the Colfax® 80 Percent Lower Receiver …

[Globemaster]

There are is a lot of information out there on how to complete the 80% lowers. Everything how to engrave to anodizing it.

CalGuns.net link >>> 80% AR-15 build - Milling, Etching, & Anodizing

[Globemaster]

my paperweight ...

[John A.]

How is the texture?

That is not nearly as smooth or shiny as the website picture. Probably no need to prep blast it before moly coating. My guess from looking at it, there's enough texture already there to give the moly some tooth to grab without any extra work.

Looks kinda like galvanized.

What about the jig? Any pictures of it?

[Globemaster]

the texture is smooth as glass, and yes the finished ‘appearance’ looks like galvanized sheet metal, but it is smooth and not nearly as polished as the one on the web site; and I did not invest in the ‘Jig Tooling’ as I have a lead on one that I can borrow

[Shermanator]

There are is a lot of information out there on how to complete the 80% lowers. Everything how to engrave to anodizing it.

CalGuns.net link >>> 80% AR-15 build - Milling, Etching, & Anodizing

GM: that's the one I have read, He pretty much covers almost everything.

[Globemaster]

well after getting all of my chores done today …

• laundry ‘washed & folded’
• dishes
• mail ‘in-out’
• trash, yard waste, & recycle ‘out’
• yard work ‘mowed the front & back’



after I got finished with those tasks, I decided to assemble as many parts to the 80-percent as possible; and I had some serious issues with the ‘Magazine Catch’ installation, as it would get caught on the top of the slot in the lower when installed and pressed to release an aluminum 30 round magazine; and I also noticed that the interior area of the trigger area was ground to a coarse finish, i.e. not a machined finish.

so I called Larry at Colfax Tactical® in order to inform him of the deficiencies of this 80-percent lower; and after a few minutes on the phone, he determined that the lower should have never been sent out, as it was a reject, due to the coarse grinding marks on the interior surface of the trigger area; as this area should have been machined smooth during one of the other process, when the unit was on this axis.

so, needless to say, I have another 80-percent lower being shipped out, and I get to keep the rejected (defective) “Paperweight”

LH


RH


Top


Bottom


the coarse grind marks …

[kurthuhn]

Wow!

That's some serious customer service there! High standards like that are what I look for - I know where I'll be going if I'm ever in the market for an 80% lower.

[Globemaster]

That's some serious customer service there!

I thought so too Kurt, and I'm extremely pleased with the outcome; and he also stated that the lower should have been tumbled; which I think this one is also missing that process; and why it’s not shinny

[shootermcmillan]

Nice! Plus one for Colfax

[Shermanator]

Use the paperweight to practice engravings on

[Globemaster]

Use the paperweight to practice engravings on

that sounds good to me

[Globemaster]

I received the replacement 80% unit from Colfax Tactical this past Wednesday; it look awesome, and everything is flawless on this receiver!

[whtsmoke]

GM mount a camera to your paperweight, I bet you would get alot of comments about it.

[Globemaster]

Q: what type of camera?

[whtsmoke]

a dslr would be nice on it or even a video camera, I say dslr.

[Globemaster]

now this is more like it ...

[Ken73]

So have you got the goodies to mill out the fire control well? Pretty sure you can do it with a milling bit, a drill press and a cross-vise if you're careful; or did you get the jig to do it?

[John A.]

I think completing the necessary work to finish that step is entirely do-able with nothing more than a flat bottom mill bit, drill press and cross-vise.

I would very much like to do it, if I had a jig or had access to one.

But as it stands, buying a jig is about the cost of a high tier lower, the 80% lower costs about the same as a finished lower, and by the time you add in finishing costs, I could buy 3 Aero lowers for what it would cost me to complete my own.

Still, I think I would enjoy completing it and shooting it would be extra gratifying.

[Globemaster]

So have you got the goodies to mill out the fire control well? Pretty sure you can do it with a milling bit, a drill press and a cross-vise if you're careful; or did you get the jig to do it?

at this time, I don’t have any ‘controlled tooling’ and if and whenever I do find the time to complete the paperweight, I’ll most likely use a jig.

as it stands, buying a jig is about the cost of a high tier lower, the 80% lower costs about the same as a finished lower, and by the time you add in finishing costs, I could buy 3 Aero lowers for what it would cost me to complete my own.

that’s very true, and I took all of that into consideration, before going into the project.

[whtsmoke]

Something like this the cost shouldnt be the big thing, its the satisfaction one getd from the completion of it. i know I dint save any money from the flintlocks but they are mine not someone elses. I do realize the cost is a little high but by buying it over a perod of time it doesnt hurt as much.

[Globemaster]

I like the analogy Terry … thanks