AR-15 Build

[Highpower]

Continued...

[Highpower]

Final...


FYI: This one is mated to an upper receiver chambered in .22LR with the correct size bore and twist rate for that caliber. It is a dedicated conversion. It retains all the normal functions of it's center-fire cousins so it operates exactly like any other AR style rifle.

[EdK]

What's the black finish you put on that aluminum?

Ed

[EdK]

I still have three of the raw forgings and all of the parts I bought for the build. Alas, I have no machines to complete the build, not yet anyway.

Ed

[Highpower]

(01-12-2020, 06:30 PM)EdK Wrote: What's the black finish you put on that aluminum?

Ed

Ed, I sent it out to get mil-spec type III hard-coat anodized. US Anodizing

I took the forgings to a local engraving shop to have them engraved with the markings I wanted on them before hand though.
Not required, but I didn't want any issues cropping up for my family at a later time.

Unfortunately no pantograph or anodizing tanks sitting around in MY shop.

[Highpower]

(01-12-2020, 06:36 PM)EdK Wrote: I still have three of the raw forgings and all of the parts I bought for the build. Alas, I have no machines to complete the build, not yet anyway.

Ed

No worries. We'll wait for you to get back into the swing of things. You can't resist the force you know.

[TomG]

Fun stuff. The most unnerving part was cutting the bottoming thread for the barrel, but you cheated and used a tap .

Tom

[Highpower]

(01-12-2020, 08:49 PM)TomG Wrote: .... but you cheated and used a tap .

Tom

You are darned tootin I used a tap! I have more than (cough, cough...) one AR and have a number of friends with more than one, so chances are good that somebody is going to need those threads chased some day...

[EdK]

(01-12-2020, 08:42 PM)Highpower Wrote: I sent it out to get mil-spec type III hard-coat anodized.

Did you do anything with the surface finish before sending it out? The forge finish is kind of rough.

Ed

[Highpower]

(01-13-2020, 10:53 AM)EdK Wrote:

(01-12-2020, 08:42 PM)Highpower Wrote: I sent it out to get mil-spec type III hard-coat anodized.

Did you do anything with the surface finish before sending it out? The forge finish is kind of rough.

Ed

The only thing I did was remove the remaining forge lines (flashing) with a file and smoothed them using a drum sanding roll on my Foredom tool. If I was going to finish it myself I would have bead blasted it first. But the company I sent it to includes the bead blasting in the price of their anodizing service. It didn't make sense for me to blast it myself because the surface would start to oxidize again by the time it got shipped to them, and they would have to blast it again anyway so the anodizing could get a good bite on the 'fresh' aluminum.

If I get around to finishing another lower I'll bead blast it and probably apply some KG Guncoat I have .... somewhere.