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China is the world's leading exporter of tungsten carbides. The global supply of carbides is relatively diversified, with significant contributions from European countries like Austria and the Czech Republic. The top five exporting countries account for just over 70% of the global trade in carbides, compared to 95% for tungstates. Tungsten carbides are particularly important as they represent 65% of global tungsten consumption. They are used for manufacturing metalworking and rock drilling tools, where their high abrasion resistance is crucial for all mechanical parts subject to wear[4].

https://3crtactical.com/product/anderson-manufacturing-ar-15-80-lower-receiver-open-trigger-black-anodized/

Tungsten carbides are essential for providing hardness and abrasion resistance to metallurgical alloys. The global supply of carbides is relatively diversified. However, prices in the EU market are strongly linked to the supply and demand conditions in the Chinese markets for tungstates and tungsten oxides and hydroxides. In the EU market, the price of carbides reflects the costs of tungstates and oxides. Thus, the price formation in the EU market depends on what happens in China, not only for products where China has a strong leadership position but also for derived products.

I managed to get a deal yesterday from 3CR Tactical on two black anodized 80 lowers for only $81, free shipping and IN STOCK. I found it by going online to https://Gun.Deals and doing a search on “80 lower”

Hopefully Juggernaut is or will be offering the ability to replace only the drill guides and bushings, which are the wear parts, as needed, while allowing the owner to retain the main body and other components. That would up the value and make the investment more appealing, especially over the long term.

The initial processing of tungsten ores produces sodium tungstate, which is then converted into ammonium paratungstate and ammonium metatungstate. These compounds are collectively known as tungstates. Global production of tungstates is highly concentrated, with China, Taiwan, and Vietnam representing over 80% of world trade, making this commodity one of the critical raw materials for the European Union[2].

Published by Luigi Bidoia. June 10, 2024 .

The third graph below shows how all prices along the tungsten supply chain have consistently moved in perfect alignment with one another.

Though Juggernaut Tactical used to make one of the worst products I’ve ever reviewed, I still had a high opinion of the rest of their line. In what appears to be no exception to that, their new Ultimate AR Jig looks awesome. It’s a drill jig kit designed to help you turn an 80% AR-15 or AR-10 lower receiver into a 100% lower receiver . . .

The graph shows the EU customs prices for tungsten oxides and hydroxides, compared with Chinese export prices of tungsten trioxide and other oxides and hydroxides. It is evident that the three series move similarly. Additionally, statistical analysis indicates a trend where Chinese prices precede EU price movements by two months.

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Tungsten is a metal in which China has an undisputed position of strength. China not only holds the largest global reserves of tungsten ores but is also the leader in the production of all tungsten-based compounds. Consequently, the prices of various materials in the tungsten production cycle are primarily determined by the Chinese market, thus influencing prices in all other industrial areas worldwide.

China holds a less dominant position in tungsten oxides and hydroxides, which are the most important chemical compounds derived from tungstates. In this market, China competes with the United States and Vietnam for the top exporter position. Additionally, the international market sees significant presence from many other countries, such as South Korea and Japan in Asia, and the Netherlands and Germany in Europe. Even in this situation, the Chinese market still drives global prices, as shown in the graph below.

Published by Luca Sazzini. July 22, 2024 .

• 17-4 Stainless Steel Drill Bushings • Patented alignment tool with light • Depth gage for quickly setting tool length • CNC-machined from solid aerospace billet aluminum • Laser-etched with Right/Left markings and drill hole sizes for convenience • Individually replaceable plates • Type III hard coat anodized • If instructions are properly followed, the jig kit can be used to finish up to 25 lowers, or more

Up to 25 or more. A set inclusive of everything from zero to positive infinity. It might break the first time, or it may last forever.

Tungsten is a metal with very special properties. It has the highest melting point of all pure metals (over 3,000 degrees Celsius), making it particularly useful for producing heat-resistant metal alloys, used in applications such as rocket nozzles and turbines. Additionally, when combined with carbon, it forms tungsten carbide, a material with a hardness close to that of diamond. This hardness is essential for the production of cutting tools, drills, and other equipment used in metalworking and rock drilling.

It looks like a really precise and solid way to finish out an 80% lower. But it’s a $180 wear-and-tear item that’s expected to last only through the creation of maybe 25 lowers, so that’s something to keep in mind.

But does is have the ability with a .30 caliber clip to disperse with 30 bullets within half a second? Otherwise I don’t want one.

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For market analysis purposes, it is useful to distinguish metals into three different clusters [ Read all ]

Published by Luca Sazzini. July 15, 2024 .

• 1 ea. 0.375″ Cobalt Drill • 1 ea. 0.3125″ Cobalt Drill • 1 ea. 0.156″ Cobalt Drill • 1 ea. 5/16″ Carbide Endmill

There’s another YT video by Darian Ballard that tears this jig kit a new orifice. Seems his main gripes are the crappy instructions and some misalignment issues with the side holes. He says use a drill press.

Published by Luca Sazzini. July 1, 2024 .

I get confused with statements like this. Is it up to 25 (i.e., no more than) or is it more than? How many more than? I would think a jig can be used as many time as you want with no practical limit. If that’s the case, why imply there’s a limit?

