PC'd a few today.

Beagle333 · February 1, 2014, 11:14 PM

'Coated a few today. Here is the coating facility, ready for production.

I did 320 today while I was smoking some chicken on the Big Green Egg (the base can seen behind the toaster in the first pic)
One of these days I really gotta go fetch my 3-level convection toaster that I bought on Craigslist.
The darker ones had some blue still in the cup when I added red. I had some penta, some cup and some deep HPs.

These are from a NOE 358429 mold.

David Bachelder · February 2, 2014, 09:06 AM

Are you tumble coating them or spraying them?

Are you using a solvent or are you dry tumbling by any chance?

Please describe your method.

Beagle333 · February 2, 2014, 09:20 AM

Electrostatic spraying with a HF gun.

floydster · February 2, 2014, 09:29 AM

Beagle, your bullets always look amazing!!

At what PSI are you spraying??

Also what tip are you using??

I just bought the HF gun and havn't tried it out yet, however I did powder dry coat some bullets, they can out ok but not like using the PC gun.

Thanks for any input

Beagle333 · February 2, 2014, 10:04 AM

I'm using about 20psi. It varies from user to user though, because lots of the guys are spraying at 12 and some at 30. I think it varies due to hose size, length, where the regulator is, and how accurate a $6 regulator is.

I was using the small tip when I first got it, but I find that I don't need any diffusion of the airstream so I took it off and do not have anything but the bare center electrode now. I think the diffuser tips are mostly for spraying a pattern, such as for a hotrod fender or motorcycle gas tank. For spraying a line of bullets in a row, I want a fairly concentrated spray (like a regular can of spray paint) and I just wave it back and forth like I was spraying a picket fence or some such until I get it all coated. I do have to reach over and spray from the back and sides to get all of the lead coated evenly. You can't have any lead on the sides visible through the coating. Have fun with it!

floydster · February 2, 2014, 10:52 AM

Thanks Beagle for the help, can't wait to get started--however it's still -20 below here so it takes 6 hrs. to heat up the shop, have to wait till it warms up a might here--maybe some time it June

David Bachelder · February 2, 2014, 03:37 PM

Seems like this is the next step in bullet lube. Sounds cool to me, I hope it does take over the smoky waxes and Alox.

I ordered some of the paint from Harbor Freight and will try the "Shake And Bake" method. I found a toaster oven at a resale shop for 10 bucks yesterday. I'd like for the bullets to look good but I will place function above aesthetics.

So far I have $25.34 invested.

Beagle333's bullets look great. I doubt if mine will be that nice looking.

Maybe I'll spring for the sprayer?

Beagle333 · February 2, 2014, 03:52 PM

I do dry tumble sometimes..... such as last week when my compressor was broken, or when it's too windy to spray. They aren't as smooth looking (my experience), but I cannot tell the difference in loading or shooting, and the target and chrony seem just as indifferent as well! Have fun with PC!

Rangefinder · February 3, 2014, 07:44 PM

Yup, you're gonna need that front-end loader...

Looking good, chief!

David Bachelder · February 9, 2014, 04:48 PM

Had my first shot at tumble powder coating. Evidently I suck at it. I couldn't get close to an even coat. I have bare spots on some of the bullets.

I guess I'll spring for the HF Sprayer.

Beagle333 · February 9, 2014, 07:26 PM

Tumbling does work, and shoots great as well, but it takes the right powder and the right touch with amount of time to tumble, and you gotta do it twice per load.
You'll love the sprayer!!!! 100% perfect every time!

Vance · February 9, 2014, 08:12 PM

I only do one dry tumble coat and get a fine finished bullet. The powder I use is from Powder by the Pound and is Virginia Tech Orange.

Of coarse the es gun method is good. These are the same powder coated from my es gun.

There is a slight difference. The es gun does not coat the bottoms and the tumble method does. I do the dry tumble method because it is easier, not because the bottoms get coated. That's just a bonus.

David Bachelder · February 9, 2014, 10:24 PM

Maybe I had poor results because I was using Harbor Freight Powder?

Beagle333 · February 9, 2014, 10:32 PM

No, that's not it. HF powder is one of the favorites, with red and white being the best for dry tumble. I have tumbled with red and got good results, and even a good 100% coverage after 2 coat/bake cycles.

totalloser · February 9, 2014, 11:25 PM

Black yellow and red set on nail point electrostatic method. Hollow point resting on top of nail energizing it means almost the entire bullet gets coated. Not mine, pillaged pic.

David Bachelder · February 10, 2014, 05:24 PM

OK

So my pretty nasty looking powder coat job got a lot better when I put on the second coat. Huge improvement, but still room for more. I cooked these sitting on aluminum foil rather than parchment paper as I did the first go around. Since there was a first coat the bullets all stuck to the foil. Most of them have a pretty little shiny butt where the foil is.

I had no idea that a second coat was needed.

