Powder Coating Boolits

[slim1836]

EL34,
Thanks for the info on posting pics, I will try that.
Slim

I had the same experience until I put Reynolds non-stick foil over the nuts. I now do the same as beagle, the nuts are JB Welded to the tray and the foil is placed over them, slightly mashed around them to create pedestals for the boolits to sit on. The foil can be used a second time but beyond that is pushing it and will need replacing.

If you have pictures on your computer it's easy to post them. Right above the box you type your post in there's a row of icons, the 4th from the right end is the one to use. Put your mouse over them to get their purpose and find/click the "Insert Image" icon. Be sure the 'from computer' option is selected and go find (browse) the picture filename. You'll be invited to 'upload images'. The picture will show up right where you left the cursor when you were typing your post so put a carriage return (Enter key) in your post before and after the [IMAGE].....[/IMAGE] stuff to place the pic where you want it. You'll get it after the first time.

[slim1836]

I hope I did this right, my first attempt powder coating and pics. I did post pics under an older format but just trying EL34's directions. They did pass the smash test which I am Happy, Happy, Happy about.

My Bench

My Boolits

Homemade GC trays

[grumman581]

Yes...........heads up..........

HF powders are on sale I believe thru Jan 20th or so.

Yellow (which does not work for us anyway) is not on sale.

I cleaned my local store out on the 31st!

banger

Did we ever get a definitive answer from someone with respect to how many bullets could be coated with a pound of powder?

[Maximumbob54]

Is that a lazy susan in a box?

[slim1836]

Is that a lazy susan in a box?

Why, yes it is. Helps to turn the tray around without knocking .45's off the smaller nuts underneath.

Slim

[Smoke4320]

I get well over a thousand 308 or 45 ACP per LB of HF red (and I coat mine kind of heavy .. usually gain about .002 dia)
started out getting less till I learned the gun and coating

[bangerjim]

Did we ever get a definitive answer from someone with respect to how many bullets could be coated with a pound of powder?

It will depend totally on your "aptness" with the gun, how you have it set/tuned-up, the cal you are coating, and how close they are together in your jig.

Wide spacing = wasted powder on the foil.

I use no more than 3/4" spacing on all boolits (9/30/38/40/45).

I have never really kept track of the boolits/pound but I know a bottle lasts for a few thousand! At $5 a pound ( and now less!!!!!) I don't really give it any consideration.

Mabe someone else more frugal than I and can tell us!

bangerjim

[slim1836]

I stopped in my HF and almost bought them out of powder coat, at 3.99 each I had to.
Seven bottles is what I got total, 2 black, 2 white, two red, and one yellow, along with a few other items. I left 3 bottles of black for someone else to get.
Should last me a while.

Slim

[prickett]

2013 - year of the ammo drought
2014 - year of the HF powder paint drought!

[kbstenberg]

I am only on page 25 but I have a question. Has it been determined the best spacing between the bullets being sprayed with PC?

[Maximumbob54]

When I made my tray I set the hex nuts on a 1" x 1" grid where the lines crossed. Setting .45's on them means they are far enough apart that I don't fat finger bump them over as I set them up. Any closer might save paint but I would be knocking them over like dominoes. I imagine that once I start doing rifle bullets it would be even worse closer together. I guess it depends on how dexterous your fingers are with small parts.

[el34]

I'm good with 1" too. Banger does his at 3/4 but that's getting into dominotown for me also. So far my range is 356 to 45.

[bangerjim]

Like el34 sez, I use no more than 3/4" for 45's and most times <5/8 for smaller. I try to get at least 50 boys on the sheet as I like to do things 50 at a time. But most of my sheets hold 8x8 or 8x9 in rows.

But it all depends on the cavity size of your oven.

banger

[MacFan]

I go 3/4 inch for 45's and 1 inch for 7.62. As mentioned long ago I coat on a plain aluminum sheet and then transfer the bullets to a NS foil covered sheet. With fresh NS foil I find it almost too slippery for transporting to the oven so now before I use it for the first time I dust the foil with a -very- light coat of PC and bake it for a couple minutes. It' still non-stick but none of my bullets slide in to each other. (I get five or six uses out of a sheet before it gets too dirty)

[fastfire]

I have found the HF red goes on thicker than the black, Has anyone else came to the same conclusion?

[bstone5]

Hello All

The picture below is of the various bullets that have been powder coated and a gas check installed. The bullets all have plain bases with a bevel.
The bullets were all cast with a Master Caster Machine that is automated.

Some of the molds I purchased new and some have been purchased from others on this web site.

It is funny the 32 ACP, small pink, bullet is the smallest at 77 grains and the 45 Colt bullet is the largest at 250 grains, I cast these bullets on the same day.

All of these bullets have been shot with good results without any lead in the barrel.

Attachment 92840

[Beagle333]

bstone5, very nice!!! I really like the blue and green on the 9mm and the 40.

[bangerjim]

I have found the HF red goes on thicker than the black, Has anyone else came to the same conclusion?

It seems like that. I like the black because it yields a very defined smooth profile coating. The red, white, and yellow (bad coating characteristics) tend to get real thick real fast. You do not need nearly as much as you would think.

A side note: There is absolutely ZERO definitive proof the matte black is any more abrasive on your barrel than any other color. In my book, PC is harder than the lead but softer than the Cu jackets we shoot! Just a few "doubting Thomas's" that have no proof..........just opinion.............so far. ANY real proof is always welcome!

bangerjim

[slim1836]

Just a quick question. I found some "fender washers" at Lowes that have holes perfect for my .30 cal. boolits to sit in while powder coating, however, I will need to double the washers up in order to entirely seat the gas check area. I thought about soldering them but the melting temp of solder is about 370F and I bake at 400F. Is there something else? I'd like to do this once and not have to experiment. Any suggestions?

Slim

[Beagle333]

???? Mine are not too shallow for my .30 cals..... but anyway I know that JB-Weld will take the heat. It's what I use to glue the nuts to the pan.