Powder coating

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  • Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,063
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    Archeryrob,
    Read through this:
    https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=242694

    Hightlights:
    Powderbythepound.com for Powder (it sticks way better than cheap PC from Harbor Freight)
    Shake/swish in Tupperware container with the /5\ recycling symbol
    Toaster Oven 400F for 20 minutes
    Fine mesh Chicken wire screens for trays

    Are you talking about hardware cloth? Does the galvanizing cook off at 400? Why not just an old beater pan?

    Thanks, this is why I love this place. If I went to a national forum there would be GOM that wants to argue there is only one way to do it and everyone else is wrong and blow the thread up. Everyone here is pretty helpful, probably becuase Norton already hammered all the square pegs though the round holes.

    Plus most of you have my thick skinned sense of humor. :D
     

    C.Alls

    Active Member
    Nov 9, 2013
    237
    I've been casting for about 5 years now and powder coating for 2. I'll add to the list of recommendations.
    - Always be sure to either powder coat untouched bullets (no oil from skin) or to rinse them with mineral spirits and allow to dry on a large towel.
    - Monitor your humidity! Not to say you can't get good results in high humidity but you will struggle less to get a good coating when your humidity in your room is below 50%. Ever notice static electricity is higher during the winter when humidity is lower? You rely on static electricity for the shake and bake method.
    - Buy oven thermometers! Never trust the dials. They're cheap and will keep you from going above 400°. Going over 400 will sometimes cause a brown tint in your finish and depending on if you're using Parchment paper with upright bullets, that's the temperature the Parchment will begin to fail and stick to the base of your bullet.
    - Try to get quality powder. The Harbor freight stuff works but definitely causes headaches to most. Just buy the better stuff and if you want the easiest powder to coat with get the Ford Lightning Blue from Eastwood. That stuff gets a good coating with almost zero effort.

    Hope that helps a little and I'm always looking for constructive criticism if anyone sees a flaw in my recommendations.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,278
    HoCo
    https://www.mp-molds.com/tipstricks/powder-coating-lead-bullets-dry-tumble-dt-method/

    Yes, Hardware cloth is it.
    I calibrated the dial setting on my Convection Toaster oven using a Thermocouple probe i brought home from work
    I use the copper sheet stuff like for using on a BBQ and place my 9mm face up (yes takes more time) so they look nicer. Many people just throw onto the rack and un stick them after baking.

    Adding some pics I just took to my post
    Here is the copper sheet
    1d29c680b0811fd28a11f95f139caae2.jpg


    Here is a pic of what the copper sheet does to the bullet where it contacts it
    9a6c4975696e8a83ff9b64c2ba7a6456.jpg
     
    Last edited:

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,278
    HoCo
    I can't add a QTY so I can't add to cart. Is it just me?

    put cursor on the 0, click then type in a number, tab, then add to cart.
    I also added the container on the first order and will get bags to refill in the future
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,728
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I've been casting for about 5 years now and powder coating for 2. I'll add to the list of recommendations.
    - Always be sure to either powder coat untouched bullets (no oil from skin) or to rinse them with mineral spirits and allow to dry on a large towel.
    - Monitor your humidity! Not to say you can't get good results in high humidity but you will struggle less to get a good coating when your humidity in your room is below 50%. Ever notice static electricity is higher during the winter when humidity is lower? You rely on static electricity for the shake and bake method.
    - Buy oven thermometers! Never trust the dials. They're cheap and will keep you from going above 400°. Going over 400 will sometimes cause a brown tint in your finish and depending on if you're using Parchment paper with upright bullets, that's the temperature the Parchment will begin to fail and stick to the base of your bullet.
    - Try to get quality powder. The Harbor freight stuff works but definitely causes headaches to most. Just buy the better stuff and if you want the easiest powder to coat with get the Ford Lightning Blue from Eastwood. That stuff gets a good coating with almost zero effort.

    Hope that helps a little and I'm always looking for constructive criticism if anyone sees a flaw in my recommendations.


    All good stuff. In the summer, I also run the basement dehumidifiers and do the powder coating in the basement and then take them outside to bake. This works almost as good as 30 degree cold weather does for low humidity.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,728
    Socialist State of Maryland
    The guy who taught me about powder coating said this was the best for adhesion.

    400 degree polyester TGIC with 80% gloss.

    I have never seen those exact words but have been able to figure out stuff that works from powder by the pound. Also, remember that when you first put your bullets in, they will draw heat from the oven. Don't just run the stopwatch from when you dump in the bullets. I have used a calibrated thermometer and figured out the recovery time for my oven so I add that to the soak time.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,278
    HoCo
    my first venture with powder coating was with Harbor Freight powder and I gave up cause it sucked, could not get it to stick the way I was doing it.
    After being egged on by John, I switched to Powder by the pound and have had ZERO problems when using a /5\ tupperware round bin to mix. No plastic bbs or anything.
    Summer, winter, no problems. Recently, I've been handling each round weighing them so even with doing that, no problems with the powder attaching to bullet.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,278
    HoCo
    Melnic, I another thread you were telling the guy skinning the powder he needed another die? for 9mm do I need another die more than the 4 die set?


    No , because you already have an expanding die.
    I flair a tad more than enough to seat the bullet without shaving. My 9mm goes down half the thickness of a penny. Seat it straight and I don’t have trouble. Different people have different methods. Flair too much and you work brass too much , not enough and you risk shaving


    My 9mm test loads today for Power pistol
    f31490f3f8958937436c98518f3affef.jpg




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,063
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    Thanks, I finally got my TL356-124-TC mold. Its only 2 but I don't shoot a lot and I learning in BP, I can make a mess of bullets one the mold and lead is good and hot fast. My RB 454 mold is only two and I made a pint of them in an hour or so.

    Powder should be here Tuesday, but can't seat them until I get primers. Buddy said I can borrow some and pay him back it nothing pops for me.
     

    JChris

    Active Member
    Jan 10, 2021
    157
    Clarksburg
    100 rounds of naked cast lead bullets, 10 rounds of FMJ clean firearm at normal intervals..
    the rest is just a hobby horse
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,063
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    Is a hardness of 11-12 hard enough for powder coats 9mm? Later with rifle rounds I am assuming this is not going to hardenough for all things.

    My lead for the 44 round balls, 45 colt conversion and 50 cal lees tested at 4-5
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,278
    HoCo
    Is a hardness of 11-12 hard enough for powder coats 9mm? Later with rifle rounds I am assuming this is not going to hardenough for all things.

    My lead for the 44 round balls, 45 colt conversion and 50 cal lees tested at 4-5

    Just like John said fine. I also use the soft lead of 5 hardness for the Black Powder stuff and 45 conversion.

    There was another thread here where depending on the load/rifle, people had success with soft pure lead (Hardness of 5) and PC bullets. My soft PC 9mm was not liked by the glock. Hard 9mm (12+ BH) was fine
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,063
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    What time and temperatures are you guys running in the oven? All air cooling too?

    I was watching Elvis Ammo on YT and he was doing piles of bullets at 275 for 15 minutes. I did 350 at 20 minutes when doing fishing lures before. So what's your oven recipe?
     

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