acetone before powder coating

[sv44]

I think the answer is obvious but want to make sure. i swage wadcutters, the swage process uses lanolin lube and before i powder coat these i soak and gently tumble in acetone. the latest batch is a little "splotchy"- coated but not pretty and it seems uneven. i have reused the acetone after these sessions and i suspect the lanolin being added to the 'clean' bullet.
Do you guys reuse acetone, if so , how many times, do you discard?
(it was cloudy this go around so it is now discarded and soon to be replaced).
curious what the current recommendation is
thanks

[Winger Ed.]

Washing them in acetone that is contaminated will still dilute and rip apart the chemistry of oils.
Its like hitting a newspaper with the lawn mower. Its all broken up, but still there.

So, what ever is in there will still leave a residue.
You might also run into something the acetone won't cut or thin out, but soap will.

As expensive as lacquer thinner or acetone is, I'd keep doing what you're doing,
but do a second wash with soap & water to get off any of the broken down stuff that would other wise leave a oily residue.

[sv44]

thanks for that, interesting thought , hadn't thought about needing more- i will def try that

[cwlongshot]

Every time I have tried to coat bullets that I had to clean POOR RESULTS FOLLOWED.

BUT. Best results where from hot soap and water AFTER acetone followed by multiple clean water splash cleaning soaks.

Personally I would probably skip PC for them. oR accept that theya re gonn look crapy.

CW

[725]

I've used fresh acetone and have had no problems. Never have used any soap & water. My results have been OK. May try another batch with a soap & water follow-up.

[sv44]

I do think i might just accept that they look crappy . the swage process does call for hot water to wash off the lube before seating in a jacket so maybe, just maybe i will give that a try.
might also try running the 'used' acetone through a coffee filter
thanks all

[jessdigs]

Has anyone tried alcohol to clean before pc? I have an endless supply of of 99.9% rubbing alcohol so it would be really convenient if it works for this purpose .


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[shortlegs]

I use 91% alcohol to wash lanolin off my cases after resizing them. I get 3 uses before I throw it out.

[Winger Ed.]

might also try running the 'used' acetone through a coffee filter

That will get out most solids.
I just let any solvent settle for a day or so and pour off the clear part.
I loose a little with the 'mud' at the bottom, but not much.

However, the only way to get any oils that are 'dissolved' for lack of a better word, or in solution, out of it would require
running the dirty solvent through a still to evaporate off & re-condense the good stuff, and leave behind the heavier oils.

[jeepvet]

I had some that I had lubed with grease but I wanted to powder coat. I put them in a pan with water and dish soap and brought them to a boil on the hot plate. I then rinsed them with clear water until no more suds. I then boiled them in clear water and rinsed two or three times. Then I rinsed them in 70% alcohol, let dry and powder coated. looked just like all of the boolits that had never seen lube.

[Burnt Fingers]

Lanolin is pretty water proof. Not sure washing with water would help.

[longcruise]

I had some commercial cast that I removed the lube by soaking in mineral spirits for a day and then running them through the dishwasher in the tableware basket. The PC went on very well.

[Winger Ed.]

running them through the dishwasher in the tableware basket. The PC went on very well.

Even without putting anything in the machine---
Dish washer machine soap is some powerful stuff and hardly anybody takes advantage or uses it.

[sv44]

do you mean something like dawn or the powder that you pour into the dishwasher?

[Winger Ed.]

do you mean something like dawn or the powder that you pour into the dishwasher?

Dawn hand dish washing soap is good, and everybody uses it.

The soap for your dishwasher machine is WAY stronger.
If ya get carried away and use a lot of it, it can burn your skin too.

[sv44]

thanks for that, anyone use MEK?

[longcruise]

The stuff I used in the dishwasher was plain old Cascade DW pelletized soap. I think if you put dawn or any other high sudsing soap in the DW it's going to be a bad thing.

[Conditor22]

MEK is more popular down under

I put all my freshly cast boolits in clean plastic bags if I'm not going to PC them right away. I've pulled boolts out of bags 3 years later and still got perfect PC coverage.

[sv44]

well.. seemed to have solved the problem with new acetone. moving forward i am going to use a smaller amount, store it and discard once the cloudiness does not settle out .
thanks for everyone's input

[Petander]

I have Hi Tek coated batches of old,lubed boolits a couple of times.

It was homemade experimental hard lube with lanolin,crayons,beeswax... possibly even some ATF.

Anyway,I soaked the boolits in a generous amount of (no ethanol) gasoline,twice. Dumped used gasoline in my truck tank. Then gave them a quick acetone soak in a small amount of acetone.

The boolits Hi Tek coated normally.