Went ahead and ordered the spray gun ..... I figure I'll need it. If this works out for me, and I think it will. I'll be able to use my bullet feeder dies again. Alox and bullet feeder tubes and dies don't get along well.

loademwell · February 10, 2014, 05:36 PM

WOW! I have never heard of this. Glad I looked at it!
Questions: does this take away the lead fouling?
Could you use an air brush?

Post a quick video for me on you tube will ya. VERY VERY interested.

Beagle333 · February 10, 2014, 07:32 PM

Pretty much everything you want to know.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ostatic-Method
Toward the end, most of us evolved away from cleaning the bullets with thinner or acetone. I don't do it and mine look okay.

If it's not in that thread, read the parent forum to find a different thread with topic of your choice regarding powdercoating.

It's the future!

loademwell · February 10, 2014, 09:53 PM

Wow! Thanks! So if you do this, you do not have to resize your bullet or lube it?

Beagle333 · February 10, 2014, 10:04 PM

Resize yes, lube no. The coating adds about .002 to the diameter and it sizes back down very easily through a Lee die. They are slippery and require almost no effort to size.

David Bachelder · February 11, 2014, 03:29 PM

Beagle

How do you keep the hollow points from filling with powder?

Bake them perched on a nail?

Beagle333 · February 11, 2014, 07:25 PM

It's electrostatic spraying and it swirls around the bullets and sticks to the sides as well as to the top. It isn't a cloud that just relies on gravity to "settle" on the bullets. I just spray it at an angle from the side, but fairly steep, and you do have to realize that after the powder bakes down - it is only .001 thick. That isn't enough to fill up a HP. If perhaps you were to drown them from the top (spraying straight down), you might fill up some of the HP but the powder would still cook down and I doubt it'd be even 1/3 filled when cured. The powder just swirls around the bullets and sticks mostly to the outside, since they are electrically attractive during the process. The HP is coated around the top on the inside, but not always. Sometimes it's bare lead colored in the bottom 1/3 of the hollow.

Beagle333 · February 11, 2014, 07:31 PM

Here's how they look after spraying:

And after baking:

This is a candy color, not HF red. The candy colors, for some reason, wicks up to the bullet when it is curing. HF red doesn't do that during baking.

Beagle333 · February 11, 2014, 07:39 PM

Here are some regular (non-candy) colors after baking:

These are straight HF red: (my favorite)

Rangefinder · February 11, 2014, 07:47 PM

Beagle, how are you getting your lead these days? Freight car??

I'm jealous of the amount of fun you're having lately...

February 1, 2014, 11:14 PM	#1
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	PC'd a few today. 'Coated a few today. Here is the coating facility, ready for production. I did 320 today while I was smoking some chicken on the Big Green Egg (the base can seen behind the toaster in the first pic) One of these days I really gotta go fetch my 3-level convection toaster that I bought on Craigslist. The darker ones had some blue still in the cup when I added red. I had some penta, some cup and some deep HPs. These are from a NOE 358429 mold. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 2, 2014, 09:06 AM	#2
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Are you tumble coating them or spraying them? Are you using a solvent or are you dry tumbling by any chance? Please describe your method. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

February 2, 2014, 09:20 AM	#3
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Electrostatic spraying with a HF gun. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 2, 2014, 10:04 AM	#5
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	I'm using about 20psi. It varies from user to user though, because lots of the guys are spraying at 12 and some at 30. I think it varies due to hose size, length, where the regulator is, and how accurate a $6 regulator is. I was using the small tip when I first got it, but I find that I don't need any diffusion of the airstream so I took it off and do not have anything but the bare center electrode now. I think the diffuser tips are mostly for spraying a pattern, such as for a hotrod fender or motorcycle gas tank. For spraying a line of bullets in a row, I want a fairly concentrated spray (like a regular can of spray paint) and I just wave it back and forth like I was spraying a picket fence or some such until I get it all coated. I do have to reach over and spray from the back and sides to get all of the lead coated evenly. You can't have any lead on the sides visible through the coating. Have fun with it! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 2, 2014, 03:37 PM	#7
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Seems like this is the next step in bullet lube. Sounds cool to me, I hope it does take over the smoky waxes and Alox. I ordered some of the paint from Harbor Freight and will try the "Shake And Bake" method. I found a toaster oven at a resale shop for 10 bucks yesterday. I'd like for the bullets to look good but I will place function above aesthetics. So far I have $25.34 invested. Beagle333's bullets look great. I doubt if mine will be that nice looking. Maybe I'll spring for the sprayer? __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

February 2, 2014, 09:29 AM	#4
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	Beagle, your bullets always look amazing!! At what PSI are you spraying?? Also what tip are you using?? I just bought the HF gun and havn't tried it out yet, however I did powder dry coat some bullets, they can out ok but not like using the PC gun. Thanks for any input

February 2, 2014, 10:52 AM	#6
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	Thanks Beagle for the help, can't wait to get started--however it's still -20 below here so it takes 6 hrs. to heat up the shop, have to wait till it warms up a might here--maybe some time it June

