Seth Harness
03-09-08, 12:10
Little project I had last summer. This rail was going over an ares kit so it needed a little material removed. Here are some pics of the lenghthy set up for 25 minutes of milling fun.
Sorry about the clickable pics, photobucket wouldnt let me post large ones. :confused: :rolleyes:
Set up always takes forever. Indicating in fixed jaw of vise.
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1528.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1528.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1529.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1529.jpg)
I laid this rail next to mine for rough dimensions of what needed removed as I have an ares kit on my gun also and both rails go over carbine length gas systems. My rail was considerably shorter though
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1531.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1531.jpg)
I had to come up with some kind of fixture to hold the rail in the vise. I bought some 1/2" x 1" stock, milled it perfectly flat and drilled two holes in it that lined up perfectly with the threaded holes in the rail. Two 1/4 20 bolts, washers, nuts and I was ready to go.
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1533.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1533.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1534.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1534.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1536.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1536.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1537.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1537.jpg)
I clamped the fixture in the vise and indicated the floor and the sides of the rail.
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1539.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1539.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1540.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1540.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1542.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1542.jpg)
sides...
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1544.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1544.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1546.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1546.jpg)
Finally getting to pull the indicater from the machine and reinserting a 7/16 end mill, I was confident that everything was in order. I could now begin the short (by comparison) process of acually milling the handguard.
I used a magic marker to mark the graduations on my hand feed dial as I didnt have the proper tool it took to measure the distance I was cutting into the sides. It worked just fine. I knew what the ares kit needed to do its job, so I used that number plus alittle. :D
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1550.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1550.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1548.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1548.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1549.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1549.jpg)
Thats it... I did buy a can of black high temp paint to cover the raw aluminum. I didnt take pictures of that because as usual I just wanted to get the job done. Standing at the machine gives me a back ache. :D
Sorry about the clickable pics, photobucket wouldnt let me post large ones. :confused: :rolleyes:
Set up always takes forever. Indicating in fixed jaw of vise.
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1528.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1528.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1529.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1529.jpg)
I laid this rail next to mine for rough dimensions of what needed removed as I have an ares kit on my gun also and both rails go over carbine length gas systems. My rail was considerably shorter though
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1531.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1531.jpg)
I had to come up with some kind of fixture to hold the rail in the vise. I bought some 1/2" x 1" stock, milled it perfectly flat and drilled two holes in it that lined up perfectly with the threaded holes in the rail. Two 1/4 20 bolts, washers, nuts and I was ready to go.
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1533.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1533.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1534.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1534.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1536.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1536.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1537.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1537.jpg)
I clamped the fixture in the vise and indicated the floor and the sides of the rail.
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1539.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1539.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1540.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1540.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1542.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1542.jpg)
sides...
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1544.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1544.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1546.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1546.jpg)
Finally getting to pull the indicater from the machine and reinserting a 7/16 end mill, I was confident that everything was in order. I could now begin the short (by comparison) process of acually milling the handguard.
I used a magic marker to mark the graduations on my hand feed dial as I didnt have the proper tool it took to measure the distance I was cutting into the sides. It worked just fine. I knew what the ares kit needed to do its job, so I used that number plus alittle. :D
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1550.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1550.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1548.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1548.jpg)
http://http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/th_DSCN1549.jpg (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/seth_100/DSCN1549.jpg)
Thats it... I did buy a can of black high temp paint to cover the raw aluminum. I didnt take pictures of that because as usual I just wanted to get the job done. Standing at the machine gives me a back ache. :D