DSA - AGI - Elliott reciever wrench (moved to G/BiY)

[GregoryJ15]

Just got mine off the big brown truck. Its got burrs on the reciever mating surfaces. How much metal can I take off before I've really waisted my money here?

By the way, does century Arms want your signed copy of your FFL and or drivers license on file before they'll sell you anything? Some companies do this for ammo but for parts??

[ December 02, 2001: Message edited by: EMDII ]

[Mike in GA]

From the comments that I have read - Century MUST have your FFL on file before they will lose it and screw up your order!

[Dean P]

Casey Elliot receiver wrench is the only way to go.

[bullsear]

I agree, the Casey Elliott wrench is a good piece. Just used it for the first time today and I would be hard pressed to find anything I would want to improve on it.

[RThomas]

I can't speak for the Elliot wrench, never used one. I do have an AGI wrench that works quite well. The only advantage I could see for the Elliot wrench is it's alloy. The AGI is steel and can slightly mar the receiver. I put a single layer of electrical tape on the surface and cured the problem. Your results may vary. The AGI wrench was significantly cheaper when I bought it. RT

[jimmieZ]

I, too, have the AGI wrench and have used it to build several (or more) rifles. When I got it, I used a Dremel with sanding drum to remove just enough metal (uniformly) to take out the residue of the plasma-cut surface. Then I use a layer of electrical tape between the wrench and receiver - works like a charm and has not marred the receiver any time I have used it.

[Dean P]

I like to buy tools that work right the first time.

[GregoryJ15]

RThomas & Jimmez Thanks I'll follow the fill off the burrs, sand and electrical tape process.

[RThomas]

If you plan on refinishing, like I have with all my guns, the slight marring is not a concern. RT

[Double G Gunsmithing]

Dear All,

I have used one of Casey's wrenchs here in the shop for a little over 2yrs. It is by far the best one anyone's offering out there.

I "retired" some of the jigs / fixtures I brought back from oversea's, as they are collectors's items now :-)

His wrenchs work very well,

Sincerely, George L. Gouger
Life Member NRA Since 1969

[Casey]

Well, I usually let my tools do the talking for me but I thought it prudent to enlighten on a few details.
The AGI wrench DSA sells will work however it has a few drawbacks.
I believe you should get a tool that does not need to be reworked but one that does the job out of the box. This is not the case with AGI's.
The material they use is simple carbon steel which becomes tempered as a result of using plasma cutter causing it to become brittle (alot of folks wind up breaking them), also causing a kerf that disallows the full contact of the wrench to cradle the receiver unless you do some real grinding. They also don't do anything to keep the tool from rusting as far as I can tell. The two halves are not even on the ends making it harder to chuck up in a vice. Ours is drilled and tapped using CNC equip so the first one is just like the last one, no quality controll issues.
Folks it is a bad knockoff that looks like it was made in a garage by a couple of monkeys then an ingraver pen used by a 2 year old to write fnfal on it.
My price to board members is 65.00 which is 6.00 more then the one DSA is selling. Incidentally I drove their price down because they couldent give them away. You also get a money back guarantee with ours. Ask DSA if you can send it back if it doesnt do the job. To date I have never had a return for any reason.
I am also selling the locking shoulder sizing rods to board members for 79.00 which is 10.00 off retail and which comes out to $6.58 per size on the rod. Please E-mail me if anyone has any questions.
Happy thanksgiving to all!!
Casey Elliott www.angelfire.com/biz/tools4fals (http://www.angelfire.com/biz/tools4fals)

[RThomas]

No offense to your product Mr Elliot, I am sure it is superior. I got the AGI wrench direct from them, on sale, $45 almost 2years ago. At the time I did not know you offered a deal to 'board members and I believe you were asking $79? Either way I can also report the AGI wrench does in fact fit very well, without the gaps you speak of. Also the "FN-FAL" and "AGI" on it appear to be machine stamped, not made by monkeys commanded by a 2-year old. It also has an "ear" on it that makes it easy to mount in a vice. Again, I am sure your product is superior, however I am hard-pressed to believe that the AGI wrench is as inferior as you claim, as I own one, use one, and it works just fine. Maybe the AGI quality went downhill since I got mine. Bashing another product that I know to be effective does not engender me in any way to yours, no matter how much better it is. RT

[GregoryJ15]

All nice and well but I am the guy stuck with the bolow DSA wrench. Now I've got to make do. But thanks anyway.

