Free chex vs Pat Marlins check maker

[tjones]

Good info too referring to HARRYMPOPE'S post that the "Mother of all Checkmakers" is a best an orphaned child. -tj

[Bad Water Bill]

I do not know why you are on a soap box about gas checks and putting a knife in Pats back nor do I care. Someone with 76 posts and over 70 of them are on one subject and harassing a member at every chance sounds like someone with a MAJOR problem themselves.

[tjones]

I am sorry the but OP question was "used both" or owned. I have , really commented only on the history, or is that a twist of a vs. b. I have neither now, as I have a life time supply. -tj

[wlc]

Sorry to have stirred up a hornets nest. I personally found the history lesson helpful even though it was somewhat off topic from the specific question asked by the OP (ME). I didn't ask my question in order to start some type of argument etc. I honestly wanted to know of folks experience with each or both types of check maker. The history was added benefit.

I especially didn't want anyone to badmouth any particular individual or company, especially a member and vendor here. I asked my question simply because I am fairly new to boolit casting and have never used a gascheck let alone made one. I see the benefit of rolling your own whether its boolits or gaschecks. I've read much but didn't find what I was looking for and I do certainly appreciate all the good info I've recieved on this question. My apologies to any one that may have been offended by the results of my question.

[Bad Water Bill]

I found some of his remarks in poor taste SO looked at ALL of his posts and all but 2 were in the GC pages mostly bashing Pat.

Those of us who have been here for a while have watched Pat start up his business and have some MAJOR setbacks. If Pat was able he tried to keep all of us informed of how the business was running.

I personally would not hesitate to do business with Pat as he has some excellent products. Being a 1 man store is hard but I think Pat is on the right track now and wish him the very best.

Never stop asking questions here as that is why most folks are here. Obviously there are a few that come here to cause trouble. With over 25,000 members a few will be like this problem CHILD.

Just sit back keep your coffee mug full relax and ask questions and learn some more.

Thank you for helping some other members learn more about gas checks and their history.

[HARRYMPOPE]

Pats tool are the only ones i own now and are fast enough for me.i shoot mainly bolt guns and single shots so 500-1000 month is all i need.I make them as i wait for the pot to heat up rather than sit down and make 1000's at a time.I would like a Freechex III in 22 caliber someday.But as of now i am sitting on 8000 Honady .22 checks and am in no rush.

George

[Sonnypie]

I have both, used both.
If you have both try this test: Try laying a file on either and see which is made of tool steel and hardened.
The file will bite into the steel in a PM die, it will not in a Freechex.
Based on experience with both, Freechex is the best choice.
YMMV (And Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care.)

[MUSTANG]

I have (4) Freechex I's (Hammer and punch); (3) FreeChex III's (Arbor Press), and (3) Pat Marlin Gas Check Makers. I like them all, and live with the quirks each has. I rarely use the FreeChex I's now, the FreeChex III's are much easier and faster.

With the Pat Marlin Check Makers, I discovered that it is much easier to punch the disks out using the dies in my Corbin Press with it's much greater leverage, and then move the dies over to my RCBS press for the 2nd step in forming the Gas Check cup.


Mustang

[HARRYMPOPE]

try slightly tapering the ram cutter on pats tool with a file and the effort is 1/3.No more stuff rattling off the bench.

George

[PatMarlin]

I have to set the facts straight here at CB from comments from the same couple of guys, over and over and over- but that's OK...

I have customers that continually make thousands of accurate fitting and accurate shooting gas checks with their Checkmaker™ dies.


Checkmaker™ Gas Check Forming Die Sets:

-Meet or exceed accuracy shooting results of factory gas checks.

-Very user friendly- fast and easy to use, and to set up.

-Produce a bare minimum of material waste.

-Produce concentric gas checks that fit and STAY on, using the accuracy of your reloading press.

-Heavy duty machined quality with no moving parts to break or gum up.

-Flexible- accommodate a wide range of material thickness- and work with a wide range of Boolit diameters all within one caliber set.

-Lifetime purchase and user re-sharpen able

I fully guarantee EVERY die set to be spot on and work flawlessly to your satisfaction, with a "No BS" warranty.

Take a file all you want, but It's really pointless.

...

