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Posted: 9/26/2020 10:13:55 PM EDT
[#1]
400 lbs someone going to be some major casting ... nice
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Posted: 9/26/2020 11:01:04 PM EDT
[#2]
Smokes powder from that guy over at Castbooliits.com. Eastwoods Ford blue is another good one. For the containers to shake in i just got some storage containers from Walmart with the correct (5)? Number in the recycing symbol. Smokes also slls the black airsoft pellets that help the process along.
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Posted: 9/26/2020 11:02:59 PM EDT
[#3]
Ive heard the Harbor Freight powder is not very good.
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Posted: 9/26/2020 11:09:12 PM EDT
[#4]
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Posted: 9/26/2020 11:19:17 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Heres Smokes page. His powders work well. I like the "get 3 colors with a pound" of powder. Lets you experiment and see what his colors look like.   Red, white, and blue for patriot ammo. Carolina blue here.  John Deere green and magenta (purple)  Has a tan he calls "bacon grease", I call FDE.  Silver top center, Black bottom right. Ok, I'm done. |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 12:28:26 AM EDT
[#6]
+1 for "SMOKES"
and I use a semi disposable tupperwear bin with a triangle and #5 posted on the bottom. 
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Posted: 9/27/2020 2:09:09 AM EDT
[#7]
Eastwood's Ford Light Blue powdercoat works great. Don't waste your money on Harbor Freight garbage powdercoat. The FLB was like $14 shipped off Ebay.
I just PC'd my first batch ever the other day using the Ford Light Blue. They came out looking like I've been doing it for 20 years. Make sure you know the temp settings on your toaster oven. My Wally World temp settings were slightly high on my first batch, and left some little silver and blue blobs where there use to be bullets lol. 400 degrees definitely was not 400 degrees. I set it at 250 (or whatever that equaled), and cooked for 20 minutes after the powder started to melt. |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 10:06:43 AM EDT
[#8]
45ACP BULLETS
Thanks, I'll either get the stuff from Smokes or the Ford Light Blue from eBay I do have a RCBS lube/sizer, the problem is using the wheelweight allow results in the overall diameter for say 45ACP to be around .454 or even .455 and it sizes from pushing down from the top, which means the excess lead flows upward making the projectile sort of a like a wadcutter when it should be round and so the round doesn't chamber. So I bought a Lee sizer, the thing with red contraption which sizes by pushing the bullet up nose first so the lead flows downward, coated with Liquid Alox to lube them before sizing. Results look good:  Attached FileI could coat these again with Liquid Alox and be done with it, the ones in the picture I'll have to. But powder coating looks fun and less messy and I have a lot more to do. This is what I cast so far, 1/2 a Tidy Cat bucket so far. Have enough lead to do two more full buckets  Attached File |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 10:13:12 AM EDT
[#9]
If you powder coat first, you don’t need any lube to run the bullets through the lee sizer.
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Posted: 9/27/2020 10:30:34 AM EDT
[#10]
Avoid harbor freight powder. I use powderbythepound, any quality powder should be ok.
Size only after coating, not before. Coat as soon as possible after casting as the coat will stick better. I do same or next day coating and never have problems. I use unique lube and just roll the bullets around in an old towel after sizing to clean them. I use a basket I made from hardware cloth, fold to max size to fit in your oven and use safety wire to sew it together. Gets the most bullets in each baking period. |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 10:32:04 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: If you powder coat first, you don't need any lube to run the bullets through the lee sizer. This. I was referring to the ones I already sized using Liquid Alox, those I'll have to lube again vs powder coating. The unsized bullets I'll powder coat then size, no Alox involved |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 1:51:49 PM EDT
[#12]
I would never use lube on a bullet that I intended to powder coat.
