Making bullet keychains. What to coat them with?

Thanks for the update. I was going to ask if you could post pictures but engraved they are probably too personal to share.

I usually use 5 ml syringes for gun grease. 8.50 for 10 of them.
https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-S...rds=5+ml+syringes+with+blunt+tip+fill+needles

The 1 ml would probably be better for glue.
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00NDETMR2?ref_=cm_sw_r_awd_UfIUvbGS3EDX4

Dave

Might be easier to squirt in some five minute epoxy.
Stand case up bullet down and squirt in enough to make a "plug"
Me and super glue aren't the best of friends, it works well for some things (like gluing my fingers together) and and a few others.

Looking forward to the pic when you get them back.

I make 50 cal bottle openers and do a final polish with Mothers Mag Polish. It leaves a wax coating that prevents discoloration for months. Easy to redo when needed.

I have a .45 ACP keychain. The casing is steel and it holds up very well. I think it looks better than tarnished brass. The bullet jacket is quite worn now.

Numerous adhesives come to mind, none requiring a syringe for application. But, sources for syringes include veterinary supply, farm stores. Or a diabetic that you know well.

As far as tarnish, brass i one of the world's worst metals. Either clear coat or high quality wax.

I have been making these for years, fan pulls, key chains, key fobs, tree decorations, etc. Best I have found is the little roundish piece that grabs on the end of the chain. Drill out the flash hole so the chain slips through, put one of those on the chain and drop it through and on the other end put whatever connector you want. I use a Lee Reloader press to seat and crimp with no issues. Some I made 10 years ago are still going strong on folks car keys.

Every room in my house has ceiling fans and these pulls are in them, some a little more tarnished that others, but still there.

The silver piece in the lower left is what I use inside the case, and also outside if it will be a keychain or pendant. If making a pendant you will need to drill out the hole a little for the chain to fit through easily. You will loose a few drilling and may cut your finger real good requiring 4 stitches if you don’t hold it with pliers.

If you want to put ashes inside once the chain is in, drop in a little epoxy to seal the flash hole, add the ashes, then seat and crimp.

FYI for precise superglue application, there are fine tips that can be attached to the bottle to get small drops. But even better is this very small diameter (approx 1mm OD) teflon tubing. Take about 2" with one end cut to a sharp point, like a hypodermic needle. Cut back the tip of a new bottle of superglue to just before it's open. Poke a pin in the end to create a small hole, then push the sharp end of the tubing in about a quarter inch.. You now have a long thin spout that can deliver minute amounts of glue precisely into small places. You can see the glue going down the tube so you know exactly how much to squeeze the bottle. If kept in a cool dry place there's no need to remove the tube to cap the bottle, just keep it upright. Hardened glue on the outside of the tube will just crack off and if the end gets plugged simply cut a little off.

I'm not sure how the "patina" will turn out. I use ProtectaClear for my U.S. state quarter rings. 75% copper 25% nickel stains a finger pretty quick.

I made a 357 key chain a few years ago.

Just seated a bullet on once fired brass (didn't resize) roll crimped HARD and put it in a vise and drilled a hole straight through the side near the base.

No coating or glue and it's held up well for about 3 years now on my daily keychain.

Nice job! I'm sure they will be appreciated.

Dave

A little tip about finding syringes. Most farm and ranch stores and I suppose all veterinary supply stores have them and needles and no one will check you out. I have purchased different sizes at th local F&R store. It's just the same as buying a bolt.

If you do want to coat a metal surface like this I would try shellac. Bullseye seal coat is very clear and can be purchased at some lumber yards. Shellac is what they use to line the inside of cans with in the food industry. It stays clear and is very hard.

460Shooter said:

Forgot to post this. Final product.
View attachment 796046

I did put a clear coat enamel meant for cars over the bullets to help keep the copper jacket intact. The brass is uncoated and will develop a patina. I have a feeling these will go on rear view mirrors and Christmas trees more than keys.

Just sharing. The cotter pins were trimmed and bent into a T shape so they were retained. They weren't terribly hard to make.

Click to expand...

Very nice project. Very thoughtful too.

A .45acp keychain has fired this up since the summer of 1980.

Very thoughtful. Gives me an idea.
My gun class instructor buddy passed awsy.
He was a Marine & I have the brass from his funeral