I know it’s recommended that you use a special receiver block for tightening or removing a barrel nut but couldn’t you just use two 2X4s and maybe route them out to fit?
I’m not trying to do something dumb, just save some money.
“The right tool, for the right job.”
Here are just a few examples I’ve collected over the years.
I just had to buy a new upper because I used the blocks of wood to remove a barrel and cracked the receiver. Buy the right tools! There cheap compare to replacing parts.
Posted :: Yesterday 8:17:20 PM MDT
I am trying to remove the barrel from my Bushy so I can install my nifty new DD rail. Got the FSB and SureFire muzzle brake off okay. Using the DPMS armorers tool, all I have accomplished so far is to destroy the receiver itself. No, I wasn’t using the Claw. Yes I have one on order along with my new stripped receiver.
I had the flattop upper clamped firmly sideways in a vice w/Delrin jaws. Put some muscle on it, heard a pop and thought great, it broke loose. It broke alright. Cracked the receiver right below the ejection port. So I soaked it it penetrating oil overnight while I mourned my lost receiver and berated myself for my cheapness for not buying the proper tools to start.
Today, I clamped the receiver in the vice again. Already broken, can’t hurt it now right? I even took the padded jaws out so the steel could bite into the aluminum. Put the arm on it again. Popped the receiver right out of the vice and skinned a knuckle or two. More swearing. Wife and kids heard me upstairs. Now my 3 year old son is running around saying “son of a bealpole!” at the top of his lungs. Or something like that.
Somebody help me! I’m not willing to give up on the barrel too!
Posted :: 10/5/2008 5:44:11 PM MDT
BUY YOUR OWN UPPER BLOCK!!!
That is the best advice I can possibly give, it will be the most useful $40 you ever spend. I decided to craft my own upper block out of some thick sturdy wood and paid the price by scratching the shit out of my upper and skinning my knuckles pretty badly.
Posted: Today 12:07:41 PM MST
During my first build I managed to tweak my Rock River flat top upper ever so slightly so that the bolt will seat when forced, but normally not on its own. There is no apparent visible damage, but I know the receiver is out of true because of the issue with the bolt not wanting to seat on its own. This happened because I was trying to install the barrel in a vise with a couple 2x4s. I ordered a new upper, and the gun now has about 1K rounds through it so I learned my lesson the hard way. My question is, is there any way I can have that upper re-trued? It’s just sitting in a box in my office, so it’s not doing much for me, but now I have a new lower to play with. I just thought I’d ask in case anyone has ever heard of that kind of a repair. Thanks!
Posted: 1/5/2009 12:14:11 PM MDT
Thanks for the info.
I’m sold!
Ditto - get the right tools if you choose to go down this road of work. Cheap insurance, great for future builds, can be resold easily. Avoid the backyard/franken crap mechanic builds at best and destroyed product at worst.
Go to the AR pages and the upper block and bolt spacer is $29.95. Not bad insurance.
Bruce:)
What Quib said!
I use the Brownells block…a little pricier than the Fulton but I swear by it!
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=22385/Product/AR_15_M16_UPPER_RECEIVER_ACTION_BLOCK
Sparky
I would suggest offering to “rent” one from someone if you dont expect to need it forever, but at half the price of an upper, it is a good thing to have.
I use the Bushmaster Armorer’s Action Clamp…Price: $41.50