Powder coat issue
- Thread starter hornetguy
- Start date
I tried preheating bullets ONCE, and didn't like what I saw. These days I strive for a lighter coating and actually swirl the bullets in a wire strainer to knock off excess powder.
A convection oven will make for more even temperature. My inexpensive toaster oven needed some help, so got a 1/2" piece of AR500 in the bottom to lessen temerature swings. I don't trust the thermostat for a reason, so have an oven thermometer inside.
A convection oven will make for more even temperature. My inexpensive toaster oven needed some help, so got a 1/2" piece of AR500 in the bottom to lessen temerature swings. I don't trust the thermostat for a reason, so have an oven thermometer inside.
This is one of the things I don't understand... I've watched a video of CWLongshot doing the shake and bake, and I'm pretty sure he used no bb's. And it was raining outside, he had doors open, so inside humidity was close to 100%. Others say they cannot get any static going without the bb's.
I would rather this process be a little more repeatable, person to person, rather than the magic/artistic exercise that it seems to be....
I suppose it might always be a "try it for yourself and eventually find out what works" kind of thing.
I would rather this process be a little more repeatable, person to person, rather than the magic/artistic exercise that it seems to be....
I suppose it might always be a "try it for yourself and eventually find out what works" kind of thing.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Only heat to about 100. If you cannot hold in your hand, bullets are too hot.
I use top of my ovens and have left bullets there for hours warmed and NEVER had any too hot.
Too many bullets and too little powder = poor coating cause not enough powder.
Too much powder for number of bullets = poor coating because too much "non chargeable" material. (Too much powder can eliminate static. )
Use of plastic BB's are never a harm I have seen. I also haven't had the advantage with them.
I dont find static advantage of #5 tube either.
Large PVC can be used for containers and it can generate buku static! But its heavy for shake n bake so some kind of tumbling device is handy.
Couple zip loc bags with bullets and powder in your vibratory case cleaner can make even stubborn powders "stick"
CW
I use top of my ovens and have left bullets there for hours warmed and NEVER had any too hot.
Too many bullets and too little powder = poor coating cause not enough powder.
Too much powder for number of bullets = poor coating because too much "non chargeable" material. (Too much powder can eliminate static. )
Use of plastic BB's are never a harm I have seen. I also haven't had the advantage with them.
I dont find static advantage of #5 tube either.
Large PVC can be used for containers and it can generate buku static! But its heavy for shake n bake so some kind of tumbling device is handy.
Couple zip loc bags with bullets and powder in your vibratory case cleaner can make even stubborn powders "stick"
CW
Last edited:
RBHarter
West Central AR
I haven't seen many days under 60% in nearly 5 years. Before that however the evaporative cooling under a thunderstorm on a 95° day could cause hypothermia. That would suggest that even in the midst of the down pour the humidity was less than 40% , probably as low as 30% . Which may defy logic , but is true in the high deserts .
fiver
Well-Known Member
we will get banged with 80-85% humidity in the winter.
it happens on those days right before it snows and the temp raises just enough to melt some of the ice and snow already on the ground.
as long as the wind isn't blowing it's actually pretty enjoyable to be outside on those days.
except for the part where your constantly falling on your ass on the water covered ice.
it happens on those days right before it snows and the temp raises just enough to melt some of the ice and snow already on the ground.
as long as the wind isn't blowing it's actually pretty enjoyable to be outside on those days.
except for the part where your constantly falling on your ass on the water covered ice.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
Not trying to start an argument, I'm really not, but I just read through this whole thread and can someone please expalin to me again how this is supposed to be easier than traditional sizing and lubing. Never done it before, but reading about all the hoops you guys are havingtojump through makes me tired without evendoing it.
I find it quite easy. I can coat bullets as fast as I can traditional lube them. The bake time is when I do other things.
My guns stay cleaner- no greasy goo all over them. I can also shoot softer alloy. Bullets store in bulk easily. Dies never build up lube.
I wasn’t sold at first but sure am now.
