I40Bandit

Well...that's sad. I play with adult Legos too, but still love my bolts, pumps, levers, stainless, wood and bluing. Like most things it's a fad phase I think. Extra popular because of the ease of building, or I should say easy universal assembly. It takes skill to work on/with wood and, say, rabbit ears and soldered side by sides. AR's are to the gun world what Legos are to the engineering/construction world. Where all the kids start

I'm new here, and I know this is a necropost, but my experiences here are no less valid. Speaking as someone whom owns a 3D printer (a few years now), has printed miles of various filament, has milled and used Polymer lowers, as well as has been a machinist milling everything from wood to polys/plastics to metals from Aluminum to Titanium and Inconel, I have this to say..... 1) I will never use an 80% poly lower again for an AR. I have milled them drill press/cross slide vise style as well as with a router jig. I've had them come apart in as few as 15 shots (5.56N in a 16" carbine with adjustable gas block tuned to the ammo). Lucky I didn't take part of my cheek off with the bolt when the last one failed and the buffer loop came clean off. The only use I have for them anymore is dedicated .22lr plinker builds. I'm not even sure I would trust the resin mold kit that comes with metal reinforcing bits. Not all poly's are bad, the 80% Glock replicas seem to be OK. 2) For the same reason as above (times 100) I would not even consider using a 3D printed lower for anything other than a cosplay rig for some wannabe, or an Airsoft build or paint ball build might be OK. There are 6 or 7 different methods of 3D printing, however most DIY/homeowner 3D printers are Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) AKA Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). This method is what most people think of, with a spool (or a few spools) of filament material being fed into a heated nozzle and being deposited layer upon layer to build up the model/part. This is great for prototyping and doing one off stuff (see pic). Horrible for production unless you run a 'farm' (a warehouse full). This method has its drawbacks though. Even if you get good layer fusion, that part is still weak between the layers. When designing something for 3D printing, you need to keep this in mind and design/orient the part around this. I have yet to figure out how to FDM print a lower where this is not an issue. I have however printed some grips with out issue. Tried a 1911 style/angle grip on an AR. 3) 6061 billet and 7075 forged 80% lowers are so widely available and cheap there is almost no reason not to use them if you are considering a 'ghost gun'. Currently a forged raw (non anodized) lower can be had for $44 shipped, less in 5 packs (AAO Mfg). Yes the tooling/jig can get expensive. If you know someone who has one, it never hurts to ask. Likely they will rent it out for a reasonable price (with a u break it, u replace it clause), probably with direct guidance so you don't screw it up. Then you are not on the hook for all the tooling/fixtures, and they reduce their over all investment cost. With what I know now, I would way rather by a CNC machine and program a full lower milling from a 0% forging or block of billet than stick another poly on a battle rifle. 4) Legally speaking it is perfectly legal for you to manufacture a firearm from 0% or 80% using any material you want. Sale (and serialization) of that firearm is of course subject to Fed and State laws. 5) FDM printing is great for lots of stuff, like a spent primer catch for an old RCBS JR press, or any other little project you can come up with. I've made biscuit and cookie cutters, storage boxes for hearing aids and batteries, reload sorting blocks etc....as long as you design the part appropriately, it's great. Here is a project I did for myself using my printer. Yep, it flies.

Somebodies been watching too many movies and too much TV...... **returns to sorting brass and geeking out on headstamps......LC 58....DA 63.....WCC 61.....SB 78**

I've tried straw bales. Limited success. Maybe they needed better prep.

So what I am getting from this is take the long way around Memphis when heading west. Did you folks see the Nissan Skyline that was hit with a brick (maybe a rock) from an overpass in Nashvegas a couple months back? Killed the driver on his way to work at Nissan. Insanity surrounds us, threats from every direction.

Idiots and A-holes won't change me, just validate my MO. I never liked crowds anyhow. Have been square in the middle of a full blown every man for himself, beer kegs flying riot. Have a scar and nerve damage to remember it by. Handgun, 2 spare mags, pocket knife, P38 opener and fire starter on a key chain, and two tampons, one in each back pocket. Rely on no one but those in your inner most circle, and choose them carefully. LEOs and medics are almost never there fast enough, and these days it seems even if they are there, it's no guarantee they will do anything in a timely fashion, if at all (Parkland)

I have a couple vac/sealers. I put up pigs late winter before temps start rising out of the 40's. I still have a couple roasts 4 years old that traveled with me from San Diego. I do cooking sized portions of onions and peppers mixed, Zucchini and yellow squash mixes etc. I repack store bought meats when the deals can't be passed up. Fruits and berries etc......love those sealers. If you are not above shopping thrift stores, you can find them for ridiculously cheap. I've hauled off rolls of bag material for pennies on the dollar. Last year I bought a HarvestRight freeze dryer. Powdered eggs in long term storage....check. Freeze dried garlic is great, just re-hydrate when needed. I've done bananas (no babnanas tho....ARFCOM humor) and various other fruits. I even freeze dried some ice cream sandwiches and orange creamsicles. Takes some time to do a cycle and you have to transfer from freeze dryer to storage super fast (straight from machine to jars/sealed bags) to avoid your food absorbing humidity. Love it though.

No tips on construction, that's easy enough. But getting enough soil is/can be a hassle. I ended up buying two 20 yard dumps of Holy Cow brand soil out of Nashville. I'm pepper/chili heavy this year, and since I have plenty of tomatoes canned, I am doing some experimental varieties this year and only have a couple plants for slicers and salad cherries. Will go around and get some current pics to share, but here's some Anaheims from a couple years back... And I love the Blueberries I can grow here. Never had success with them until moving here.

Some. But not many people see my drumsticks anymore

Classic OB Seagull, nice. I have a Sun on my calf. Was in a band at the time, thus the treble clef in the middle. 619 in a circle. I was so young then. Could use some touch up, but I never look at. Rarely wear shorts anymore.

From one San Diego, CA refugee to another, welcome. I was born and raised there. El Cajon, Jamul and La Mesa. I looked at place in K Springs when I was in the market. It was right on a hi tension power line cut. Just wasn't right for me.

....I'm a Cali transplant. My ideals mesh well here. I have been in TN for a little over 4 yrs. Absolutely love it here. I have a collection of various 2A freedom. Still have my first pellet gun (RWS Model 34 made in WEST Germany). Pistols, revolvers, rifles in various chamberings, shotguns (currently working on a J Stevens 620 in 16ga I got from my late grandfather). I wouldn't call myself a gunsmith, maybe a mechanic or tune up specialist. I have done several AR builds on 80% lowers (love my 5D multiplatform jig). And I am just getting set up to do refinishes and customs. Anyhow, hello and perhaps we will cross paths someday. Till then stay safe, head on a swivel and keep practicing.