[Casey]

RT,
Hey to each his own. You sure are making alot of comparisons and rather insulting inferences and you have not even seen my product. My observations are based on factual data collected by actual contact with both products and from A BUNCH of customers, quite a few that have AGI wrenches as described. Please dont take it personally I am sure you didn't throw you money down a rat hole. I really should just let my tools do my talking, I am not very good at faceless behind a key board conversations.
Shoot often : )

[EMDII]

Casey-

The Vortex pic didn't come up when I went to your site. Me, or is the pic Lost in Space?

For all- I haven't seen the AGI tool, so no comment. I have seen Casey's, and it is a work of art.



------------------
1*.....Train Like You Fight: Second Place is NOT an Option.

E.M. (Ted) Dannemiller II

[RThomas]

Casey,
If you carefully re-read my posts you will find that nowhere did I make comparisons or rather insulting inferences. Actually I admit your product is superior. I merely stated my experiences with a specific product, that happens to work well for me. I guess I got a "good" AGI wrench. And yes, I do shoot often. :-) RT

[Timber Wolf]

I tried to order the AGI from DSA back when they first advertised them. I waited and waited while they held up my whole order while the wrench was back ordered. Casey ran his wrench on special for $65 and $5 shipping so I canceled with DSA and ordered Casey's. I am very happy I spent the few extra bucks and got the better product. I want to spend my time building/shooting guns, not grinding on tools. I can't tell you how many times I have bought low quality stuff to save a little money and been sorry. Now if I could save a lot of money than I can tolerate a little trouble. Heck, I buy old tractors with stuck engines, trouble is no stranger.

------------------
First rule of gunfighting, "Have a gun!".
Timber Wolf, N.R.A. Endowment Member

[Templator]

*shrugg*,.. the AGI was there so I bought it,.. it has a hole in it that fits around my receiver,.. it bears on the proper places when under torque,.. it has a 3/4" square hole in it for a breaker bar,.. I hook it up, yank on it, and it turns the receiver. As long as it keeps doing that, I'm satisfied.

[Fred]

I have the AGI vise and found it mar the receiver surface due to the rough surface. For a while I used some teflon tape to keep this from being a problem. Then I decided to polish out the surfaces of the vise and find that no tape is needed anymore. This even holds true with the Williams aluminum receivers. I don't have any experience with other vise's that have been made but this one has assembled quite a few FALs and is sufficient to the task. At the time there were not many choices out there and I have made the AGI work well enough for my needs.

[Timber Wolf]

Damn! A thread I made a post on a YEAR ago. Lot of FALs under the bridge since then, still love my Elliot wrench. Keep thinking I will get done with it and can sell it and my gauge pins but I just got in a Imbel kit from WWII yesterday and ordered a Grade III Imbel kit from Dan's last night! Just can't decide if I want to go with Harlan's Century marked Imbels or Entreprise Type 3s. Decisions, decisions, just glad to have choices in this post Clinton/Reno age.

[Casey]

Well, as you can see I am a little an*l about comps between AGI/dsa and my stuff :mad:
But the repost is kind of weird?? I dont think I remember a posting this old get drudged back up. I know where you are coming from though TW you ought to see my workshop :eek: It seems I am always without my tools at some point, someone will always call in between finished product needing a set and being the soft touch I am, I usually send them mine. Except this time, I loved those stainless sets I made so much I refuse to let it go ;)
I only have one problem though, I cant bring myself to get rid of my rifles :D

[ByronF]

Borrowed an AGI from one of our board members (thanks, but I can't even recall who it was). I used it on my first build, but was too careless to use tape. It marred my receiver in ways that reparking won't cover. Dremel drum is in order.

I BOUGHT and Elliot wrench. Much nicer. Worth the extra money, IMO.

Both will build a rifle and won't mark your receiver if you use tape. I like the Elliot because I like nice things.

Byron