Great Discovery

[unique]

I figured out how to powder coat without using an oven or any other heat source.


First you get a can of motor mica...



then you coat boolits with your favorite tumble lube, let dry, then sprinkle with Motor Mica and you are done...





Simple, easy and it works with the side benefit that there is no smell or toxic fumes.

[Three44s]

I have done that as well.

Three44s

[Martin Luber]

If already tumble lubed, what more do you gain?

[Moleman-]

I like it because your bullets aren't sticky and over time they don't form a giant bullet clump if stored in a hot place like a garage. Mica is also a lube and either I've been the luckiest idiot ever or it helps with leading as I've never had a leading issue with the TL/mica bullets in 30 years. I believe it was mentioned in the Lee alox instructions back then as an option.

[centershot]

If already tumble lubed, what more do you gain?

Two things: First, Your boolits aren't sticky. If you use TL correctly (thin coat) they won't be sticky anyway but some folks don't understand THIN COAT.

Second, the TL won't build up inside your seating die. Again, if done correctly, it won't build up anyway, but, some folks can't understand THIN COAT.

[Winger Ed.]

I sprinkle a little on sized & lubed boolits to keep them from being a little sticky when they come out of the lube/sizer.
I've also had them rattle around and pull pieces of lube off each other if I don't do it.

I've had a jar of it from Midway for years and its getting low.
They don't carry it anymore, and the places I've seen it lately, the prices are crazy high from what it used to be.

I recently bought a bag from Brownell's,,,,, and it was about $3. but I didn't look at the quantity.
When the order came, I thought it was missing.
I finally found a little baggie thing that looked like it had about $5 worth of crack cocaine in it.

[fredj338]

Kinda like moly, but not as effective.

[waksupi]

You have re-invented the wheel! This has been done for many years to make lubed bullets nicer to handle. A search of the board should bring up several topics from years ago.

[Martin Luber]

Hornady used something similar when they were making swaged

[dondiego]

I believe that mica was the culprit they blamed for the baby powder cancer scare, hence the scarcity and the price increase.

[RU shooter]

Kinda like moly, but not as effective.

Maybe so but a heck of a lot easier than tryin to get that crap off your fingers and anything else moly touches

[nelsonted1]

we used graphite in a bottle we purchased from John Deere to lubricate seeds going through corn planter. I have a bottle I use that must be 40 years old. The amount I use will make that bottle last another ten years. Here is the newer improved version. I'm not sure if talc added is as effective for boolits.

I friend worked at International Crankshaft building crankshafts for Toyota in Georgetown KY. She said the graphite lubricant would be covering the floor an inch or more deep. I've wondered if she was exagerating since the dust is not good for lungs. My friends built submarines in WW2. They had asbestos powder so deep it flowed over their boot-feet when they walked.

https://www.amazon.com/80-20-Seed-Talc-LB/dp/B01N2NO7ML

8 pounds for $44.
https://www.ebay.com/i/132587480531?...913df5677bdf58

[fastdadio]

I have a couple of old cans of pure graphite left over from packing valve stem seals on our steam boilers. Can I use it for this application?

[Moleman-]

So does anyplace have the bigger half gallon size containers of motor mica like midway used to sell?

[Winger Ed.]

I have a couple of old cans of pure graphite left over from packing valve stem seals on our steam boilers. Can I use it for this application?

It gets all over everything and sticks like poop on a baby blanket, but it'll work.

When I run out of mica, I'll probably switch over to Redding's Imperial wax stuff.
Midway carries it and the price looks more or less affordable.

[Agarbers]

I believe that mica was the culprit they blamed for the baby powder cancer scare, hence the scarcity and the price increase.

Asbestos was the issue in babypowder. Talc is ground rock and sometimes contains asbestos. Mica is a rock that comes in sheets or books in its natural state. Mica was and maybe still is used for the "windows" into Edison-base fuses as well as other high-heat or high electrical resistance applications.

[onelight]

That is what I use for inside neck lube on bottle neck cases when sizing . I use the little 3 brush dispenser I think it is a Forester product.

[fastdadio]

It gets all over everything and sticks like poop on a baby blanket, but it'll work.

When I run out of mica, I'll probably switch over to Redding's Imperial wax stuff.
Midway carries it and the price looks more or less affordable.

You just talked me out of it. Thanks. Guess I'll stick with the PC routine.

[unique]

You have re-invented the wheel! This has been done for many years to make lubed bullets nicer to handle. A search of the board should bring up several topics from years ago.

Well actually I have been doing this longer than I can remember and that is more than 50 years back. I posted in response to the new fangled powder coating craze I keep reading about.