Let's see your goto builders tools & benches

[DutyUse]

Been trying to slowly step up my builder's game lately, and take the phrase "built" AR to an actual term I can be proud of. I've built a few lowers using basic hand tools with sloppy results, but never and upper.

Here's what I've picked up so far (sorry fam and I been sick so just stock photos for now..) But here's what I've slowly collected…Need advice on what I could improve upon, what I still need, and what could be useful … aka PRO tips

Bench:


6" vice:


Magpul Kit:


Geiselle Armorer Kit:


Torque wrench:


Mini Drill Press For pinning Muzzles & Gasblocks:


Super solid jig for said Drill press:


And then the BRD Gas Block Dimpler & Gas Block Pinning Jig I posted up already… Along with tons of assorted little screw drivers, 3-4 punches, and brass/polymer hammer.

You guys who enjoy building these guns as much as shooting them, show me your workspace, your favorite tools, and maybe some things that I missed.

NOTE: This took ALONG time to acquire, and I'm far from done… Please be gentle I'm just getting started. Just looking for advice and inspiration

[Ride4frnt]

Very nice. I have the same bench which doubles as building and reloading space. All my tools are craftsman, then I just have your basic lower and upper vice blocks. Need to invest in a 5" clamp on vice to put on that bench instead of the one on my dads cluttered tool bench.

I know a lot of people use brass hammers, and it may be easier, but I don't trust myself not to scratch anything. I use a plastic/rubber headed craftsman for hitting pins and punches.

[DutyUse]

Very nice. I have the same bench which doubles as building and reloading space. All my tools are craftsman, then I just have your basic lower and upper vice blocks. Need to invest in a 5" clamp on vice to put on that bench instead of the one on my dads cluttered tool bench.

Same exact cobalt from lowes? How you like it? I was a little worried the wood top might be a little to thin when I mounted the vice and got really torquing on a barrel nut or something. So far so good though? Mines still in pieces… just picked it up over the weekend and with the kid's being sick this has been low on the radar unfortunately… Jeez about a 10,000 freaking pieces. ...

[Ride4frnt]

Same exact cobalt from lowes? How you like it? I was a little worried the wood top might be a little to thin when I mounted the vice and got really torquing on a barrel nut or something. So far so good though? Mines still in pieces… just picked it up over the weekend and with the kid's being sick this has been low on the radar unfortunately… Jeez about a 10,000 freaking pieces. ...

Went back to lowes and got a 2'x4' piece of 3/4" oak ply and bolted it over top the compressed wood it came with. Hangs over a bit on each end and the front, which is what I needed for my dillon press.

[DutyUse]

Haha I did the exact same thing lol

[Ride4frnt]

It's also really not that bad for assembly. My dad and I had it together in an hour. Be sure all the pieces are there before assembly. They won't send you a missing part, you have to return it all. We thought the two smallest screws were missing but they are in the box with the light.

[DutyUse]

It's also really not that bad for assembly. My dad and I had it together in an hour. Be sure all the pieces are there before assembly. They won't send you a missing part, you have to return it all. We thought the two smallest screws were missing but they are in the box with the light.

Probably will take me 5-6 hrs because I'll have a 2 year old "helping" me every 20 minutes when she gets bored… and when i'm not babysitting I'll be assembling alone, so I'm planning a whole day this upcoming saturday to build it. Thanks for the heads up though. Jeez the 3 bags of 100 screws a piece had me a little worried… guessing leave em loose till the end then tighten when everything is in place?

[Ride4frnt]

Probably will take me 5-6 hrs because I'll have a 2 year old "helping" me every 20 minutes when she gets bored… and when i'm not babysitting I'll be assembling alone, so I'm planning a whole day this upcoming saturday to build it. Thanks for the heads up though. Jeez the 3 bags of 100 screws a piece had me a little worried… guessing leave em loose till the end then tighten when everything is in place?

Eh, to an extent. You can tighten most of them down from the jump.

[UWone77]

So what do you guys prefer as far as work bench material? Composite? Wood? Or metal?

I do like that Cobalt Bench...

[Ride4frnt]

So what do you guys prefer as far as work bench material? Composite? Wood? Or metal?

I do like that Cobalt Bench...

I don't like particle board or the compressed stuff, that's why I went with an oak top over the compressed I could've also bought. I think this piece of oak was about 30 bucks or so. They didn't have any HDF when I went in there. 1" HDF would be good but I feel the oak is more solid for the press and vice. If you look, there only one bolt on my dillon that's through both pieces of wood, so it needs to be solid.

[DutyUse]

I got 2 pieces of 3/4" cut dimensionally the same as my workbench. Plan on bolting the almost 2.25" of wood together using 4 grade 8 bolts with beefy BIG washers, and then drill through the metal into the wood with screws around the edges for added strength. Then bolt the Vice and drill press down on opposite ends.

My wife actually picked that bench up for me UW, she got it for a steal, I believe less then 190$? It's much more substantial in person then in the pics I imagine...

Nothing like my old 300lb scrap welded mechanics bench but not even close to the level of abuse either.

I've use wood tops, and steel. Both have pluses and minuses. For this type of work i would go with a hardwood like Ride has personally.

[mustangfreek]

Wood bench, couple layers of 3/4" or a solid 1 1/2" chunk...

My work area is ugly, and my tools are not clean and pretty as i use the shit ot of them..lol...so no pics from me...lol..

If i do set up my own reloading setup will throw up some kind of backer board as peg board or something similiar

[DutyUse]

Wood bench, couple layers of 3/4" or a solid 1 1/2" chunk...

My work area is ugly, and my tools are not clean and pretty as i use the shit ot of them..lol...so no pics from me...lol..

If i do set up my own reloading setup will throw up some kind of backer board as peg board or something similiar

Sorry, should have specified. Was trying to find about AR15 armorer's tools... Reloading is waaaay down the road lol.

So if you got some favorite tools, tips, tricks or whatever on how YOU build your rifles, post it up. Just starting my tool collection and don't wanna be mid build and be held up over some 8$ roll pin holder :lame:

[GOST]

I don't have my own work bench, a local gunsmith let's me use his shop. 2 of his tools I use a lot are an automatic center punch and a dead-blow hammer.

[CarbonScoring]

My new favorite tool is the Wheeler Fat Wrench. I've become more insistent with correct torque values over the last year, so this was a good buy for all of the little screws and bolts.

Other than that, my most used AR specific tools would be the Geissele Reaction Rod & trigger fitting punch, and the Multitasker Series 3.