AJC1
Member
When it comes time I'm just going to add more powder to my mix of the next color I have. Might be a while because a pound seems to last forever
Anyone powder coating?
- Thread starter gnappi
- Start date
- Status
no.5enfield
Member
I just coated my first batch this afternoon.
OP
OP
gnappi
Member
Isn't THAT a fact! The "sampler" I bought had mostly good colors that worked well with "shake n bake" but some were as bumpy as a pox. I guess I'll use them up 1/2 teaspoon at a time mixing them!
How did they come out? Did you whack one with a hammer to see if the PC stayed on?
Barbaroja
Member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2020
- Messages
- 1,644
Haven’t tried my clear yet but the Carolina blue coats very nicely
Just for grins.....
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...-Lead-amp-PC&p=5001471&viewfull=1#post5001471
https://i.postimg.cc/VNt79f1c/45-ACP-ACC-45-200-M-RNFP-Lead-Bullseye.jpg
color coded
Eastwood Mirror Red = Lyman#2
Eastwood Mirror Green = 30-1
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...-Lead-amp-PC&p=5001471&viewfull=1#post5001471
https://i.postimg.cc/VNt79f1c/45-ACP-ACC-45-200-M-RNFP-Lead-Bullseye.jpg
color coded
Eastwood Mirror Red = Lyman#2
Eastwood Mirror Green = 30-1
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,323
Deal!
So have you guys though about matching your guns to your ammunition? I think pink highlights would really "set this one off".
no.5enfield
Member
I haven't yet, but coating is even...
OP
OP
gnappi
Member
Cool, even coating is great and it's something more than a few struggle with so you have that down, but in the real world it means diddly if it comes off in your bore. The crush test is your only way to see if adhesion is working. If it's not, longer bake time and / or higher temperature will solve it.
Also if it doesn't pass the crush test, all is not lost, you should be able to re-cook them again.
Crosshair
Member
I've looked into it before and it's simply too expensive in terms of time spent. Especially if you use some dinky table top toaster. That's before you get to the other costs.
I tumble lube, dump onto a tray in the garage, point a fan at the pile, and come back in a week to bullets ready to size.
If I find a need to use them, it will be cheaper to just buy them from someone setup to do it in bulk.
I don't see how people could be recommending it to newbies with a straight face.
I tumble lube, dump onto a tray in the garage, point a fan at the pile, and come back in a week to bullets ready to size.
If I find a need to use them, it will be cheaper to just buy them from someone setup to do it in bulk.
I don't see how people could be recommending it to newbies with a straight face.
Erief0g
Member
I'm a newbie by far. It's a shortage and I've reduced my cost of projectile by 80% or more. My first coated hitek bullets came out pretty well. Yes there is time. The reduced cost, availability, and enjoyment are well worth it.
Barbaroja
Member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2020
- Messages
- 1,644
I disagree completely with this. Have you looking into the cost of a lube/sizer?
Toaster oven-$20
Powder coat~$20/lb ( one pound can cost thousands of rounds)
Plastic tub- free or buy some yogurt $3
Lee push though sizer$~20
so for $63 your up and running to powder coat. Yes you can avoid some of these costs if you choose to tumble lube, but you still need the sizer and a bottle of alox. Seems like a lot of people think that extra $35 is worth it for the benefits it provides over tumble lube.
I tried tumble Lubing with LLA and 45/45/10. I dislike the mess associated with it and I still experience leading at higher velocities, and I had to wait for the lube to dry. switched to pan lubing to solve the issue but it was slow and messy. powder coating solves a lot of those issues for me and others.
As for how to recommend it to new casters? Easy, they made it that damn far to have been able to cast a good bullet. It’s not rocket science.
edit: I realized you we’re talking about the time involved not the actual cost. My mistake, but I’d still defend powdercoating as quicker than pan lubing and is a better lube than tumbling.
Last edited:
Looks good. Looks like you have a good setup.
I bought the 13 oz. Hi-Tek in copper. I have only done less than 1k. But I think that 13 oz. will go a long ways. Looking forward to warmer weather to start up again.
As of now, I just have a 4 slice toaster oven that my daughter picked up at goodwill for $5. I need to start looking for a used convection oven.
WeekendReloader
Member
Powder coating is as cheap as it gets.
I started with a free toaster oven, a plastic container saved from sour cream, a $6 bottle of Harbor Freight powder, and a piece of parchment paper from the kitchen drawer. Other than maybe buying a funnel, it was the least expensive thing in my reloading hobby I ever did.