My guns stay cleaner- no greasy goo all over them. I can also shoot softer alloy. Bullets store in bulk easily. Dies never build up lube.
I wasn’t sold at first but sure am now.
fiver
Well-Known Member
it actually slows me down versus just zipping 3-4K of them through the star.
there are some advantages though.
no lube mess in the dies, or on your fingers, or stuck to the bucket/box.
plus they store without fear of oxidizing if you have a damp environment.
it really isn't difficult unless you run into the problem like you see here, which really isn't a problem that is very difficult to overcome.
i shake for like 20 seconds, dump them in a pan with holes in the bottom, shake out the BB's and dump them on some parchment paper till the pan is full,,, then cook.
then size, probably have a couple of molds that don't need sizing.
some i coat, some i don't.
just like some rifles shoot cast and some don't.
there are some advantages though.
no lube mess in the dies, or on your fingers, or stuck to the bucket/box.
plus they store without fear of oxidizing if you have a damp environment.
it really isn't difficult unless you run into the problem like you see here, which really isn't a problem that is very difficult to overcome.
i shake for like 20 seconds, dump them in a pan with holes in the bottom, shake out the BB's and dump them on some parchment paper till the pan is full,,, then cook.
then size, probably have a couple of molds that don't need sizing.
some i coat, some i don't.
just like some rifles shoot cast and some don't.
You've already had answers from the "pros".... my take on it is that it's not necessarily "easier"... just a different method. And, to me, if done successfully ( I WILL figure this out) it gives you a better product. No leading, no smoke (indoor ranges) and it seems that you don't have to have pristine cast bullets. A few wrinkles are no big deal, they get covered up.
Good question, though....
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
So, three times the steps plus cooking time.
I thought you weren't trying to start an argument.... 
There are steps involved in lubing, as well.... I do it, so I'm aware of it. Once you get your process down in coating, it's really not that cumbersome a process. For some people, it's drop the bullets in the tub, swirl them around for a minute or two, dump them out in a wire tray and then bake for 20 min or so. You're done.
Other people add the step of standing the bullets on their bases just for appearance sake, but still.... what does that add, another 10 minutes? And that time is for processing maybe 100-200 bullets.
How long does it take to lubri-size that many? Probably close to the same amount of time..... but like the farmer said.... "what's time to a hog?"
There are steps involved in lubing, as well.... I do it, so I'm aware of it. Once you get your process down in coating, it's really not that cumbersome a process. For some people, it's drop the bullets in the tub, swirl them around for a minute or two, dump them out in a wire tray and then bake for 20 min or so. You're done.
Other people add the step of standing the bullets on their bases just for appearance sake, but still.... what does that add, another 10 minutes? And that time is for processing maybe 100-200 bullets.
How long does it take to lubri-size that many? Probably close to the same amount of time..... but like the farmer said.... "what's time to a hog?"
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
And...
NO LUBE SMOKE
Cleaner bullets (Safer/lead lead contact)
Dies as clean as loading copper jacketed.
Allows use of SOFTER (and CHEAPER) Alloys
NO need of a GC on pistol velocity bullets
COLORS for load /alloy/ use ID
NO COLORS if thats your thing
IMHO "TIME" as a detriment, is a foolish argument as NOT ONE OF US dislikes what we do here or would ever complain of "TIME" spent on / doing things we enjoy.
Ill happily send ya some if you would like to try before ta buy! Tell me the mold and I may have same as you.
CW
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
Think I'll stick to traditional ways. About the only advantage I can se is adding diameter, which is certainly a plus in some situations.
RBHarter
West Central AR
You know how casting boils down to spoon the hot metal into the hot form let it cool and load it ? With 10,000 little things we do without any real thought about it , until you write it all out then it looks a lot more complicated than it is . Same thing. I'd use it if I were shooting gobs of specific RB or something like .490s sized down to .452 or something.
Just another tool in the box .
Yeah, I'm sure I'll still keep lubing some... if I can get the coating to work, I imagine that most of my bullets will receive that treatment. I don't shoot thousands a month... more like 500 a month, so either way, I'm not investing a huge amount of time.