Powder coat issue
- Thread starter hornetguy
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Tomme boy
Well-Known Member
If you have not tried the drawer organizers yet go get one. They work really well to get the excess powder off. I started out with using a SS mesh colander strainer. The old lady was not happy about that one! LOL It worked for several years then it fell apart with one good shake and the whole mesh ripped out of the frame and about 150 bullets went flying across the floor.
No need for the bb's. Shake, dump, shake dump in pan, cook. Drop n water then go right to the sizer.
I am really starting to like this new color from prizmatic. Bronze chrome. It reminds me of a Dodge pickup I had back in high school. I think it was a 79 or 78. But it was a brown metallic. The first couple of times I tried it it did not cover like some other powders. But You just have to really spin it and twice as long as some colors from smoke. It still looks a little thin but it comes out great.
No need for the bb's. Shake, dump, shake dump in pan, cook. Drop n water then go right to the sizer.
I am really starting to like this new color from prizmatic. Bronze chrome. It reminds me of a Dodge pickup I had back in high school. I think it was a 79 or 78. But it was a brown metallic. The first couple of times I tried it it did not cover like some other powders. But You just have to really spin it and twice as long as some colors from smoke. It still looks a little thin but it comes out great.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I have often recomended use of a vibe tumbler for stubburn powder coat applications.
Sime just dump powder n bullets & turn on. WHAT A MESS!!!! Plus your stuck to just that color until a scrub up cleaning.
Use a couple zip loc bags. Keeps things clean PLUS increases static build up.
YES, get trays and "sift off" excess powder!!!!!!!!!!!
YEA, excessive will slump!!! Plus YOU AINT SIZIN THEM!!!
Did you watch my video??? Just like all comments we post them ta try n help!! No watching is like not reading comments! They are posted to answer & help with problems & questions.
CW
Sime just dump powder n bullets & turn on. WHAT A MESS!!!! Plus your stuck to just that color until a scrub up cleaning.
Use a couple zip loc bags. Keeps things clean PLUS increases static build up.
YES, get trays and "sift off" excess powder!!!!!!!!!!!
YEA, excessive will slump!!! Plus YOU AINT SIZIN THEM!!!
Did you watch my video??? Just like all comments we post them ta try n help!! No watching is like not reading comments! They are posted to answer & help with problems & questions.
CW
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I am sizing them.... I just have not sized these in the picture. These drop at about .455 or so, and PC'd they are around .460. I'm sizing them back down to .453, which makes the crimp groove almost a memory. I'm probably going to try a different mold with a better crimp groove, like a Lee.
I watched most of your video once. I haven't gone back to watch it again, yet. I'm sure I will. I'm still not used to seeing the comments section of a video be a Q/A session. Most comment sections on UTUBE videos are just places for frustrated/bored video watchers to vent....
I'll check out the comments on yours... thanks
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Im one of those "odd folks" that read and comment to the comments. I post videos ta try and help.
Too much excess PC and you wont be able ta size them!!
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I don't think that responding to comments makes you odd..... you may BE odd, but responding to comments is not the cause....
I'm just not accustomed to anything of value being posted in comments section. Yours will be a pleasant exception. I plan to check it out this evening when I get home from work.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Happy ta help all I am able thru the digital wavesI don't think that responding to comments makes you odd..... you may BE odd, but responding to comments is not the cause....
I'm just not accustomed to anything of value being posted in comments section. Yours will be a pleasant exception. I plan to check it out this evening when I get home from work.
Granddadsruger
New Member
Newby here. Where can I find cwlongshot's video?
Greg
Greg
On youtube.... just search for stuff like "powdercoating bullets" and you'll find quite a few videos. His is the best one to start with.... some of the others might be interesting for differing viewpoints, but his is about the best I've seen so far.
Shameless flattery @CWLONGSHOT
Shameless flattery @CWLONGSHOT
Granddadsruger
New Member
CW sent me a link. Here it is. Good infor in there.