One pound of Eastwood powder will coat thousands of bullets. I have used and recommend: Eastwood's Mirror blue, Mirror Red, Lime Green. Recently purchased Eastwood's copper Penny (tried a sample batch and it looks pretty good), Mirror Black (have not tried yet) and Clear (have not tried yet).
I just received my LEE 356-125-2R 6-cavity mold in the mail yesterday. Hoping to get a semi-warm day soon so I can cast a bunch and try out my new powders.
OP
OP
gnappi
Member
Weekendreloader... Spot on!!!
Regarding cost. To test the waters, my first oven (single tier/rack) was $4 and a sampler of powder $12. Once I got the proof of concept down I "dove" in.
I now have two double tiered ovens I got nearly new in thrift shops for $6 each. The two tiers hold 200 bullets and once the 4 trays are loaded that's 800 rounds in a 25 minute bake time. My current powder cost me $10 a pound and misc doodads another $20-$30. I already had two Star sizers, but got a third so I do not have to switch out caliber dies.
With .40 TMJ's (if available and they're not) at ~$170 per thousand. At 800 rds an hour I figure that they're worth ~$135 to replace with TMJ's and I don't mind spending the time, I didn't make $135 an hour after taxes when I worked!
BTW, I stay away from clear powder because I can't easily verify coverage... I don't care if other shooters goof on my designer colored bullets.
Regarding cost. To test the waters, my first oven (single tier/rack) was $4 and a sampler of powder $12. Once I got the proof of concept down I "dove" in.
I now have two double tiered ovens I got nearly new in thrift shops for $6 each. The two tiers hold 200 bullets and once the 4 trays are loaded that's 800 rounds in a 25 minute bake time. My current powder cost me $10 a pound and misc doodads another $20-$30. I already had two Star sizers, but got a third so I do not have to switch out caliber dies.
With .40 TMJ's (if available and they're not) at ~$170 per thousand. At 800 rds an hour I figure that they're worth ~$135 to replace with TMJ's and I don't mind spending the time, I didn't make $135 an hour after taxes when I worked!
BTW, I stay away from clear powder because I can't easily verify coverage... I don't care if other shooters goof on my designer colored bullets.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,094
If you can’t find a barrel for a 1911 your not looking very hard.
I have shot more than a hundred thousand of rounds of coated bullets, mostly Precision and Hi-tek and never noticed any abnormal wear. One of the barrels I have fired the most through has a coating that’s only 3 microns thick and it’s still in place, in the bore.
That said, few have been ill effected by being over cautious.
If it did, coating would do little good when fired as if sizing took it off it would be gone before exiting a barrel.
One can test how well it’s bonded to the bullet by hitting it with a hammer.
If it doesn’t flake off with that amount of distortion a few thousandths won’t harm it.
This is a before and after of my powder coated bullets.
After with my hi-tek top and a Precision bottom.
no.5enfield
Member
"If anyone has not tried it and you're setup for casting, give it a go"
View attachment 969984
On the left are shown grand, classic cartridges loaded with cast lead bullets which are the culmination of more than a hundred years of experience, some of which came from the most famous and highly regarded revolvermen to have ever lived.
On the right are Smurfs stuck in drain pipes.
So that's a no from me.
Ironically, you seem more turned off by the looks, than the function.
GBExpat
Member
From a utilitarian point of view PCing is probably not strictly worthwhile ... however ... for many of us here, an important part of our reloading/shooting hobby is having fun ... and showing off your homemade lipstick cartridges can_be_fun.
Heck, considering the time & expense involved in reloading ...
no.5enfield
Member
My coating held up to the hammer test, but bullets have definitely gotten soft. These are water quenched wheel weight from the mp 503/keith with hollow point. Should I water quench these straight outta the oven, or will I be better served with a soft hollow point in Skeeter .44spl load?
AJC1
Member
Mine go from the oven to a bucket, but if your hunting only testing will truly answer your question. Paper doesn't seem to care.
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,323
In case anyone was unsure, I'm just goofing off. Folks can do whatever they like about their bullets and it's none of my business.
Powder coating if using Eastwood is so quick and simple. A shake or 3 and they're coated, toss them in the oven for 20 minutes are around 400f and you're ready to size and load. Right now I only coat 45,38, & 9....I'm about to give 300 a try.
no.5enfield
Member
After some detailed research (2min of google) it looks like I'm better off with a softer bullet.
- Status
Similar threads
