Making gas checks

[Ben]

If you've never made any gas checks but are interesting in seeing how it is done, this article ( with pics ) ( PDF file ) will give you some idea of how it is done.

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/HowTo/MakingGC.pdf

Thanks,
Ben

[no34570]

Downloaded it Ben,great work,I wish I had my GC maker dies that I ordered from Pat,i hate waiting ;)

[Ben]

no34570

I always loved Christmas, but I NEVER liked siting around waiting on it.

I know exactly how you feel. It will be worth the wait, believe me.

Ben

[30CAL-TEXAN]

Nice write-up Ben :awesome:

Have you ever sharpened your cutter? I ask because your disks and checks always come out with very clean edges.

I think I may have dulled mine prematurely by cutting very thick brass while experimenting and now my edges are a little rough.

[Ben]

No , I've never sharpened mine. Pat says that a diamond hone is the thing to use. I think this one would work nicely. You may find something locally similar to this ?

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=dmt+diamond+hone&revid=1483993913&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=722&bih=417&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=18077650398938829624&sa=X&ei=sv8cTqf8H-jk0QH-tqHtBw&ved=0CGoQ8gIwAg

Ben

[30CAL-TEXAN]

I don't know if I would be able to find anything like that around here but it looks like they are certainly available and cheap enough online. I might just give it a try.

It may just be my imagination that my cutter is a little dull but I nearly broke the bench that a Rock Chucker was mounted to when I cut those disks.

In case anyone is wondering; .015 Brass shim stock is still hard as ___ to cut disks out of even if it is annealed! While it does make one pretty gas check, the .014 alum. shot better in my trials.

[ReloaderFred]

The hone listed in the link is "coarse" grit. If sharpening Pat's cutting tool, I'd advise getting at least a "fine", if not an "extra fine" grit.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Fishman]

Thanks Ben. That is really helpful.

[Ben]

ReloaderFred :

Glad you caught that point. I really didn't notice if it was a fine , coarse , etc. I just wanted to show 30CAL-TEXAN what the diamond hone looked like. No way that I'd try to sharpen mine with a coarse grit hone. Good point, glad you caught that one !

Ben

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

After I bought a couple checkmakers from Pat, I ordered the 5 Hone set from Amazon with their free ship.
http://www.amazon.com/EZE-LAP-PAK5-Color-Coded-Diamond/dp/B002RL83DQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1310560859&sr=1-1
a couple swipes with the Medium, then several with the fine...Done !
these are nice for others things too...brings new life to cheapo kitchen knifes, scissors, ect.
Jon

[Ben]

Jon,

Sounds like I need to get that 5 Hone set.

Thanks,
Ben

[sirgknight]

Thanks for a great post Ben. I have the aluminum on standby, just waiting for the Checkmaker to arrive. I'm really anxious to start making my own checks.

[Ben]

sirgknight :

Once your CheckMaker arrives , keep us posted on your progress.

Ben

[sirgknight]

will do.....i know there's a lot of interest in these reloading tools.

[30CAL-TEXAN]

Hymn:Bright idea: Looks like I need a 5 hone set as well to keep that thing nice and sharp.

JonB, do you know how many checks in it was before you needed to sharpen?

I was thinking about it earlier and even after I subjected my CheckMaker to all that punishment with the material trials, I think I have made well over 1000 gas checks out of the Amerimax aluminum. My M1 and Springfields are hungry beasts and they love the new 311365s with my .014 aluminum checks!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I do not know how many checks can be made "under normal use".
once I quit getting a nice edge on the punched disc I sharpen it.
I've sharpened once or twice on each die, and once on another die
that I got to borrow from another member.

I think Pat mentioned he made a ton of checks without needing sharping.

I think keeping the punch clean helps.
I 've noticed there is a pretty good buildup of metal shards and paint chips from popcan metal
on the punch after about 100 punches...some metals it builds in 20 or 30 punches.
I have a q-tip with a little bullpate on it, and i wipe the inside of the die
and the punch as needed...it takes about 5 seconds.
Jon

[.30/30 Guy]

I have sharpened mine a number of time. I have gone through a roll of the Ace 0.014" material with the 30 caliber.

When they quit cutting as clean as you want stop and sharpen it. Every time I have done this I ask myself why didn't you do it sooner.

I have found that you can cut a lot more copper before sharpening than you can aluminum.

I have found that I need to sharpen more ofter with the Ace 0.0092" material than with the 0.014" material.

[Ben]

.30/30 guy :

I bought some of the .0092 AL from Ace, I have not found a good use for it yet.
The .014 " is certainly another story. That is some good stuff !

Ben

[.30/30 Guy]

I use the 0.014" for my 30 caliber. I like it better than factory checks.

I am useing the 0.0092" for both 35 and 35 PB checks. It is almost as good as the 0.010" copper.

[Ben]

I sharpened mine tonight with a fine diamond hone. It now cuts .014 " thickness Ameri-Max Aluminum like a knife running through hot butter.

Ben

[HARRYMPOPE]

I feel relieved seeing your bench is about as organized as mine and your press as filthy.cant be cleaning up and keeping things tidy when there is so much shooting to do is my motto.

Good write up.

George

[bulletguy]

How do we get hold of Pat to order GC tooling, and cost???
Thanks

[ReloaderFred]

bulletguy,

Here's where you can start: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=104930

Just send Pat a Private Message and he'll get back to you. He's a really good guy.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[PatMarlin]

I guess I autta look in the Gas Check section more often.

I use EZE-Lap Diamond hones. The red handle is fine, purple is medium. The RED fine grit would be the best. They are awesome. I use them to sharpen up carbide inserts, tools, knives, scissors- your paper cutter for strips, you name it. Just a few easy strokes.

Now with power and machines back running I've been hell bent on getting everyone's order out and all caught up, plus running extra stock including the 40 calibers. Hopefully there next week. Lots of orders will be leaving now, and there's gonna be some happy shooters out there.

Just been a ton of work to get to this point in production setup. Soon my day will consist of just going out, firing up the machines and getting to work without having to program and fabricate a fixture plate, build new shelving or install components and more wiring, or reinventing the wheel.

I've got it down now where I can build a new caliber prototype, test it and then write the CNC programs for all it's parts in about 2 days, so more calibers will be popping up soon.

[ReloaderFred]

That's outstanding news, Pat! We told you to hang in there, and I for one am glad you have.

Take care,

Fred

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Great news Pat,
thanks for the update.
I knew you'd get to that point sooner or later.
Jon