So much hassle to remove lube so PC will stick. I size bullets after PC. |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 8:00:11 PM EDT
[#13]
POWDER ORDER
Quote HistoryQuoted: Eastwood's Ford Light Blue powdercoat works great. Don't waste your money on Harbor Freight garbage powdercoat. The FLB was like $14 shipped off Ebay. I just PC'd my first batch ever the other day using the Ford Light Blue. They came out looking like I've been doing it for 20 years. Make sure you know the temp settings on your toaster oven. My Wally World temp settings were slightly high on my first batch, and left some little silver and blue blobs where there use to be bullets lol. 400 degrees definitely was not 400 degrees. I set it at 250 (or whatever that equaled), and cooked for 20 minutes after the powder started to melt.  Attached File |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 9:59:11 PM EDT
[#14]
I will be interested on how that works, good price.
 I hang out on Cast Boolets, and wanted to support one of the good guys there. So that's where I'm coming from. |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 10:19:02 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I will be interested on how that works, good price. I hang out on Cast Boolets, and wanted to support one of the good guys there. So that's where I'm coming from. Same here. Also, smoke will sell you the BBs too and it doesn't add any shopping costs. |
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Posted: 9/27/2020 10:21:33 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I would never use lube on a bullet that I intended to powder coat. So much hassle to remove lube so PC will stick. I size bullets after PC. @dryflash3 It's not bad at all to remove lube, I often size before and after powder coating. If I'm sizing down 2-3 thou or so lower than the bullet casts i find that's too much to size after powder coating without risking shaving off some powder. Quick dip in 99% IPA to dissolve most of the lube, then a quick dip in acetone to facilitate quick drying and you're done. I setup two quart size Tupperware containers and throw in a handful in IPA, stir it around, then dip them out by hand and transfer them to the acetone, another quick stir and pull them out and throw them on a towel and dry with a fan. Maybe takes 10min to do a few hundred rounds. |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 12:00:28 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @dryflash3 It's not bad at all to remove lube, I often size before and after powder coating. If I'm sizing down 2-3 thou or so lower than the bullet casts i find that's too much to size after powder coating without risking shaving off some powder. Quick dip in 99% IPA to dissolve most of the lube, then a quick dip in acetone to facilitate quick drying and you're done. I setup two quart size Tupperware containers and throw in a handful in IPA, stir it around, then dip them out by hand and transfer them to the acetone, another quick stir and pull them out and throw them on a towel and dry with a fan. Maybe takes 10min to do a few hundred rounds. Was a pita to remove the lube, but I got it done. I'm not adding any lube to my bullets thanks. |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 7:31:44 AM EDT
[#18]
How meticulous do you have to be keeping the bullets separate when baking the pc on? Do they stick together?
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Posted: 9/28/2020 8:19:19 AM EDT
[#19]
Can someone explain the process please. I cast but have never used powder coat for anything. When do you lube or does this replace lube?
Chinook3 |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 10:26:50 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How meticulous do you have to be keeping the bullets separate when baking the pc on? Do they stick together? i saw a youtube vid, where he dumped them all on a tray and baked them in a big gooey clump after 20mins @400* he poured the whole mess into a big bucket of water i tried it once with LEE 358-158 FP and 90% looked fine . i typically use blue nitrile gloves and place them on a paper thin silicone baking sheet : |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 10:32:17 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Can someone explain the process please. I cast but have never used powder coat for anything. When do you lube or does this replace lube? Chinook3 cast like normal put a few tablespoons of powder coat into a tupperwear bin....find the kind with a triangle 5 logo, that type builds static add cast bullets and tighten lid shake like hell for 3mins pic them out tap off excess powder set on a silicone tray and toaster oven bake 400* 20mins allow to cool and push them thru a LEE sizer die done  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 11:59:04 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Can someone explain the process please. I cast but have never used powder coat for anything. When do you lube or does this replace lube? Chinook3 