So, my first attempt at dtpc was an epic failure

[Rightbrained]

I purchased some of Smoke’s powder a couple weeks ago and decided to try it on some old 44 mag boolits I traded for here on the forum.
The lube had lots of dust and hair in it so I boiled them and skimmed the lube off the top. Then I gave them a wash with some acetone.
The weather here is still very warm and humid so I did the coating in the house because we are still running the ac.
Then, I took the boolits out to the shop to bake them . The new toaster oven I bought said to turn the dial to bake and always on to bypass the timer and the oven will maintain 400-425 degrees .
Well, I can tell you a bakers thermometer will be here before I try this again. At 5 and 10 minutes all was well, I went inside for a few minutes and at 15 minutes bake time I found this.

271129

[brass410]

turn'em over they're done , they almost look scrambled, done a few of these to date. I believe its part of the process to over cook a few ,you know kinda like a initiation/hazing thing, most have done it but few will prove it. Other than a little over cooked they look good.

[Rightbrained]

I think my second attempt after I “calibrate” the cheap toaster oven will turn out ok.
I am certainly man enough to prove to others that I screwed up . Haha

[Hossfly]

PID works on toaster ovens also. Been there with hot plate, thought would be good idea to pre warm ingots and they started to melt. When I tried to pick up with channel locks squishy.

[Rightbrained]

I need to research these PID’s I keep reading about.
The tightwad on me has been resisting.

[Joe504]

Right brain, send me a PM, I will send you links to build a super cheap PID, shipping from China, so it wont come quick, but I think I built mine, with no frills, for under $20

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Rightbrained]

Done, thanks !

[Stephen Cohen]

I think my second attempt after I “calibrate” the cheap toaster oven will turn out ok.
I am certainly man enough to prove to others that I screwed up . Haha

A man who has never made a mistake, has never mad anything. Welcome to the club of those who own up. Regards Stephen

[Rightbrained]

A man who has never made a mistake, has never mad anything. Welcome to the club of those who own up. Regards Stephen

Thanks and I agree completely!

[jsanch03]

You’re officially a powder coaster with the first batch ending up the way it did. When I first tried it I didn’t think the lead would melt but I was wrong! I always set a 15 minute timer with my phone after placing the bullets inside the oven. Haven’t had issues with leading even in my Glock barrel. Smart to start with powders that work right off the bat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rightbrained]

Yeah, I didn’t want to go with an unknown . There were so many good remarks about these powders that it made the choice easy.

[Conditor22]

Almost All countertop ovens thermostats are off. You will find that the oven temperature will vary with the surrounding temperature.

Toaster ovens will work but you need to limit the number of boolits you bake at one time. Convection ovens have a circulating fan that distributes the heat evenly.

On the bright side, those boolits look great ( the ones you didn't turn into a puddle ) :lol:

[Rightbrained]

Lol, most of the ones that aren’t a puddle yet have a very large diameter base compared to the driving bands. They were all very close to becoming liquefied !

[flyingmonkey35]

Well the powder coat cured fantastic.

And held up pretty good.

I had that happen to me once and the elcheapo toaster was in the garbage the next day with a new used one from a thrift store.

No issues since

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[The Dar]

The great thing about mistakes in casting, coating and baking is that you can reuse your mistakes. Toss the fried ones back in the pot and start over. My first batch looked about like yours. I used a toaster oven for about 8 months then bought a convection oven. I have it dialed in and haven't had a problem since.

[Rightbrained]

Yeah , I thought the powder coating actually turned out decent for my first attempt.
And thankfully I can just throw them in the pot the next time I make ingots and erase that mistake!

[tankgunner59]

My first batch looked worse than that. I don't have any pics but it looked like a lead omlette.

[Rightbrained]

My first batch looked worse than that. I don't have any pics but it looked like a lead omlette.

Now that’s funny !

[Beagle333]

And be sure you preheat. I had a fairly accurate little toaster, but I brought it up from cold and it overheats and backs down to the temp, and it melted some of mine before it stabilized.

