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Thread: PC bug bites

  1. #1
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    PC bug bites

    You guys are so bad. Its not like I'm not into enough things with this hobby that now I'm starting to do PC too. Been reading and looking at all the shiny multi colored bobbles you guys keep showing everybody, so........ here was my start today. The usual I want it an I want it now. So had to use HF, their here, and I can do this without waiting for the mail for now. Will try smoke and pounds of powder and a few others I'm sure, but for now it is what it is.
    ES from HF, BnD convection oven from Wally. Only fly is it seems that it won't go higher than 350. Turned temp to 400 have a temp gauge inside and it only reads 350 with knob turned to 450, so.....we will see what I get from this first run.
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  2. #2
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Well, these are fresh out of the oven. I do have a question. How long must I wait before running them threw a sizer.

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  3. #3
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    Before doing anything else, wait until they are cool and do the "smash test" smash one flat like a penny and smash one into a cube. IF you get no flaking or chipping you're ready to resize and load.
    IF they flake/chip you can try another bake cycle and if that fails, toss them in the smelting pot and start over.

    I'd take the oven back to Wallyworld for one that works right

  4. #4
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    You can go as soon as they are totally cold .. I usually wait 4 to 6 hours or coat in the morning and size in the evening
    [SIZE=4][B]Selling Hi Quality Powdercoating Powder

    I carry a Nuke50 because cleaning up the mess is Silly !!

    http://www.bing.com/search?q=nuke50&...7ADE&FORM=QBLH

    I am not crazy my mom had me tested

    Theres a fine line between genius and crazy .. I'm that line
    and depending on the day I might just step over that line !!!

  5. #5
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    When the boolits are cool to the touch, you can size them. PC has no "drying" time.

    Many low-end ovens have very cheap temp controls. You must set the dial based on an internal oven thermometer, no the silly calibrations on the front.

    bangerjim

  6. #6
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Banger, true cheap can be its own problem. This B&D was $50.00, it is a convection oven also. I had a independent temp gauge hanging from the front rack as can be seen in photo just because i dont trust any oven dial. True, I may have to take this puppy back. Would not want to be next guy cooking my Red Baron frozen pizza in it though.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Ok Grmps, mash one flat, a few wrinkles, but no flakes or flaking. Guess I'll size a few tomorrow and see how they behave in the sizer, and depending on that I might just load a few.

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  8. #8
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    It could be your independent Temp gauge that is incorrect.
    Not a totally reliable test, but check it out in your house oven.
    Also check it in boiling water for a 212 check.
    There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide. Ayn Rand

  9. #9
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by farmerjim View Post
    It could be your independent Temp gauge that is incorrect.
    Not a totally reliable test, but check it out in your house oven.
    Also check it in boiling water for a 212 check.
    Great idea. I looked for a taylor gauge, but none at wally. Our rental has a electric contractors model oven about twenty years old, ha, ha, ha. The boiling water would probably be the best, but I also have my foundry thermometer I use when casting with my magma machine. And next time my wife goes to bed, bath and I'm broke, I'll look for a taylor temp there. Thanks for the tip.

  10. #10
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    OH forgot to mention .. Treat the PC bug bites with Boretech Eliminator
    [SIZE=4][B]Selling Hi Quality Powdercoating Powder

    I carry a Nuke50 because cleaning up the mess is Silly !!

    http://www.bing.com/search?q=nuke50&...7ADE&FORM=QBLH

    I am not crazy my mom had me tested

    Theres a fine line between genius and crazy .. I'm that line
    and depending on the day I might just step over that line !!!

  11. #11
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    Welcome to the artistry and colorful world of boolit craft!

    I found a higher end convection toaster oven on Craigslist. Met the dude at a Best Buy parking lot. By the types of leftist bumps stickers on his economy car, he probably would be appalled to know that he was about to become an inexpensive accomplice to 2nd amendment activities. I didn't have the heart to tell him for fear that he'd back out of a great deal.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by farmerjim View Post
    It could be your independent Temp gauge that is incorrect.
    Not a totally reliable test, but check it out in your house oven.
    Also check it in boiling water for a 212 check.
    Double checking is good. I have 2 different brands/styles of oven thermometers that I cross-check with my lab-grade K t/c temp meter. All agree! Putting them in different corners of the oven once you know they are accurate gives you a “survey” of the temp profile of the oven cavity.

    The engineering firm I own does this with 40-60 T/C’s in vacuum heat treat ovens you can drive a tank in!

    Bangerjim

  13. #13
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Thanks all for your insight an help. Here's the first batch. Couldn't wait till tomorrow to size an check. I'm so impatient sometimes.

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  14. #14
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    costco has an Oster convection oven for under $50

  15. #15
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    This is the model of Black and Decker convection oven I just got today. $49.99


  16. #16
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    BOY howdy this “bug” sure is adictive!!! Im having a ball, coating and casting!

    Im using a 24$ Walmart toaster. Unsure of brand. But its working well. Yes my stat was way off.... My very first batch, set on 400 MELTED BULLETS! ������

    I think mine is now set just under 300 to make inside temp 400! HF laser temp gauge was tested on my smoker timer/thermometer and pretty close.

    HF can be OK. I have read that when you can make nice bullets using it, your doing very well.

    Eastwood Blue is one of my best coating powders. I have now aquired 8-9 colors. Most all have been good. Copper was bad and two yellows are so so. Grmps suggested I add a bit of good coating color to the Yellow. So I added Green. It did help coating. Powders colors dont mix like fluid colors. You see both colors inter mingled.
    NRA Life member • REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE its being paid for in BLOOD.
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  17. #17
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    WalMArt also carries the Oster convection DIGITAL controlled oven I use. Cost a bit more than $50, but you do not have to mess with a PID controller mod and all that mess. It controls the temp within ~2F digitally, not with a bimetal strip like the B&D ones do. It has a huge cavity....I get 4 racks in it with 175+ (Depending on cal) on each rack. Made racks myself in addition to the ones that come with it. I feel it is well worth the xtra $$ it cost me.

    “It only costs a little more to go 1st class!”

    Banger

  18. #18
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Yes, I agree Banger. I looked at a lot of your posts to see if you mentioned what you were using before I went to Wally today in case they had what you were using but I couldn't located a thread or post that you mentioned what it was you were cooking them with. Oh well. My oven also has a metal plate that goes across the bottom over the elements, tomorrow I will remove that plate and see what the oven heats up to without it and put another temp gauge inside on the rack to see what I get without the plate and check the accuracy of the hanging temp gauge I used today. Always finding a new way to skin the cat.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
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GC Gas Check