WidenersLoad DataTitan ReloadingReloading Everything
Inline FabricationRotoMetals2MidSouth Shooters SupplyLee Precision
Repackbox
Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Trouble with Eastwood machine gray?

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    6

    Trouble with Eastwood machine gray?

    I'm new to casting and powder coating, so I started off with lots of research. The top foolproof powder seemed to be Eastwood ford light blue, which works great for me. However, I wanted a more traditional looking color and found many people said Eastwood machine gray worked well. I'm using rubber maid #5 containers with air soft bbs to dry tumble, but can't get good coverage with the gray. See attached picture.

    Any suggestions or should I give up on the machine gray?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20220626_164207.jpg 
Views:	36 
Size:	31.9 KB 
ID:	301679

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy 1eyedjack's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    too close to Walmart Corporate
    Posts
    107
    Has this one been baked for 20 minutes at 400 degrees? Looks to be just coated & not baked yet, some colors have a lot of clear that don't look covered but after baking appear more covered
    Some colors just do weird things and tumble lube designs become almost smooth after sizing

  3. #3
    Boolit Master gpidaho's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Beautiful Idaho
    Posts
    2,644
    G&Es In my own experience and I've been powder coating 10+ years Eastwood semi-gloss clear gives the best covering of any powder I've used and is very Shake N Bake friendly. That gives a natural "cast bullet look" I like to add a pinch of blue or green powder for an opaque look. Welcome to the forum! Gp

  4. #4
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    6
    Yes, the pictured bullet has been baked, about 5 minutes until they got up to 400 and the powder turned glossy, then 20 minutes more. I tried scratching the areas that didn't look covered, and they easily scratched with my fingernail, so not covered with clear in my opinion.

    I was hesitant to go with clear powder for fear of being able to tell if the coverage was good.

    Here's a bullet from the same casting batch, baked at the same time, with the ford light blue.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20220701_142615.jpg 
Views:	24 
Size:	26.8 KB 
ID:	301687

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Las Cruces, NM
    Posts
    4,535
    Try clear. I was skeptical because I could not really see the coating after baking. But, it worked REALLY well for me. It is also a tad thinner so not as hard to size.

    Just make sure the bullet is coated before baking. Easy to do with the white color of the powder before it bakes.

  6. #6
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    6
    Any suggestions to try to get the gray I already have to work? Should I try without the air soft bbs? Try adding more powder to the bowl? Try different bowls? Anything like that? Or should I give up on it?

    I tried rubbing the bowl on carpet and even my hair, trying to build more static. I'm doing the tumbling in the air conditioned house. Not sure what else to try.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master slim1836's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Burleson, TX
    Posts
    2,120
    Have you tried heating the boolits before powder coating for better adhesion? Just guessing, but it may help.

    Slim
    JUST GOTTA LOVE THIS JOINT.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    JAX, FL
    Posts
    1,228
    I use a lot of clear but I always add a little of something, almost always some black. one tablespoon of clear plus a heaping quarter teaspoon of black is my magic formula. do a search for me in the pc’d boolits sticky, post 695.
    Last edited by oley55; 07-02-2022 at 08:51 PM.
    “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” Ronald Reagan


  9. #9
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    6
    Thanks for the tips everyone. I had not tried pre-heating the boolits, so I tried that last night. Unfortunately it didn't work any better. I then tried mixing in some of the blue that works so well, but still didn't get any better. It's like the gray separates instead of flowing together. They look like they might be ok when pulled from the powder, bet then turn splotchy in the oven. I'm giving up on the gray and ordering some different powder.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,524
    I've got some EW Machine Gray on order.
    `Will let you know.....

  11. #11
    Boolit Master derek45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    739
    This is Eastwood perriwinkle gray.

    My wife and daughters laughed out loud when I said I didn't realize it would have a purple tint.

    It coats well ( tupperwear shake n bake )



    .


    NRA LIFE Member

    USPSA/IPSC

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    JAX, FL
    Posts
    1,228
    what's them pink plastic tabs under the brass caliber buttons for?
    “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” Ronald Reagan


  13. #13
    Boolit Master derek45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    739
    Quote Originally Posted by oley55 View Post
    what's them pink plastic tabs under the brass caliber buttons for?
    Makes them easier to grab, and harder to loose when one drops on the floor.

    made them out of an old spiral bound notebook, . . . . in breast cancer awareness color
    .


    NRA LIFE Member

    USPSA/IPSC

  14. #14
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,524
    `Got the Eastwood_MachineGray PC this AM in the mail.
    Some Lyman 452190/30-1 bullets that I cast 2-3 years ago

    90sec Shake w/ AirSoft balls gave what appears to the eye as good coverage

    450° Flow/400° bake in PID-controlled toaster oven gave me what -- on close inspection
    -- appears to be runny mashed-potato slurry surface effect.


    Certainly shootable/no problem.
    But it ain't no Ford Light Blue.

  15. #15
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    6
    Thanks for following up with your results! Looks very similar to the results I got. I wonder if they have changed that powder formulation. I saw smoke no longer sells copper vein because they changed it and it no longer works with dry tumble. From the way it was explained, sounds very similar to what is happening with this Eastwood machine gray now.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy KVO's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Round Rock, TX
    Posts
    313
    It would be a shame if they changed the formulation. That's one of my best dry tumble colors...
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screenshot_20220715-133149_Gallery.jpg 
Views:	29 
Size:	58.7 KB 
ID:	302147

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    North Central
    Posts
    2,514
    It almost looks like it went on too thick. Maybe try shaking it without the airsoft beads.
    "If everyone is thinking the same thing it means someone is not thinking"

    "A rat became the unit of currency"

  18. #18
    Boolit Master Rapier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    NW Florida
    Posts
    1,451
    Sure hope no change because I just got in a new container of black. And I immediately found my old container of black, plus my old pellets. I just knew how that story of lost stuff would end.
    When you can not find something, after moving, just order a new……..the old will be right where you put it.
    “There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
    Cervantes

    “Never give up, never quit.”
    Robert Rogers
    Roger’s Rangers

    There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
    Will Rogers

  19. #19
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,524
    Also tried the acetone-slurry method (leaves a very thin coat after drying/before baking)
    Same mashed-potato slurry effect upon baking as Post #14

    `tis a puzzlement...
    Last edited by mehavey; 07-16-2022 at 07:57 AM.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master RKJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    1,119
    I can't offer any help with the Eastwood Gray but if you want to try Smoke's powder I mix silver and his Jet black and get a very nice gray color that (to me) looks like lead. Just a thought.

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