February 2, 2014, 03:52 PM	#8
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	I do dry tumble sometimes..... such as last week when my compressor was broken, or when it's too windy to spray. They aren't as smooth looking (my experience), but I cannot tell the difference in loading or shooting, and the target and chrony seem just as indifferent as well! Have fun with PC! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 3, 2014, 07:44 PM	#9
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	Yup, you're gonna need that front-end loader... Looking good, chief! __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

February 9, 2014, 04:48 PM	#10
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Had my first shot at tumble powder coating. Evidently I suck at it. I couldn't get close to an even coat. I have bare spots on some of the bullets. I guess I'll spring for the HF Sprayer. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

February 9, 2014, 07:26 PM	#11
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Tumbling does work, and shoots great as well, but it takes the right powder and the right touch with amount of time to tumble, and you gotta do it twice per load. You'll love the sprayer!!!! 100% perfect every time! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 9, 2014, 08:12 PM	#12
Vance Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: North Bend, OR Posts: 743	I only do one dry tumble coat and get a fine finished bullet. The powder I use is from Powder by the Pound and is Virginia Tech Orange. Of coarse the es gun method is good. These are the same powder coated from my es gun. There is a slight difference. The es gun does not coat the bottoms and the tumble method does. I do the dry tumble method because it is easier, not because the bottoms get coated. That's just a bonus.

February 9, 2014, 10:24 PM	#13
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Maybe I had poor results because I was using Harbor Freight Powder? __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

February 9, 2014, 10:32 PM	#14
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	No, that's not it. HF powder is one of the favorites, with red and white being the best for dry tumble. I have tumbled with red and got good results, and even a good 100% coverage after 2 coat/bake cycles. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 9, 2014, 11:25 PM	#15
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	Black yellow and red set on nail point electrostatic method. Hollow point resting on top of nail energizing it means almost the entire bullet gets coated. Not mine, pillaged pic. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree. Last edited by Shane Tuttle; March 25, 2014 at 07:34 PM. Reason: Bullet...

February 10, 2014, 05:24 PM	#16
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	OK So my pretty nasty looking powder coat job got a lot better when I put on the second coat. Huge improvement, but still room for more. I cooked these sitting on aluminum foil rather than parchment paper as I did the first go around. Since there was a first coat the bullets all stuck to the foil. Most of them have a pretty little shiny butt where the foil is. I had no idea that a second coat was needed. Went ahead and ordered the spray gun ..... I figure I'll need it. If this works out for me, and I think it will. I'll be able to use my bullet feeder dies again. Alox and bullet feeder tubes and dies don't get along well. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06 Last edited by David Bachelder; February 10, 2014 at 07:08 PM.

February 10, 2014, 05:36 PM	#17
loademwell Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2012 Posts: 164	WOW! I have never heard of this. Glad I looked at it! Questions: does this take away the lead fouling? Could you use an air brush? Post a quick video for me on you tube will ya. VERY VERY interested.

February 10, 2014, 07:32 PM	#18
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Pretty much everything you want to know. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ostatic-Method Toward the end, most of us evolved away from cleaning the bullets with thinner or acetone. I don't do it and mine look okay. If it's not in that thread, read the parent forum to find a different thread with topic of your choice regarding powdercoating. It's the future! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 10, 2014, 09:53 PM	#19
loademwell Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2012 Posts: 164	Wow! Thanks! So if you do this, you do not have to resize your bullet or lube it?

February 10, 2014, 10:04 PM	#20
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Resize yes, lube no. The coating adds about .002 to the diameter and it sizes back down very easily through a Lee die. They are slippery and require almost no effort to size. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 11, 2014, 03:29 PM	#21
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Beagle How do you keep the hollow points from filling with powder? Bake them perched on a nail? __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

February 11, 2014, 07:25 PM	#22
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	It's electrostatic spraying and it swirls around the bullets and sticks to the sides as well as to the top. It isn't a cloud that just relies on gravity to "settle" on the bullets. I just spray it at an angle from the side, but fairly steep, and you do have to realize that after the powder bakes down - it is only .001 thick. That isn't enough to fill up a HP. If perhaps you were to drown them from the top (spraying straight down), you might fill up some of the HP but the powder would still cook down and I doubt it'd be even 1/3 filled when cured. The powder just swirls around the bullets and sticks mostly to the outside, since they are electrically attractive during the process. The HP is coated around the top on the inside, but not always. Sometimes it's bare lead colored in the bottom 1/3 of the hollow. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 11, 2014, 07:31 PM	#23
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Here's how they look after spraying: And after baking: This is a candy color, not HF red. The candy colors, for some reason, wicks up to the bullet when it is curing. HF red doesn't do that during baking. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 11, 2014, 07:39 PM	#24
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Here are some regular (non-candy) colors after baking: These are straight HF red: (my favorite) __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

February 11, 2014, 07:47 PM	#25
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	Beagle, how are you getting your lead these days? Freight car?? I'm jealous of the amount of fun you're having lately... __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.