing an 80% Lower from Dlask Arms?

Edit- For an 80% forging with the magwell broached or EDM'd already you really only need a lathe and mill and a couple hours time.

I am trying to figure out exactly how any part of an AR lower could be made in a lathe?

I have seen AR lowers being machined by someone who knows what they are doing and has all the tooling and setup and I can assure you it would take more than "a couple hours time" for someone to do this as a one-off.
 
I am trying to figure out exactly how any part of an AR lower could be made in a lathe?

I have seen AR lowers being machined by someone who knows what they are doing and has all the tooling and setup and I can assure you it would take more than "a couple hours time" for someone to do this as a one-off.

what you dont think it can be done with a large rasp and a hammer? :D

The 80% look nice, if you need a paper weight. If somebody had the machinery expertise and equipment to finish an 80% lower perfectly they could probably build thier own from a billet block anyways.
 
I am trying to figure out exactly how any part of an AR lower could be made in a lathe?

I have seen AR lowers being machined by someone who knows what they are doing and has all the tooling and setup and I can assure you it would take more than "a couple hours time" for someone to do this as a one-off.

The lathe would be for single point turning the buffer tower, as opposed to using a tap. I would say it also depends on the 80% lower. Some come with the buffer tower threaded already, so all that is needed to be done is the fire control well.
 
80% lower is a BATF administrative measures. It is a US thing.

It is never a Canadian law or administrative measure. The RCMP can do whatever they want in this area.

Do not assume and transplant US administrative measures as Canadian -
 
I work for a shop that used to make kit aircraft. The type that the buyer built themselves and they had to do at least 80% of the work. To accomplish this, many parts that required holes were simply spot drilled (a dimple for you laymen). Also, some parts are made connected and have a line scribed where you cut them.

Lets say some one designed a bolt together lower that is made from flat plate. All holes are dimpled but not drilled through. The end user would then have to cut along the lines to free the parts. Basically, you'd have a sheet of aluminum with some lines and some spot drills on it.

Would that be a firearm?
 
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I work for a shop that used to make kit aircraft. The type that the buyer build themselves and they have to do at least 80% of the work. to accomplish this, many parts that require holes are simple spot drilled (a dimple for you laymen). Also, some parts are made connected and have a line scribed where you cut them.

Lets say some designed a bolt together lower that is made from flat plate. All holes are dimpled but not drilled through. The end user would then have to cut along the lines to free the parts. Basically, you'd have a sheet of aluminum with some lines and some spot drills on it.

Would that be a firearm?

Hell No !! and where do i get one :rolleyes:
 
My friend and I looked at the raw forgings and it was actually way easier to make them from scratch. At least with a nice square block you have your own starting point for later referance. Big thing is that for a one or 2 off we would have to get about $300 each, and that's still a white piece of alluminum. Anodising has a minimum charge. For our anodiser it was $120. It cost $120 to do one piece and $120 to do 3 pieces. You also have to factor in the buffer tube tap and the time spent on fixtures. The hardest part of the job and it's beyond the capabilities of most machine shops is the magwell. It has to be burned or wire cut , that is about $80 for a one off. Most production ar magwells are broached which takes about a minute. It was an interesting project but to do it again I would just work the overtime and buy one and have enough money left over to buy the internals. We did a couple of ar 15's and 2 AR 10 lowers.

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