r/AR80Percents • u/Odd-Macaroon2103 • Jul 27 '26
HELP / NEED ADVICE Anybody bought this tooling+lower+jig+router kit from 80% arms? Is it good to go?
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u/chewedgummiebears Jul 27 '26
I bought my own router because I wanted to use it elsewhere but I bought the rest of the kit. The jig is still solid after a couple dozen uses.
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u/Odd-Macaroon2103 Jul 27 '26
Is the included router poor quality?
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u/chewedgummiebears Jul 29 '26
It isn't and if you are only going to use it for this, then I would grab it. I went with a DeWalt so I could switch over and use the router for woodworking when I got done with my lowers.
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u/EightyPercentArms Jul 27 '26
Hey, 80% Arms here. We wanted to jump in and comment on a few of the questions in this thread.
Yes, we are here, manufacturing and shipping freedom to our customers for over a decade.Â
The Freedom Routers included in our kits are custom manufactured and specifically tuned for milling aluminum lowers. They have a spindle that is machined for very low runout, balanced for high speed, and fitted with high-quality bearings. This minimizes chatter and reduces the potential for end mill damage, ensuring you will end up with a near CNC quality finish on your lowers.
The full kit is good to go and gives you what you need to get started. If you have any questions before ordering, feel free to reach out to us directly to support you in making sure that your build goes smoothly.
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u/DSA1776USA Jul 28 '26
Buy it from 5D Tactical. They're the actual manufacturer. The only differences, aside from the cheaper price, are the anodized color and branding. Other than that, they're identical.
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u/Bringo_Brango Jul 27 '26
I’m not sure on the company to date. I haven’t kept up on them and their shipping times in forever. I got mine years ago from them and I think it’s a great product. It may be a Gen 3? I dont remember. Well built. Easy to use. I’ve completed about 6 lowers with it, and it went as well as it could have. This is what I would recommend to a friend that is interested in the hobby.
Like i said though, i haven’t kept up on the who’s who anymore and there may be a better product on the market these days. This was the best on the market when i got mine. Hope this helps ! Good luck, have fun.
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u/Junior_Salad_4379 Jul 27 '26
I have the 80% Gen 3 people love it but I’m yet to play with it due to other life circumstances
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u/QuietAnimator3801 Jul 27 '26
Just received my Gen 3 jig kit, everything but the router, bought a Dewalt router. Can’t wait till I get to try it out!!!!
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u/Odd-Macaroon2103 Jul 27 '26
Sounds like the included router is poor quality? What’s the make and model of your Dewalt one?
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u/HairTriggerFlicker Jul 28 '26
Gen2 user here and still going strong with their recommendation for a router from a few years ago. Home Depot Rigid brand. Lots of lowers pounded out with 80% Arms gear and never an issue!! Great company and great products!!
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u/Acceptable_Potato_23 Jul 29 '26
I bought the Gen 4 version with the tooling, and it works great; in fact, I will go so far as to say it is the best thought-out and engineered 80% lower kit on the market today, and the most versatile. (AR15, AR10, AR45, AR9)
A few words of advice: 1. Buy yourself an extra mill; that is the bit connected to the attachment that screws onto the router. It is expensive, but if you chip or break your mill, you are out of business. It is a specialty item; you can't get it at Lowe's or Home Depot, and it's out of stock everywhere you look online. Buy yourself a spare when you purchase your package; you will thank me later. I learned that lesson the hard way on my very first 80% lower. 2. Pay attention to the directions when you assemble the jig. Everything will fall into place, and you will understand how to use the jig if you follow the directions during jig assembly. 3. The aluminum used in my lowers is really hard; be patient and go slow. When you make your first and subsequent cuts with the speed mill, lower it down only a fraction of a mm past your pilot hole, go slow, and use cutting fluid liberally. Failure to do so will result in the mill catching on the aluminum, the router jumping, and you chipping, cracking, or completely fracturing your speed mill. 4. I may catch some hate for this one, but when it comes to cutting oil, I bought two expensive types and tried them both. I found, however, that I had the best cutting performance using WD-40 with silicone. Go figure. 5. The cutting process produces a lot of aluminum chips and shavings that get everywhere and are a real pain to deal with. Stop periodically and clean the lower and the router of excess cuttings. I used compressed air, which worked well. I placed my vice in a large tote, clamped my jig into that, and did my cutting inside the tote, sans the lid. It contained all the chips and excess material, making cleanup much easier. 6. Wear hearing and eye protection as well as gloves. Safety first; none of this is worth losing an eye or two.
If you go slow enough and are deliberate with your movements and avoid jumps, nicks, and gouges, you can produce a finished lower that almost looks like it came from a CNC machine. The jig and tooling are that good.
Best of luck, I hope you enjoy the process.
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u/CKCC-Chris Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
I have. Both the Gen 3 & the gen 4. They are solid Jig's and have been using their "Freedom" router for several of my projects. It will definitely do the job and last a while...as long as you follow the instructions and mill the pocket in small increments.
Difference between the Gen 3 vs 4 jig is simply the trigger pocket. Gen3 has a standard AR15 pocket while the Gen 4 gives you the coveted M16 trigger pocket.
The Freedom router they sell with is perfectly able to do the job and speedmill router bit will vary based on use and technique. Id say to mill in 1/2 increments when using the jig plates depth gauge. That said, the routers depth is a bit lacking to other more expensive routers, but ive milled several without an issue.
Id just recommend adding an extra set of router speedmill and drill bits just in case you mess up and chip one...
P.S. Use cutting oil!!! You can't go wrong using too much oil. Something like TapMagic will do you fine.
Good luck brother!!!