I have a tumbler, if I was to use the zip lock baggie trick, is the ratio of bullets to powder same as the shake method?
I've tumbled mine before and it is obvious now i had too much powder.
Inquiring minds.... I would like some details, as well... how many in a bag, is it better to do multiple small bags, etc...
for @Granddadsruger , I've sort of come to the conclusion that when I do 30-35 bullets of nominal .45 caliber, no more than 1/4 teaspoon of powder is needed. I did a couple of batches in the past 2 days, and with that amount of powder, there was still just a tiny bit left in the tub when I finished the shake.....
I suppose the ratio would be sort of similar for more/fewer/size....... 35 small 9mm bullets probably don't need as much, 35 45-70 bullets might need a little more.... etc...
for @Granddadsruger , I've sort of come to the conclusion that when I do 30-35 bullets of nominal .45 caliber, no more than 1/4 teaspoon of powder is needed. I did a couple of batches in the past 2 days, and with that amount of powder, there was still just a tiny bit left in the tub when I finished the shake.....
I suppose the ratio would be sort of similar for more/fewer/size....... 35 small 9mm bullets probably don't need as much, 35 45-70 bullets might need a little more.... etc...
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I generally limit qualtity to what can be stood on one of my plates.
So 100- 125 ish big 45's and few hundred smaller bullets.
Maybe teaspoon of powder. Good thingbis ya can add lil more if needed but too much and it just kinds fails and wont stick.
So 100- 125 ish big 45's and few hundred smaller bullets.
Maybe teaspoon of powder. Good thingbis ya can add lil more if needed but too much and it just kinds fails and wont stick.
Granddadsruger
New Member
LOL I'm embarrassed to say I'd covered the bullets (in tumbler) to the point I couldn't see them with powder.
On the other hand, I let the tumbler run for 20 mins.
On the other hand, I let the tumbler run for 20 mins.
Granddadsruger
New Member
If it matters, it's a Lyman vibratory tumbler.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Haha. Well if ya dont know... Ya dont know.
Lil powder can go a long way!
Doubt tumbler maker makes allot difference. A friend did a test using a piece of PVC pipe he made a drum from on a HF rock tumnler and got the best coated bullets to daye! PVC seems to make static best.
CW
fiver
Well-Known Member
if you wanna try wet tumbling them look for the 'piglet' method, that only goes back 10-12 years though.
another trick so you don't get powder all through your tumbler is to find a few different peanut butter type jars and cram 3 or 4 in there, then let things roll.
once you find the fit you like, give them a couple of wraps of tape and then tape them together fairly tightly so you always have the perfect 'bundle', it also strengthens the sides of the containers enough to avoid the WTH that one day.
another trick so you don't get powder all through your tumbler is to find a few different peanut butter type jars and cram 3 or 4 in there, then let things roll.
once you find the fit you like, give them a couple of wraps of tape and then tape them together fairly tightly so you always have the perfect 'bundle', it also strengthens the sides of the containers enough to avoid the WTH that one day.
Update.... I tried the steel pin case tumbler today, put 50 of my newly cast Lee 255gr RF bullets in it with just under a half teaspoon of powder and a few BB's. I put all that in a sandwich sized ziplock bag, and put that into a slightly larger ziplock and put it in the container. I ran it for a timed 12 minutes. Took them out and was surprised how well it coated, and how thin the coating was. I dumped them into my wire mesh tray, and bounced them around a little to see if it damaged the PC. It did not appear to. There was almost no powder left on the cardboard I bounced them over... There were a few visible "light" areas where the powder didn't quite coat as well, but I thought "what the heck" and baked 'em anyway.
They came out surprisingly nicely, IMO. I ran 5 of them through the .453 sizer, and this is what they look like.... I'm jazzed....
They came out surprisingly nicely, IMO. I ran 5 of them through the .453 sizer, and this is what they look like.... I'm jazzed....