Silicone Pyramid Baking Mats?

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
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I’m gonna buy some silicone mats. Has anyone tried these textured mats? It seems that they would do a great job separating the bullets from each other.

On a deeper level. Am I worrying too much about small uncoated areas from the bullets sticking to the basket, or to each other?

Josh

p.s. I don’t have the patience to stand them up.
 

Kevin Stenberg

Well-Known Member
By laying the bullets on their sides that would eliminate tipping.
I use mostly NS tinfoil. With the bullets laying on their side. If the foil hasn't been used before i haven't found the PC to stick to the foil and there doesn't seem to be any dings on the bullets.
 

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Yeah you really don't need to be to anal about it. I used to stand them up in a rack I built out of 1/2 inch hardware cloth, and still do a times, but..... Been using wire baskets from Bed Bath and Beyond same as CWLONGSHOT. I just keep them from touching as much as I can. The baskets work well.
 
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Ole_270

Well-Known Member
For my 30 cal and under I've been using the mini ice cube silicone trays. If I remember right they hold around 160 bullets and work great on the long Saeco #315 clones as well as the smaller 260283. That one is a little hard to stand on end and move into the oven without some support. So far I haven't noticed any scuffing on the sides or uneven coating thickness.
 

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
Thanks for all the input. I just ordered a mini ice cube tray. I’ll do a test. A Wire basket vs Ice cube tray accuracy test.

But, I suspect that I’m not that good a shot that I’ll even notice a difference.

Josh
 
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CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
When I powder coat, as a rule I use a basket and only as many at a time as to keep them in a single layer. NOT CAUSE OF STICKING, Because of heat. A single layer better ensures same temp for all bullets.

I will use a smooth Silicone matt when the bullets are 35 and larger and I want a powder like Eastwood thats thicker a d does "stick" more in my baskets.

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This is Eastwood Vermillion. Its a nice brite color, but is thicker coating and shows many "kickies" from basket baking.

I agree THEY ARE NOT A PERFORMANCE PROBLEM. But, they dint look as good or professional. Sometimes, looks are important. ;)

CW
 

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
So, I bought one of these silicone ice cube trays.
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And then this happened. The PC slumped and fanned out at the base of the bullet. This is what the bases look like after sizing.
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So, I’m gonna go back to what I was using.
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You can’t say that Bullet Casters don’t recycle.
Check out my new silicone .32 ACP loading block! Bet I’m the first guy on the forum with one of these!!!
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Josh
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
Damn, I have one of those silicone ice trays on the way.....and no 32 ACP either. Sounds like it might be time for a 32 eh? :headscratch:
 

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
I suspect that different powders slump less than others. It didn’t work for me with Eastwood Clear-Gloss.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Sizing more than a couple thousandths in one shot is part of your issue there, Josh. If necessary, I pre-size to my final size before coating and size again after. With flat-base bullets I usually pre-size them backwards to reduce base finning.
 

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
Sizing more than a couple thousandths in one shot is part of your issue there, Josh. If necessary, I pre-size to my final size before coating and size again after. With flat-base bullets I usually pre-size them backwards to reduce base finning.


Yes, that is how I sized those mini-ice tray bullets. The checks were installed and sized at .311” before PC, and then final sized to .311” after PC. To show the difference here is a photo of a wire basket PC’d bullet that was also sized before and after coating. It has a nice clean, smooth base.
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I had actually hoped that by sizing the ice tray bullets that the pc “skirt” would sheer off. I’m now deciding on whether to cull them or try trimming with a razor knife.
Josh