G'day Wonk,
I use the Brownells torque rod and it works for me.
How you put it all together in the vise to torque-up depends on the design of the barrel nut. Handguard manufacturers have different designs of barrel nut so I am wondering what handguard you have chosen.
For example, Centurion's CMR handguard has small holes designed for a pin spanner like those found on AR15 spanners for the old design castle nuts. For this the torque wrench handle is clamped in the vise and the spanner is in the hands for tightening. The torque rod sits on the torque wrench pointing up. You lower the receiver onto it vertically then do it up with the spanner until you feel/hear the torque wrench click at your chosen setting.
![[Image: CMRBarrelNut556-2T.jpg?1405193317]](http://cdn3.volusion.com/xjhfl.toyeo/v/vspfiles/photos/CMRBarrelNut556-2T.jpg?1405193317)
Another example is SLR's Solo series of handguards. These have flats on the nut. You sit the flats in the vise with the barrel pointing down. Again, this is a vertical setup but this time the torque rod and torque wrench is pointing down and you are holding the wrench in your hands.
![[Image: BNq_zps9ea1e11a.jpg]](http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u601/SLRrifleworks/BNq_zps9ea1e11a.jpg)
In all cases you insert the barrel into receiver and do the barrel nut up by hand to hand-tight before clamping in the vise for torqueing.
Also, keeping the barrel/receiver vertical while torqueing keeps gravity even reducing the chance of run-out between barrel and receiver.
I use the Brownells torque rod and it works for me.
How you put it all together in the vise to torque-up depends on the design of the barrel nut. Handguard manufacturers have different designs of barrel nut so I am wondering what handguard you have chosen.
For example, Centurion's CMR handguard has small holes designed for a pin spanner like those found on AR15 spanners for the old design castle nuts. For this the torque wrench handle is clamped in the vise and the spanner is in the hands for tightening. The torque rod sits on the torque wrench pointing up. You lower the receiver onto it vertically then do it up with the spanner until you feel/hear the torque wrench click at your chosen setting.
Another example is SLR's Solo series of handguards. These have flats on the nut. You sit the flats in the vise with the barrel pointing down. Again, this is a vertical setup but this time the torque rod and torque wrench is pointing down and you are holding the wrench in your hands.
In all cases you insert the barrel into receiver and do the barrel nut up by hand to hand-tight before clamping in the vise for torqueing.
Also, keeping the barrel/receiver vertical while torqueing keeps gravity even reducing the chance of run-out between barrel and receiver.