Things to Look For In a Powdercoating Tumbler

[Daekar]

For a number of years I've been using the same Daisy sour cream container and Airsoft BBs for coating. It works well and reliably, but it's not fast because I can't really put that many bullets in the container without having them rub against each other and cause large bare spots. I'm looking at getting a something to do dry tumbling, but having little knowledge of vibratory tumblers I feel certain there are things that I wouldn't know to look for.

In my mind, I was imagining getting some additional BBs to make sure the tumbler was sufficiently buffered and then basically treating the thing like an automated sour cream container shaker. Is that basically what it looks like in practice? What should I look for or avoid in a tumbler?

[Recycled bullet]

I would recommend the large Rubbermaid casserole container with the number five and the triangle printed into the bottom. Add bullets and powder swirl those bullets like cars around a racetrack and every lap that they go pick up more and more powder till 30 seconds later they're all saturated, then dump them into your baking tray and then bake till the powder is cooked to your satisfaction. I can coat hundreds at a time. I can probably coat more than I'm capable of cooking in the oven at a given time.

[fordwannabe]

Just about any case tumbler will work buuuuut you have to have a good way to clean it when you change power colors. I have been using plastic containers for many years but since I already have a Frankfort arsenal steel pin roller I was thinking of making a couple large diameter tubes of PVC to put on that and see how it works. Since I am pretty satisfied with my current setup I am waiting for the right deal on the PVC and caps.

[Walter Laich]

I would recommend the large Rubbermaid casserole container with the number five and the triangle printed into the bottom. Add bullets and powder swirl those bullets like cars around a racetrack and every lap that they go pick up more and more powder till 30 seconds later they're all saturated, then dump them into your baking tray and then bake till the powder is cooked to your satisfaction. I can coat hundreds at a time. I can probably coat more than I'm capable of cooking in the oven at a given time.

Rubbermaid is my tub of choice, too. I use BBs and have a colander with its holes enlarged so the BBs and powder drop through, then bullets on my trays.

30 seconds is also my time to swirl.

[Recycled bullet]

Rubbermaid is my tub of choice, too. I use BBs and have a colander with its holes enlarged so the BBs and powder drop through, then bullets on my trays.

30 seconds is also my time to swirl.

I've never used the bbs . I dump the powdered bullets directly into a hardware cloth tray over piece of newspaper to catch the excess. I tried to put exactly the right amount of powder to minimize wastage. I do not reuse powder ever.

[The Dar]

I'm using an old Midway 1292 tumbler with black air soft BB's. Works great. I think any vibratory tumbler would work.

[jsizemore]

I use a 1292 too. No bb's.Just powder and bullets. Got one mesh tray to separate the loose powder. Do 3.5lbs (or there abouts) bullets at a time for 4 minutes vibrating time. I bake 14lbs of bullets at one time

[oldsman]

I use a lyman with a small tub with clear lid , I do not use bbs . To clean I just wipe out with paper towels then a quick blast of air , clean like new . When not in use I place styrofoam peanuts in bowl

[fredj338]

Decent size for me holds 100 bullets for shake & bake. The lid is important, so I use the screw on lid type. I do use BBs.

[Lakehouse2012]

Folgers classic roast 2lb plastic container has worked great for me. I've never had to use BBs to get the PC to stick. I shake about 300 (9mm - 140g) projectiles at a time for about 20 seconds and I'm ready to stand them all up.

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[Kraschenbirn]

I've been using an old Thumbler Model B rotary tumbler since about my third or fourth batch of powder coat. Picked up the tumbler $4 from a Humane Society rummage sale; cleaned it up, replaced the drive belt and rubber rollers, and been using it that way ever since. Depending upon caliber can run 80-150 boolits at a time...which is just about the capacity of the trays for each of my (2) Goodwill Toaster ovens. Once set up, can turn out 400-500 boolits an hour.

Bill