[Rightbrained]

That was most likely my first mistake. I did not preheat .

[Huskerguy]

The first time I tried to preheat I ended up with a lead sculpture. I never tried that again.

[Rightbrained]

Looks like this is a very common beginner mistake !

[RKJ]

Looks like this is a very common beginner mistake !

Nope! My first ones were perfect. As were my first and every bullet I've cast with every mold I've used. :)

[Rightbrained]

I smell BS ! Haha

[William Yanda]

Thanks for reporting your experience. Based on that I am going to check the yard sale toaster oven that I bought for $1 before I bake my first batch. Probably use a cheap oven thermometer from the $1 store. Thinking while I write, I can include a batch of uncoated boolets to make it more realistic without risking anything.

[Rightbrained]

Thanks for reporting your experience. Based on that I am going to check the yard sale toaster oven that I bought for $1 before I bake my first batch. Probably use a cheap oven thermometer from the $1 store. Thinking while I write, I can include a batch of uncoated boolets to make it more realistic without risking anything.

That’s a good idea. I certainly won’t be trying anymore until I have a thermometer to check my Chinese toaster oven out.

[fredj338]

That’s a good idea. I certainly won’t be trying anymore until I have a thermometer to check my Chinese toaster oven out.

You must go with an oven therm. My conv pizza oven has to be set at 450 on the dial to hit 400.

[Conditor22]

I lined the bottom of my small convection oven (Amazon $ $50 in 2016 and still going strong with a PID) with ceramic BBQ briquettes to help the oven recover faster after the door was opened. (fire bricks/ lava rock work also)
** top PID controls the oven, bottom PID controls the casting pot. the hood vent wasn't quite wide enough for both my casting pot and oven so I rigged a cardboard hood vent extender :) **
the screens on top of the oven are to set pans of boolits on to pre-warm for casting on cold/damp days


https://i.imgur.com/Nbxinx6.jpg

before PID
https://i.imgur.com/N4wFShk.jpg


I bought 2 large convection ovens from thrift stores for under $20 each

ue to warm boolits or bake 2 trays at a time
https://i.imgur.com/LkeWDga.jpg

works great but haven't PC'd in it yet
https://i.imgur.com/jWDzsun.jpg


testing thermostat setting for the oven -w- 2 thermometers on bake shelf
https://i.imgur.com/5kjxNft.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/10Diup7.jpg

[Rightbrained]

Conditor22,
That’s a nice setup you have running.
I’m still trying to figure out these PID’s and what all is needed to get one set up.

[Conditor22]

Rightbrained This didn't happen overnight, I've been at this a little while.

[Rightbrained]

I understand that for sure and I don’t expect to be considered even a novice for quite some time.
One thing is for certain , I’m a hard headed cuss and won’t give up.

[slide]

Another choice for you, digital thermometer with a thermocouple. Drill a hole in a coated bullet,insert thermocouple, smash the bullet onto the thermocouple. Put it in with your bullets. When your powder hits the target temp start a timer. Example, 400F for 10 minutes. This way you are measuring the temp of the bullets and not the air temp of the oven. You will work out which way works the best for you.

[SweetMk]

I lined the bottom of my small convection oven (Amazon $ $50 in 1916 and still going strong with a PID) with ceramic BBQ briquettes to help the oven recover faster after the door was opened. (fire bricks/ lava rock work also)


https://i.imgur.com/Nbxinx6.jpg



A hundred and four years old!! :smile: WOW,, It doesn't look a day over seventy years old,,, :p

LOL, I could not resist,,,

I just built my first PID, for the lead pot, I had not thought about one for the oven,,

I wonder if some 1/2 inch thick copper buss bar, or something else that holds heat would help in the bottom of the oven??

[Conditor22]

A hundred and four years old!! :smile: WOW,, It doesn't look a day over seventy years old,,, :p

LOL, I could not resist,,,

I just built my first PID, for the lead pot, I had not thought about one for the oven,,

I wonder if some 1/2 inch thick copper bus bar or something else that holds heat would help in the bottom of the oven??

Try them and let us know