gas check maker

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yomomma said:
Well gentlemen......learning all the time.

Thank you for your insights and I shall fear aluminum no longer. Now to see what I have squirreled away as far as aluminum flashing
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Sorry if I came out a little aggressive, no insult intended.

I hear this aluminum corrosion issue so often on the cast boolets site that it gets frustrating.

Shoot away and enjoy. Have fun above all!
 
jethunter said:
Yeah I've heard people say that and it's beyond silly. Cleaning rods are not made of aluminum oxide. The same guy who says aluminum rods are hard on barrels has no issue using a stainless steel rod, which is much harder and more likely to damage the bore. Go figure.
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There is nothing silly about it. Bare aluminum does not exist in the natural world, and the surface of every aluminum cleaning rod is aluminum oxide, which is much harder and more abrasive than the surface of a stainless steel rod. A company I used to work with was in the wire drawing business, and when they drew the one alloy we made that had a substantial amount of aluminum in it, the life of the drawing dies was dramatically shortened. I wince every time I read of someone making gas checks out of aluminum. Maybe the conditions of a gun barrel are such that it doesn't make a difference, but I won't bet on it with my guns.
 
I'd try a 20 thou piece from Crappy Tire before buying a roll. Lee Valley Tools will cost more than anywhere else too.
E-Bay is owned by people who want to take your firearms away from you. They financially support the anti-firearm ownership gangs. Buying or selling there finances the end of your hobby.
 
BattleRife said:
There is nothing silly about it. Bare aluminum does not exist in the natural world, and the surface of every aluminum cleaning rod is aluminum oxide, which is much harder and more abrasive than the surface of a stainless steel rod. A company I used to work with was in the wire drawing business, and when they drew the one alloy we made that had a substantial amount of aluminum in it, the life of the drawing dies was dramatically shortened. I wince every time I read of someone making gas checks out of aluminum. Maybe the conditions of a gun barrel are such that it doesn't make a difference, but I won't bet on it with my guns.
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There isn't any more buildup of aluminum oxide on a properly cared for aluminum tool than there is on a properly cared for steel tool. Clean the dam things ocasionally.

I have yet to see a cleaning rod with a trace of oxide - they are constantly in contact with oil and solvents that are made specifically to prevent that sort of thing. But if you neglected a rod long enough you might get oxide in which case you need to wipe it off with an oily rag. It's not an issue by any means.

If the rod is contacting the bore, then you are doing it wrong any way.

If it really bugs you then by all means don't use aluminum cleaning rods. But please don't perpetuate the silliness.
 
There are guys on Cast Boolits who have shot thousands of aluminum gas checks with no effect on their barrels. I have used a couple hundred in each of half a dozen rifles with no problems. yomamma, the best thickness to use for 30 cal gas checks is usually .014" which can be kinda hard to find in Canada. Amerimax flashing is some of the best and most consistent. The bigger your gas check shank, the thinner the material you want to use. Too thin won't crimp on and too thick will cause extruding. I have found it necessary to anneal aluminum checks after forming them as without doing so they are very easy to pull off after seating due to spring back. Annealing them to dead soft eliminates that and they are locked on rock solid. Unable to pry off with a fingernail.
 
Actually, aluminum oxidizes immediately when in contact with oxygen.
Said oxide, is larger in volume than mere aluminum and it forms an extremely compact layer that prevents further oxidation.
Cleaning rods are already oxidized. There's no doubt about it. And so are aluminum cans and aluminum can made gas checks.
The question is, is that layer of aluminum oxide dangerous?
Industrial abrasion aluminum oxide consists of large oxide particles grown under certain conditions.
I think natural oxide is thin enough to be less harmful than non-embedding bore cleaner (like J-B Non-Embedding Bore Cleaning Compound and the likes)
 
My dad always told me to avoid assembling anything from parts containing both aluminum and copper as they will form an electrical element and corrode. Will bullets with aluminum gas checks corrode when loaded in brass casings and stored for some period of time?
 
yomomma said:
DO NOT BUY THE PATMARLIN DIE

Go with the freechex one....I little bit more but sell worth it.

Cost is about$120.

I now have a lifetime worth of gas checks at my beckon call.
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let Katt decide.
The Pat Marlins check maker can be used in a regular reloading press.
The Freechex comes in two models: one needs a special press, the other just a hammer and a hard place (but it's more difficult to use).
 
legi0n said:
let Katt decide.
The Pat Marlins check maker can be used in a regular reloading press.
The Freechex comes in two models: one needs a special press, the other just a hammer and a hard place (but it's more difficult to use).
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Pick up an arbor press from Princess Auto when they're on sale. They work perfectly with the Freechex check maker. If you come across an old hobby drill press, where you install your hand drill instead of having a dedicated post drill can also work.
 
X-man said:
Pick up an arbor press from Princess Auto when they're on sale. They work perfectly with the Freechex check maker. If you come across an old hobby drill press, where you install your hand drill instead of having a dedicated post drill can also work.
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I wish I had the room for an arbor press...
 
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