Someone was asking me about my experience carving out an 80% and thought I could share the info I have.
I haven't carved a Polymer80 but from what I hear the plastic is a lot easier to work with. I'd also imagine it takes much less time, I spent at least 5 hours cutting the metal ones.
1. I've heard people say for the glock Polymer80 they use a dremel, file or a razorblade to hack off the nubs. This will require more effort to remove the material. At the very least a dremel, drill, or drill press (though I can imagine it is possible to use a wood chisel).
2. Finish. If you leave a little extra on the FCG walls you can file and sandpaper the excess so you have a really nice finished product.
3. The biggest concern, you don't want to take too much off by accident as the polymer is not as strong as metal.
4. Less noise. No sharp metal shavings everywhere, just plastic. No cutting fluid needed, and you're not going to break bits.
There are pluses and minuses.
On the other hand I have carved out some aluminum ones and I can tell you.
1. It can get messy. Metal shavings everywhere... and the cutting fluid coats everything in the immediate work area. I set up a shopvac to catch a good portion of the shavings. The router has to be on high speed so some of the shavings fly surprisingly far, setting up a cardboard box around the jig helps to catch fliers and some cutting fluid, it still covers my vice and table. Wear eye protection.
2. It takes a lot of time. On the second one I got ahead of myself thinking it was going so smooth I can take off more with each pass. No, I tried to chew off too much and instantly snapped all the teeth off the $20 router bit.
3. Cost. The router, jig and bits alone are going to cost $500 or more. The 80% Arms Jig alone is $300, though it will last.
4. It is noisy, I wear earmuffs while doing it.
That said, they come out nice if you take your time. The metal ones are very strong, I get the forged 7075.
I bought the polymer because carved out, you can bury it and no metal detector is going to find it, as long as you hide the lower parts kit separately. I know they say their wonder dogs can sniff out polymer, well with the vast amount of shaving you'll have more than enough to spread around that they'd have to tear up your entire yard and still not find it if you hid it in a tree. So... that said, do you need to hide the upper and other parts, potentially. Though the lower might be the only part they outlaw. We know They are coming for the guns, one way or another. Not that you should break Their laws, just speaking hypothetically.
Sorry this was long but I wanted to be detailed so you can make an informed decision.
Anyone with more information, or any tips or tricks to use... it is appreciated.
I haven't carved a Polymer80 but from what I hear the plastic is a lot easier to work with. I'd also imagine it takes much less time, I spent at least 5 hours cutting the metal ones.
1. I've heard people say for the glock Polymer80 they use a dremel, file or a razorblade to hack off the nubs. This will require more effort to remove the material. At the very least a dremel, drill, or drill press (though I can imagine it is possible to use a wood chisel).
2. Finish. If you leave a little extra on the FCG walls you can file and sandpaper the excess so you have a really nice finished product.
3. The biggest concern, you don't want to take too much off by accident as the polymer is not as strong as metal.
4. Less noise. No sharp metal shavings everywhere, just plastic. No cutting fluid needed, and you're not going to break bits.
There are pluses and minuses.
On the other hand I have carved out some aluminum ones and I can tell you.
1. It can get messy. Metal shavings everywhere... and the cutting fluid coats everything in the immediate work area. I set up a shopvac to catch a good portion of the shavings. The router has to be on high speed so some of the shavings fly surprisingly far, setting up a cardboard box around the jig helps to catch fliers and some cutting fluid, it still covers my vice and table. Wear eye protection.
2. It takes a lot of time. On the second one I got ahead of myself thinking it was going so smooth I can take off more with each pass. No, I tried to chew off too much and instantly snapped all the teeth off the $20 router bit.
3. Cost. The router, jig and bits alone are going to cost $500 or more. The 80% Arms Jig alone is $300, though it will last.
4. It is noisy, I wear earmuffs while doing it.
That said, they come out nice if you take your time. The metal ones are very strong, I get the forged 7075.
I bought the polymer because carved out, you can bury it and no metal detector is going to find it, as long as you hide the lower parts kit separately. I know they say their wonder dogs can sniff out polymer, well with the vast amount of shaving you'll have more than enough to spread around that they'd have to tear up your entire yard and still not find it if you hid it in a tree. So... that said, do you need to hide the upper and other parts, potentially. Though the lower might be the only part they outlaw. We know They are coming for the guns, one way or another. Not that you should break Their laws, just speaking hypothetically.
Sorry this was long but I wanted to be detailed so you can make an informed decision.
Anyone with more information, or any tips or tricks to use... it is appreciated.
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