Powder coat problems

I notice a lack of mention of the plastic air soft BBs.

They are what create the static charge to evenly stick the powder to the bullet. They also take up volume in the container to use less powder. Less is more, well, more even anyway.

I like the color.

What kind of powder ? Some powders just don't work well. I have found Easton Ford Blue works the best for me.

Are you using airsoft pellets in the shake stage of shake'n'bake? Looking at both pictures, I think your coats are way too heavy, and lumpy as if your short of pellets.

Three coats is good, but lighter coats are much better.

The type of powder is the key when doing the dry-tumble method. Some powders work really well, others not well at all. I also use some airsoft BBs in the tub and it seems to help with getting an even coating.

I use Easton powders and have had great results with: Mirror Red, Mirror Blue, Lime Green, Copper Penny

The Harbor Freight black is pretty bad, their yellow is better but still sub-par to the Easton powders.

Eastwood Ford light blue and black airsoft BBs

Maybe try a different container. Some plastics seem to have issues. I caught that on a loads of bacon video. I got randomly lucky, and didn't have an issue. The Costco peanut butter prezzle container is what I use.

I also stand the bullets on end and bake. This takes a little longer to stand them all up, but it gives a nice finish.

This is Eastwood Copper Penny hot coat powder.

Yep, the container makes a difference. I use a leftover sour cream container.

It’s been covered but airsoft bbs and type of powder will help you out. Also if it’s very humid where you are coating that can also effect the way the powder sticks.
Smokes over on castboolits.com sells fantastic powders in various colors and the bbs

What has worked for me when the odd time I have issues of powder sticking is use a old wool sock or something similar and wrap around container then shake.

As said, not all powders work well. Besides what has been mentioned, I've found Eastwood MG Maroon also works well.

Eastwood sells the empty bottles that are the same as used for their 1 pound quantity of powders. I found they work well for applying the powder. Airsoft pellets did not improve my coating. I've shaken the bottles and I have put them in a rotary tumbler drum with the same results.

I've done quite a few PCed bullets and worked out most of the problems. Now I clean the new bullets in acetone or such to make sure I start with oil/lube free bullets. The food tubs (Cool Whip) with the "05" in a triangle on the bottom (NRR #5?) seem to work best (generates static). I have used the air soft BBs, but also I have gotten good results without. A good quality powder is essential and the last few pounds I've purchased was from "Smoke" over at the Castboolits forum. I sat all my bullets upright on a non-stick foil covered pan and cooked for 20 minutes at about 400 degrees (absolute temperatures aren't necessary and 380-450 degrees works fine (my old toaster oven may or may not be accurate and I just set the analog dial to 400 and the spring wound timer to 20 minutes). That's my method and it has worked quite well but for more good info go here; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?184-Coatings-and-Alternatives

Yea you reuse bbs. I’ve found that when the humidity is high (pnw winter here) that tossing is small batches is the only way to get a good coat. Don’t add too much powder, you want the bbs to be able to rub the sizes of the container really well and I’ve found if I have too much powder the bbs won’t generate the static needed. Good luck. I had a rock start until I got quality powder ( no experience with the color your using but if other have had luck with it using this method you should be good there), bbs, and not overloading the container

and people recommend the black bbs not the white ones for use....everyone on CB says not to use the white BBs. I don't use them personally. Just Eastwood Light Blue powder in a cool whip #5 container. My casting here in Michigan is winter time and it's typically below 20% humidity and often closer to zero humidity.
small batches do better than large batches in my experience...I do 40-50 at a time no problem...single coat is all I need for powder coating. My toaster oven is small so 50 at a time is perfect for me.

GoldieMI said:

and people recommend the black bbs not the white ones for use....everyone on CB says not to use the white BBs. I don't use them personally. Just Eastwood Light Blue powder in a cool whip #5 container. My casting here in Michigan is winter time and it's typically below 20% humidity and often closer to zero humidity.
small batches do better than large batches in my experience...I do 40-50 at a time no problem...single coat is all I need for powder coating. My toaster oven is small so 50 at a time is perfect for me.

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Good catch! Yes I’m using the black bbs, no experience with any other type, I ordered mine from the user Smokes over at castboolits

Never had a problem producing excellent static/PC results in a moderate-to-low RH basement environment with Cool Whip + White BBs (never removed from the tub, btw, one tub for each color) and I never add a great deal of powder.

I just leave the BBs and powder in the tub. I add a spoonful of powder as needed and do about 40-50 bullets at a time.
I can fit about 200 9mm cast bullets on my toaster oven tray.

WeekendReloader said:

The type of powder is the key when doing the dry-tumble method. Some powders work really well, others not well at all. I also use some airsoft BBs in the tub and it seems to help with getting an even coating.

I use Easton powders and have had great results with: Mirror Red, Mirror Blue, Lime Green, Copper Penny

The Harbor Freight black is pretty bad, their yellow is better but still sub-par to the Easton powders.

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I tried Harbor Freight red and it did pretty good. Of course they no longer have it. I tried their black which resulted in me melting down the bullets I used for a trial and chunking the rest of the black stuff in the trash. I am currently using Eastwood red and getting excellent results so that's what I'll stick with. I don't care what color my bullets are, just in how they shoot.

The pictures make it look like the powder is clumpy. A few different things can cause that. Your not coating while the bullet is hot are you? Moisture and other contaminants could also be problematic. Are you sizing before coating which could leave a lube residue?

these are before the oven I use a ziploc 5qt container and about a tablespoon and a half of eastwood ford blue I did rinse these twicw in acetone before to make sure they were very clean

I used Harbor Freight black by mixing the powder with acetone that cover them. Try 1 part acetone to 5 parts powder. I then allow them to dry on paper otherwise the coating comes off when I touch them and then bake em. Works pretty good. I gotta learn to upload, no one reads smoke signals and they're are too slow.

Thomasss said:

I used Harbor Freight black by mixing the powder with acetone that cover them. Try 1 part acetone to 5 parts powder. I then allow them to dry on paper otherwise the coating comes off when I touch them and then bake em. Works pretty good. I gotta learn to upload, no one reads smoke signals and they're are too slow.

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I use the HF black dry. I use the BBs and Shake N Swirl a long time, then bake. I need to do two coats to get total coverage.
The flat black looks pretty cool, but not worth the effort unless I really, really want flat black.