My way for powder coating after MANY TRIES

[ipijohn]

I developed the following ESPC process after trying many things posted here and other places:

I Put my loaded Convection oven in the fireplace since I live in Michigan and it is winter.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy346/jhmatthews1/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814016_zpsc95fb173.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/jhmatthews1/media/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814016_zpsc95fb173.jpg.html)

This is what a loaded tray looks like after cooking.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy346/jhmatthews1/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814020_zps2bbefa81.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/jhmatthews1/media/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814020_zps2bbefa81.jpg.html)

This is what the tray looks like after three cooks, the tray is aluminum screen from Lowes.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy346/jhmatthews1/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814023_zpseccbbacc.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/jhmatthews1/media/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814023_zpseccbbacc.jpg.html)

These are the 600 boolits cooked, a mixture of 9 MM, 40 S&W and 45 ACP.



http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy346/jhmatthews1/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814025_zpse8e9860d.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/jhmatthews1/media/Powder%20Coating%20Pictures/21814025_zpse8e9860d.jpg.html)



I have been able to reuse the screen up to 6 times before I have to toss it. Screen cost per tray is about 20 cents. My loading block is 17 X 12 boolits = 194 approx per tray, I remove the fall overs before coating.

[6bg6ga]

Looks like a job well done. Please do post on the accuracy of the coated bullets when you get time.

[Beagle333]

Looks like you're getting a good solid coat. I'm jealous of your oven capacity! :-D

[wlc]

Whats underneath the screen wire on your tray? Looks like diamond expanded metal. Did you make them or buy them somewhere and add the screen wire?? Looks good.

[ipijohn]

Whats underneath the screen wire on your tray? Looks like diamond expanded metal. Did you make them or buy them somewhere and add the screen wire?? Looks good.

My racks came with the oven. The aluminum expanded mesh under the screen is Walmart throw away grill rack covers. I used the mesh to make a flatter surface for the screen to lay on.

[wlc]

Cool! Thanks, I keep filing info away for later use. I keep getting closer and closer to jumping in on this powder coating stuff. Just seems an easier and better way to "lube" boolits. Just waiting to see what folks say about accuracy in rifles before going all in.

[ipijohn]

Cool! Thanks, I keep filing info away for later use. I keep getting closer and closer to jumping in on this powder coating stuff. Just seems an easier and better way to "lube" boolits. Just waiting to see what folks say about accuracy in rifles before going all in.

The only rifle that I have tried PC in is my AR. The 300 BLK upper shoots Lee 312-155 PC groups @ about .25 inch larger groups than jacketed. The 5.56 NATO upper shoots 65 grain MP groups @ about .375 inch larger groups than jacketed. The numbers for both of the above are at 100 yds. My grandson shoots the 312-155 PC boolits unsized in his 54R. He is getting better groups than the Milserp or .309 jacketed reloads he was shooting.

[bangerjim]

Have you tried non-stick Al foil? Much cheaper than screen wire. And I use it about 3-4 times B4 throwing it away.

I use screen (hardware cloth 1/4" holes) when dumping DT boolits out.

Good approach to fight the cold weather! I used to BBQ in a small gas grill in our downstairs basement fireplace when we lived in MI. Too darned cold to go outside.

Good job!

bangerjim

[popper]

ipijohn - you need to post targets (& loads) in the coating accuracy thread for all to see and decide. Many are on the sidelines with this stuff and waiting to see rifle results.

[ipijohn]

Have you tried non-stick Al foil? Much cheaper than screen wire. And I use it about 3-4 times B4 throwing it away.

I use screen (hardware cloth 1/4" holes) when dumping DT boolits out.

Good approach to fight the cold weather! I used to BBQ in a small gas grill in our downstairs basement fireplace when we lived in MI. Too darned cold to go outside.

Good job!

bangerjim

I tried NS aluminum foil and still use that method for gas check type rifle boolits. I got too much filet around the base on PB boolits unless they were elevated. I am fine with 6 cooks of 194 boolits each cook (around 1200) for 20 cents of screen. When I ran the NS Al foil PB boolits through my Lee sizer it turned the excess PC down rather than shear it off. The turned down material forms a partial skirt and it is not a problem for rifle loads but all of my pistol loads are loaded on progressive loaders with boolit feeders and they require flat bases.

I beat the Michigan cold with a pair of ceramic charcoal grills that I can control from my computer. They have wifi air flow controllers on them and hold +- 2 degrees F in any weather. I can also program in increases or decreases during the cooks. For instance for bacon I start out at 160* F with a lot of smoke until the meat get to 140* then the program ramps up to 225* until the meet gets to 180* F.

[bangerjim]

Stop that! You are making me hungry!!!!!!!!!

:drinks:

banger