Is a receiver block in a 4" bench vise adequate to hold the lower while staking the castle nut?
Any tips on how to secure the lower would be appreciated.
Printable View
Is a receiver block in a 4" bench vise adequate to hold the lower while staking the castle nut?
Any tips on how to secure the lower would be appreciated.
Yeah, that will be more than adequate. The metal the end plates are made out of is pretty soft compared to the hardened metal of a center punch. Just make sure you use a center punch with a nice sharp point.
I gave mine a few light taps then a couple of hard ones, worked perfect.
Kind of aim the punch ever so slightly toward the castle nut, working closer to the outer edge (as opposed to center) of the end plate.
I just lay mine down on the bench and do it. :confused:
On my last one, an SR15 with an ASAP plate, I just held it in my lap and used one of those auto punches a few time. It looks pretty good too.
Dude, I know where you're coming from; the first time I did one I was freaked out. Then, I hit the punch with a hammer and it was done. Super easy. I started with the mag block locked in the vise and the receiver locked in with that, but found after the first hit that it's better to support the receiver extension (buffer tube). I would just clamp the vise directly to the receiver extension with some rubber jaw inserts. Obviously, don't crank it too hard, but it really doesn't take all that much to hold it. Put the punch on the endplate next to the notch in the castle nut, and give it 5-6 good strikes. I think the mistake most people make on this is trying to angle the punch so as to push the material into the castle nut. With a good center punch, the material from the endplate will take the path of least resistance, and that will push it into the castle nut notch (i.e., just hold the punch vertical, and dont try to angle it towards the notch)
This. Using this:
http://www.tooltopia.com/mountain-62...googlebase_18u
Well worth $3.98 and frees up what would be your "hammer hand" to carefully hold the lower in place.
I do it in my lap with a skinny nail punch and a light hammer. Looks good and never had one come loose.
Just have to go slow on the first couple whacks before the punch gets a good bite into the metal. Then angle it slightly to the cut out in the castle nut, a few more hits, and its GTG.
Then I touch up the 'holes' with a little cold blue, wipe it off, and then wipe it with a little oil.
Haha that's a good point. I remember the first one I did myself, it was an attempt at fusing for life. From that point on I got a little more of a soft touch.
I've found it really is easiest to do it in your lap or laying on the workbench. As has been said many times before