[Sonnypie]

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/...t/P1270235.jpg


http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/...t/P1270236.jpg


http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/...t/P1270237.jpg

[PatMarlin]

Wow SonnyPie,

I'm impressed not only with your knowledge, and that you are not only an expert on metallurgy but clairvoyant as well, so far as to even know the engineering and materials of my design.

And wasn't like a few short months ago, you didn't even know what a gas check was- but now you're the expert.. lol. ...

Not sure I understand the root cause- the continuing obsession and overall goal here though? Maybe one of our resident shrinks here at CB will chime in...

I don't think your pics will change the minds of the hundreds and hundreds of happy Patmarlin Checkmaker™ die users out there, that have been making gas checks for the past 4 years with their dies. The same customers who have kept me hopping, day in and day out to meet the demand.

And I don't think it will change the minds of those same shooters who continually re-order from me, so much so as I've made this my life career and invested in a new home and shop.

Will be continuing to build Patmarlins well into the future, to serve the Cast Boolit shooting community- one I'm very proud to be a member of.

Thank you for your kindness and support.

Pat ...

[Sonnypie]

You're Welcome Pat.
America! Land of the Free, because of the Brave.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
And experience is worth even more.
I'm sure your loyal followers will be glad to hear they bought you a new home and shop on the grid.
How is Sacramento these days?
Oh never mind, we have Family there, we already know.
Good luck to you.

[PatMarlin]

LOL-

OK SonnyPie. Thanks for the well wishes.

If anyone is bothered by any scratches on the body of their male die, please feel free to request a new polished one....

If anyone manages to break or wear out their Checkmaker™ dies, please do the same.

...

[fcvan]

Pat, although I'm not a Psychologist, but I did stay at a Holiday In Express, several times. My RX for you is breathing exercises.

Breath in
Relax, exhale half breath
Aim
Sight Picture
Squeeze

Take five shots, call me in the morning. Oh, and post pictures. Frank

[Swede44mag]

Pat, although I'm not a Psychologist, but I did stay at a Holiday In Express, several times. My RX for you is breathing exercises.

Breath in
Relax, exhale half breath
Aim
Sight Picture
Squeeze

Take five shots, call me in the morning. Oh, and post pictures. Frank

Five shots of what Bourbon or Tequila?

[PatMarlin]

A final word here-

It is bothersome, the mindset of some individuals who are very quick to judge and criticize.

The thought that somehow small cottage manufacturers (such as myself) are cutting the fat calf, taking advantage and reaping the benefits of others is a strange notion to myself.

I have never once- take for granted my customers or my business. I thank God daily for the opportunity to earn a living, and earn my customers trust.

What has enabled me to acquire a new-to-me shop, and home is not the proceeds from the kind shooters who have chosen to spend their hard earned dollars with me at Patmarlins, it's a result of my hard work and determination not to give up, over the past 35 years in my life as a self employed individual- working yes in the greatest country on earth the United States of America.

I find myself yet again, taking a huge gamble with no guarantees of success here. But those who know me, know I don't give up. It has served me well over the years. I don't know any other way.

[ReloaderFred]

I just finished making 2,000 Plain Base .35 caliber gas checks with one of Pat's CheckMaker dies for a special project. I couldn't ask for a tool to do a better job, especially when NOBODY ELSE offers this product. There are other gas check making tools, and they work, but Pat is the only one offering Plain Base check making tools.

I have three of his CheckMakers, and I'm very, very happy with all three of them, two of which are for making plain base checks.

Thank you, Pat!!

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Teutonius]

Hello boys,

I read here a few times. I apologize for my incorrect English. It is sad that this forum is partly used to attack other people and bad things about them. The forum is still there to share experiences, learn from each other. There is al ot of information that can be exploited each. Furthermore, everyone should be grateful.
The purpose is yet to report on experience with the various "Checkmakers", purely objectively, without offending someone.
I own one tool Freechex II, two tools Freechex III, and two tools Patmarlins.
I am very pleased with these tools. All provide very good quality. The tools are made for different presses (Reloader-Press or Arbor-Press), so as you like it. Patmarlins and Freechex are quality tools. What more could you want? I am glad that there are such men as Pat and Charles. They give us the tools to produce their own gas checks. For this we should be grateful. In conjunction with the right aluminum-coils from Yonky it is a snap.

In this sense, good shot

Teutonius

[No_1]

Well put Teutonius. Everyone needs to take a step back to realize why this forum exist.