Reloading EverythingLee PrecisionMidSouth Shooters SupplyRepackbox
Inline FabricationTitan ReloadingLoad DataWideners
RotoMetals2
Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Getting Better Results

  1. #1
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Lenore, WV
    Posts
    2,840

    Getting Better Results

    I shake and bake my PC bullets with Smokes powder. I use black BB's in a smaller container.
    My boolits are acceptable but the coating is an uneven coat. I would like to get a thicker more even coat.
    What are the secrets to getting a thicker more even coat?
    I have read a larger bowl can be helpful, is that true? How many black BB'S?
    I am coating 9MM bullets in 120 and 125 g. and 158 g. RN.

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    I used a Lyman brass cleaner with airsoft bb’s [3 years]
    Did a nice job, but I wanted to use the powder and color I liked. Not married to a brand
    Got the Harbor electrostatic and built a turn table powder coater contained in plastic storage box from WW
    Center ground comes up thru the middle of container lid for ground clip
    Cut hole in side of container for gun
    Table turns one time and they are done
    Can do candies now and they are beautiful
    Tried some powders that didn’t do good vibrating
    Stuck like glue with new system
    AND there is no dust, or waste. All stays in WWorld container
    I will post pictures if you guys like
    Used a turntable used to put statues and like in China cabinets for display
    I would never go back to rattling
    NRA Endowment

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy para45lda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    LA - Lower Alabama
    Posts
    325
    Dave 45-90

    I would love to see a few pics of your setup. Sounds too simple!

    Thanks

    Wes
    If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough.
    SASS 17373
    Proud Dad of a USAF Airman

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    It is. And I love it
    In my shop
    Will post pictures later today
    No powder wasted, non floating in air and on me. Tilt the Wally World container and scoop powder back in container
    The rotary turn table makes it soooooo neat
    The ground rod goes thru a small hole in lid for gator clip
    Hold gun thru hole in side of container
    1 rotation and it’s finished
    I really think I could get sawdust to stick
    The container maintains a thick cloud of pc
    Nothing escapes
    You could do it in living room. Although mom would throw me out on my ear
    NRA Endowment

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Southern France by way of Interior Bush Alaska
    Posts
    5,286
    I’ve found if you want a thicker coating it won’t usually turn out as smooth as a thin coat. You can always do a second or even third coat if you want. I normally size after PCing so the sides are smoothed out. It reduces grease groves, but you shouldn’t really need them with PC.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	B2757E6D-7502-4A90-AA09-DF54AC2B78F8.jpg 
Views:	79 
Size:	58.8 KB 
ID:	288120Click image for larger version. 

Name:	8F2AF9F7-C63F-45C1-A737-BC7423137A38.jpg 
Views:	70 
Size:	49.9 KB 
ID:	288119Click image for larger version. 

Name:	0C036C86-F65D-43A0-B259-F6E0754C36D6.jpg 
Views:	65 
Size:	56.0 KB 
ID:	288118Click image for larger version. 

Name:	C28D4FDB-2014-4669-BD6D-1900484ABF47.jpg 
Views:	65 
Size:	40.2 KB 
ID:	288117Click image for larger version. 

Name:	B2EE0D01-D3AC-4FBF-9503-FFBE8BF77683.jpg 
Views:	66 
Size:	47.9 KB 
ID:	288116Took a couple pictures

    I don’t use rotating pan in oven I just pull pan out by ground stem and take the pc Boolits off with right angle needle foreceps. Foil stays clean and powder isn’t wasted
    Brass screw soldered to pan for a real good ground on brass rod
    Brass Ground rod is brass sleeved on the end for the gator clip
    I know it’s energized well cause the Boolits pull the powder to them like an electromagnet
    I’m happy
    All holes are close tolerance
    Turntable cord is hot melted glued around hole
    Total investment 100 bucks
    Last edited by dave 45-90; 08-30-2021 at 07:41 PM.
    NRA Endowment

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122

    Forgot

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	1B6E96D2-24CE-4E34-AA6E-5C7F0DEA076F.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	77.4 KB 
ID:	288122. The Boolit liner upper
    The gun. Harbor Freight
    The pans WWorld
    Turntable Amazon
    Brass rod. Mcmaster. I machined and threaded the end of brass rod . Used brass tube as sleeve
    Plastic storage container WWorld
    Powder Fleabay
    Last edited by dave 45-90; 08-30-2021 at 07:53 PM.
    NRA Endowment

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Las Cruces, NM
    Posts
    4,535
    Why do you want a thicker coat? I try to get as thin a coat as I can.

