I took the plunge!!

[sluggermn]

well I went and got impatient...just couldnt wait.
my flats I ordered from tapko came in the mail on tuesday and I spent all my breaks and lunch at work finishing up the base for my 555th bending jig. then I spent an hour after work putting on the finishing touches and attaching the flat to the jig ( crap that took forever!!)
today I greased her up and set it on the brake press at work and viola.......

a few things that need to be worked on
#1 the mag well has a bent/rounded edge on it now, no idea how that happened?!?

#2 the top rail that is hammered by hand looks all dinged up ( isnt it all covered /hidden or dremmeled away any way?) I used a very small body work hammer and used lots and lots of little taps so as to not over do it.

#3 the " y " marked hole ended up right at the bottom of the bend and appears to be a little deformed.

#4 the reciever is not square and one side where the rear trunion attaches is splayed out a little, although I think a vice grips or vice would fix that (opinions any one?)

#5 the hand bent lip that slides into the front trunion did not fold over as nicely as I had hoped and looks like it is not even on both sides.


hopefully I did not waste this flat! ( I ordered 3 just in case) and I did slide the front trunion into the flat, I had to bang it a little, but it went on and I also test fitted the rear trunion (kinda) I have to dremmel the opening for the side folder thingey ( nice technical term eh) I also test fit the gas piston carrier and it seems to glide on the rails nicely.
I know the issues im having are because of my tooling. I was having a bitch of a time getting the angle iron lined up and welded with the 1.36 gap between the pieces and its not perfectly square and does not have a uniform tolerance of 1.36 the length of the jig base.
555th any advice on getting that exact tolerance and keeping every thing square? I really had a devil of a time with this sucker ( the angle iron base).....

I will post pics tomorrow when the digital camera is charged up and that will give every one a better idea of what im talking about.

happy building every one

slugger

[aloharover]

Originally Posted by sluggermn

I know the issues im having are because of my tooling. I was having a bitch of a time getting the angle iron lined up and welded with the 1.36 gap between the pieces and its not perfectly square and does not have a uniform tolerance of 1.36 the length of the jig base.
555th any advice on getting that exact tolerance and keeping every thing square? I really had a devil of a time with this sucker ( the angle iron base).....

I have not yet made my 555th jig but do think I have it planned out correctly.
To make the female part of the jig I would:
Make a sandwich with the male part, two flats, some paper, and the angles.

]|H|[
angle, flat and paper, male, flat and paper, angle

Place the angles on a good flat surface. Place the other items inbetween the flats. Clamp together. I am planning on using maybe 6 piece of paper.
The idea of the paper is to provide the clearance needed and making sure the female part isn't too tight.

Now you can carefully flip the jig upside down and weld on your base and end pieces.
hth
Pete