I took Darian Ballard’s YT advice and bought a drill press for drilling all the initial holes with the Hole Template. I scored a Harbor Freight drill press for only $55. I can assure you that it is a worthwhile investment because using a hand-drill to drill all the 3/8″ holes plus the other holes was a real PITA. I ain’t no spring chicken no more and my arms were dead-tired from all that drilling. I’d rather save my strength for stirring a paddle during a crawfish boil or shrimp boil.

The analysis of the price dynamics highlights how the price of tungstates influences the prices of other products, including scrap. The effect of the Chinese market in determining global prices of tungstates and tungsten oxides and hydroxides is reflected in the prices of tungsten carbides in Europe.

[UPDATE] Well…..thankfully I’d bought an 80 lower real cheap as a blem so I could practice and learn on it. Boy, did I ever learn.

The drill bits will gradually wear the metal of the jig causing the holes to enlarge. Eventually, you’ll end up with lowers that are out of spec.

I just got a universal AR-10 JIG, I CAN’T MAKE IT FIT MY AR10 GEN 1 DPMS, The small side plates stick out way to far, the front top bolt hole won’t work it hits The bolt hits the receiver, I believe they sent me a piece of crap.

I like it when he pee’s his depends. Likely will be commie kalifornia’s next Senator. I have no trust in the brain stem only kalli voter block.

The analysis of the graph clearly shows the substantial alignment of tungstate prices in the two global regions and how Chinese prices generally precede European prices by an average of two months.

Expectations of strong increases in copper consumption support future prices, but weak demand reduces spot ones [ Read all ]

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Given this market structure, Chinese export prices of tungstates influence price dynamics in the EU. The following graph shows the EU customs price of tungstates and the Chinese export prices of ammonium paratungstate and ammonium metatungstate[3].

The answer really depends on your equipment and your ability to align the fixture to said drill press. The runout of the drill press and chuck will eventually cause the drill bit to cut through the anodized layers in the holes. Once that layer is gone, any misalignment will cause the top and bottom anodized layers, and the now raw aluminum in the holes, to wear faster. This can be mitigated by using a mill/drill or a milling machine, but you wouldn’t need the fixture if you had one of those machines. There’s another company that makes a jig designed to use a trim router. It is much faster, but there is still plenty of opportunity for an unskilled user to destroy that as well.

Every ‘ghost gun’ you build, Kevin de León bursts a capillary in his (Abby normal) brain, and *two* angels get their wings…

Tungsten is found in nature in the form of ore. China holds over half of the world's reserves and produces more than three-quarters of the globally extracted ore[1]. However, China is a net importer of ores to meet its high demand. Rwanda is the leading global exporter of tungsten ores, followed by Russia, Bolivia, and Australia. In Europe, Spain and Portugal are among the main producers and exporters.

I have this jig. I’m going to try it out on an AR15 lower tomorrow. The YouTube video comments are hilarious but they also help you avoid pitfalls. For sure, go on Scamazon and order a 1/4″ endmill that is 4″ length OAL. They recco a 3/4″ cut but 1/2″ is okay; you can get this for $20. The other drill bits and drill collar stops you can get at Ace, Harbor Freight, bLowes or Home Despot

For an additional $60, one can add the Ultimate Jig Tooling Package. It “includes all bits required to finish your AR-15 or AR-10 lower. These are the same bits we use in our commercial CNC machines at the Juggernaut Tactical factory.” That includes:

Some of the comments on an AR15 site’s DIY Build forum says the $280 5D Tactical Universal AR15/AR10 is better than the $180 Juggernaut Tactical jig.

D’oh! I forgot to mention that my only remaining 80 Lower that I still had was a nice red-anodized lower from Thunder Tactical as well as a DPMS-pattern AR10 80 Lower that “I’m saving for later”. I sure as hell didn’t want my next attempt to be with either one, especially since Thunder Tactical is out of stock on colored anodized lowers right now.

LESSONS LEARNED: 1) do NOT use the Harbor Freight Endmills. The cutting surface is too long. They chewed up the sides of my jig’s Router Pocket Template/ Main Pocket Template. Had to order a replacement for $35 + $10 shipping. 2) as a result of the HF mills chewing up the sides of the template, the template allowed the Amazon endmill I also bought to remove too much material to the point it pierced the wall of the lower(!) 3) buy the endmills suggested by Juggernaut but do not buy Juggernauts tool pack. Instead you can source the endmills here: https://www.americangunsmithtooling.com/products/2-pack-5-16-3-flute-1-2-loc-1-4-shank-3-75-oal-zrn-coated-carbide-end-mill Got two pack for $70 something. 4) do NOT buy the Amazon endmill for $20. It’s only 1/4″ wide diameter cutting surface so it a) increases amount of time you are milling each pass and b) is too fragile and easily shattered 5) whilst using the Makita router, I recco you increase the depth of your cutting pass by only half-a-notch per pass. TAKE YOUR TIME. That’s what beer is for. 6) use a shopvac definitely. What I did was for $25 bought the Home Depot Bucket Head shop vac that fits on a standard 5 gl bucket. They also sell a mini-attachment kit for only $15 that fits onto the buckethead’s 1-1/4″ hose. The mini attachments allow you to get into the small, tight crevices of the lower and suck all of that crap out. 7) use real cutting fluid. I tried to get away with crappy WD40 but it’s too thin.

The graph also shows the price of tungsten scrap, whose importance as a substitute for ores, as a source of tungsten, has increased in this century, reaching 35%. Tungsten has a relatively high recycling rate compared to other metals[5].