    If you want a thick coating then go to a gun.

    S&B is more for thinner coats and works well for that. You can do two coats if you really need a thicker coat.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    It’s not a thick coat. Matter of fact it’s a little thinner and more even than my old way 1 coat. The edges are sharp and the grooves are not filled
    NRA Endowment

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy Iwsbull's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    354
    Wow, those look great. If lazy don’t take over I might have to follow your lead on that.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    Quote Originally Posted by Iwsbull View Post
    Wow, those look great. If lazy don’t take over I might have to follow your lead on that.
    Pretty slick. So easy and results never vary. AND no matter what powder you use. It sticks and passes the smash test
    NRA Endowment

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    El Dorado County, N. Ca.
    Posts
    6,234
    You have to use a PC that will coat in a tub to get good results, if not a good PC, you have to electrostatically apply it to get it to adhere.

    Something I do after the tub shake is dump the whole contents on a cookie sheet. I grab one end and shake it gently back and forth to make the casts roll in the powder. That supercoats the sides where they bump into each other in the tub and leave bare marks. Mine coat so thick I have to tap each cast on the edge of the pan to knock the excess PC off.



    I use a black gloss mixed 50-50 with a non gloss white by Sherwin Williams...together they do a fine job. I used to coat in multiple colors but so many bowls and BB's or poly-pellets were required that it got to be too much. I gave all the colors to a NEWB back east.
    Now all I PC with is my 'Old Lead' blend...each time I add a little PC to the tub the color of grey changes...that's all the variety I need.

    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

    Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    Looking Good How do the Candy Apples do
    NRA Endowment

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    El Dorado County, N. Ca.
    Posts
    6,234
    I never tried any candy type stuff.
    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

    Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    Quote Originally Posted by OS OK View Post
    I never tried any candy type stuff.
    Never worked well for me till I went with electrostatic.
    NRA Endowment

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    El Dorado County, N. Ca.
    Posts
    6,234
    Quote Originally Posted by dave 45-90 View Post
    Never worked well for me till I went with electrostatic.
    I think those colors are just beautiful,



    but between metal working, wood working, casting & loading (and me being a 'pack rat') I just don't have any room for a spray rig and small booth in the shop. All 3 garages are stuffed full. Besides I'm lazy about the coatings anymore, I just want to get them done, heck after all it's just a lube job we are doing.
    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

    Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy dave 45-90's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    122
    Real beauties u have there
    NRA Endowment

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    El Dorado County, N. Ca.
    Posts
    6,234
    Quote Originally Posted by dave 45-90 View Post
    Real beauties u have there
    They aren't mine Dave...I copied the picture from somewhere? I wanted to keep it because they were so dang beautiful! If I could do that without electrostatic gear, I'd be all over it.
    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

    Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy BC17A's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Wild West
    Posts
    171
    Quote Originally Posted by dave 45-90 View Post
    The Boolit liner upper
    The gun. Harbor Freight
    The pans WWorld
    Turntable Amazon
    Brass rod. Mcmaster. I machined and threaded the end of brass rod . Used brass tube as sleeve
    Plastic storage container WWorld
    Powder Fleabay
    Dave, how close can you put the boolits next to each other and still get good powder coverage down to the base? I really like your tub rig and might try it with a 5gal bucket.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master hickfu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Salem Oregon
    Posts
    835
    I like to use an hexagon shaped tub from Costco that had jelly beans in it. I just dump in bullets about half way and pour in a couple tablespoons of powder (no BB's) and put it into my tumbler for around an hour. They are usually perfectly coated and you cant wipe it off if you tried.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20201008_180718.jpg 
Views:	21 
Size:	40.6 KB 
ID:	288708
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20201008_180739.jpg 
Views:	19 
Size:	44.1 KB 
ID:	288707

    If Im in a hurry I use a cool whip container (still no BBs) with a little bit of powder and I swirl and turn for a few minutes. They usually dont turn out fully covered but it you wear the nitrile gloves from harbor freight you can turn the bullets in your fingers and it coats the rest of the bullet, even in the grooves.
    cant find the pic afterwards but here is what they look like in the cool whip container.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	cool whip.jpg 
Views:	28 
Size:	96.8 KB 
ID:	288709
    I just pick them up with the gloves and roll them between my fingers until fully coated and bake for 45 minutes.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
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"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check