Disk Maker, GC Forming Die and GC Trimmer.

[sledgehammer001]

Thanks for the post, WILCO, been looking at designs. Think I see some lathe work in my day tomorrow.

[slinger35]

WILCO...... How did you cut the slot for the aluminum strip in the dick cutting die ?

Thank you

[slinger35]

WILCO..... How did you cut the slot for the aluminum strip in the DISC cutting die ?

My apologies for my terrible spelling

[midnight]

Years ago I bought a press mounted punch to make card wads from orange juice cartons. I placed them under my 45-70 cast bullets. I got it from Fred Cornell. It operates on the same principal of a slot in the die body with the punch mounted like a shellholder. I believe the cutting end of the punch was ground slightly concave to cut better.

Bob

[WILCO]

WILCO...... How did you cut the slot for the aluminum strip in the disk cutting die ?

Thank you

Just found this question after getting the notion to bump this thread to the top. The slot was cut with a bandsaw, but can also be cut with a hacksaw.

[WILCO]

Bump and a post count builder to boot!

[Neo]

Hi can you please tell me the diameter of the cutting rod and the forming rod as I would like to give it a go at making a gas check tool,and are they the same diameters in the dies you made yours looks and works great.

[WILCO]

Hi can you please tell me the diameter of the cutting rod and the forming rod as I would like to give it a go at making a gas check tool,and are they the same diameters in the dies you made yours looks and works great.

Hi Neo!

I’m using a 13/32 drill rod which punches a .4062 diameter disk. I’m also using a 9/32 drill rod to push this disk through a .309 forming die. The aluminum I'm using is .016 thick, which creates a very well fitting GC for the series of LEE .30 cal. Boolits.
Here's a handy gas check chart:

[Neo]

Hi Neo!

I’m using a 13/32 drill rod which punches a .4062 diameter disk. I’m also using a 9/32 drill rod to push this disk through a .309 forming die. The aluminum I'm using is .016 thick, which creates a very well fitting GC for the series of LEE .30 cal. Boolits.
Here's a handy gas check chart:

Thanks for your help I'm doing one for a 30 cal and one for a 44 cal hope mine work as well as yours did. If they do I will do another for my 357.

[WILCO]

Thanks for your help I'm doing one for a 30 cal and one for a 44 cal hope mine work as well as yours did. If they do I will do another for my 357.

You're welcome Neo! Keep us posted.

[junkman1967]

This is a great thread. I just acquired a 2"x200' roll of .010 copper banding I want to build a die to make gas checks. Thank you for the great info.

[WILCO]

This is a great thread. I just acquired a 2"x200' roll of .010 copper banding I want to build a die to make gas checks. Thank you for the great info.

Thanks, that's great and keep us posted!

[junkman1967]

I have access to a Strip-it machine. This is a 30 ton hydraulic die punch. It just so happens that it has a .406 punch. I am able to punch discs, so now I need to make a forming die. I will post more soon. Thanks again for the info and inspiration

Joe

[sawzall]

WILCO, how do you center, and keep centered, the disc when forming it into a check? Does the slight bevel on the lower portion of the forming die accomplish this? Thanks.

[WILCO]

WILCO, how do you center, and keep centered, the disc when forming it into a check? Does the slight bevel on the lower portion of the forming die accomplish this? Thanks.

Hi Sawzall!

The male and female aspect of my check maker keeps things "Centered".
Also, the bevel and chamfer aid in this when inserting the disc.
It's not a perfect system, but it works when the top half is held down onto the bottom portion firmly, and the 9/32 drill rod is driven with a firm starting whack. Successive moderate hits will drive the check the rest of the way through the sizing die.

Hope this helps.

[junkman1967]

I actually thought about addressing the centering issue by putting a .010 deep x.406 diameter counterbore in the female die. I have yet to test it, but will report when I do.

[SevenOTwo]

Do you have a complete set of instructions for someone to build one themselves?? Would love to have one of these!!

[WILCO]

Do you have a complete set of instructions for someone to build one themselves?? Would love to have one of these!!

There are no instructions per say, but all of the inner dimensions and rod diameters are included in my previous posts. Outside dimensions are whatever your stock on hand may be. It's really a simple process to manufacture one of these items. Feel free to share my photos with any capable machinist.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[DukeInFlorida]

Here, as you requested, is the PDF file that Ed Smith created, which gives DETAILED drawings, proceedures, sizing charts, etc for both the two step check maker and the one step check maker:

http://www.datafilehost.com/d/c7a0815b

BE SURE TO Un-CHECK the box that suggests that you download a download manager. You do NOT want that.
The file that you should get is Check-Maker1&2.pdf

The original of the file was posted here:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...eck-maker-book

[gpidaho]

Wilco: While it seems that the burrs on the checks are of no real consequence, still the nut, bolt and washer trimmer is a very simple and clever fix. Thank you for sharing that. Had some of my homemade aluminum checks out to the range today. I fired some into 16 inches of news paper, accuracy was very good. While none of the aluminum checks were left on the boolits neither were any of the Hornady checks. I cant fault the checks for this as they stayed on until impact and were found in the news print. Im thinking my alloy is to brittle, I was worried about annealing it when powder coating and baking. Im going to drop back some on BHN so they will hold together better. there are always adjustments to be made. Thanks again Wilco and all the rest who have shared their ideas. GP