http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?184-Coatings-and-Alternatives Go here and read the stickies. No lube totally replaces it with a polymer jacket. |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 5:52:03 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: cast like normal put a few tablespoons of powder coat into a tupperwear bin....find the kind with a triangle 5 logo, that type builds static add cast bullets and tighten lid shake like hell for 3mins I shake for 30 seconds... more of a swirl. The directions I used at first said swirl 30 seconds then a few hard up and down shakes to remove excess. I cracked the container when I shook up and down. Now I swirl then pick them out with big tweezers. Ones with too much on them I tap on the container. pic them out tap off excess powder set on a silicone tray and toaster oven bake 400* 20mins I use non stick aluminum foil. allow to cool and push them thru a LEE sizer die done https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/2275/024F0163-BD2D-46A4-8B60-57E23D8BEA20_jpe-1610583.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/2275/5C88FF37-F4E1-43AE-B88B-CEEDC0B3FE6D_jpe-1610585.JPG ETA: Adding some black air soft pellets supposedly helps build static. I think it also helps keep the bullets from knocking the powder coat off of one another. |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 9:24:42 PM EDT
[#24]
BASKET ORDER
Eastwood powder should arrive Wednesday, wow that was fast. After watching a lot of youtube vids and posts people have those little wire mesh baskets for their toaster ovens. After searching the entire interwebz, found these, fits my toaster oven perfectly, tested by cutting a piece of paper 6"x9" and putting in the oven https://www.ebay.com/itm/263984005312  Attached File |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 9:38:56 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Eastwood powder should arrive Wednesday, wow that was fast. After watching a lot of youtube vids and posts people have those little wire mesh baskets for their toaster ovens. After searching the entire interwebz, found these, fits my toaster oven perfectly, tested by cutting a piece of paper 6"x9" and putting in the oven https://www.ebay.com/itm/263984005312 https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/59119/Screenshot_2020-09-28_212342_jpg-1611474.JPG Same company sells this one n silver. I’m wondering if it would be better than white as far as paint burning smell goes. Silver may be clear coated or something so maybe not. |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 9:59:21 PM EDT
[#26]
yeah I fucked up, canceled that and ordered the silver one. The description for the white one includes
It has a Great looking silver finish with an extra clean look. If not I'll organize my junk drawer with them or use them as Xmas gifts. I didn't want order a big roll of chicken wire and use less than a square foot of it and then store the left over roll in the garage only to toss it out years down the road, how junk accumulates |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 10:40:04 PM EDT
[#27]
any baking tray, lined with cheap thin ebay silicone baking sheet works great after a while, the powder coat will start to build up on the wire mesh stuff I really like the SMOKES clear It goes on like powdered sugar and bakes clear. you can see the silicone baking sheet, it's woodgrain color, like Clark W. Griswald's station wagon.  after    |
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Posted: 9/28/2020 10:43:25 PM EDT
[#28]
also, I have run powder coated bullets with max loads of H110/win296 or 2400 magnum powder to +1400fps and ZERO LEADING.   
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Posted: 10/1/2020 9:36:20 PM EDT
[#29]
BASKET
basket came in, perfect size. Bought 2 for $15 delivered. No paint, bare metal, a magnet sticks to it but not strongly, suggestive of stainless steel This isn't the $15 toaster oven but may end up using this one anyway because it's nasty despite my best cleaning efforts  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 10/1/2020 9:43:21 PM EDT
[#30]
Can't wait to see your first batch.
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Posted: 10/1/2020 9:54:06 PM EDT
[#31]
I’m curious if after a few heat cycles the mesh tray will still be flat enough on the bottom the so I can stand boolits up on end and put them in the oven without knocking them over.
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Posted: 10/1/2020 11:28:39 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'm curious if after a few heat cycles the mesh tray will still be flat enough on the bottom the so I can stand boolits up on end and put them in the oven without knocking them over. If needed a screen could cut up any wire meshing to fit the toaster over pan, no need to use the basket. My first batch will 10 bullets, then I'll size them, make dummy loads, see if they fit the case gage, then if they chamber in my guns. Powder coming next couple of days but won't mess with this until mid next week earliest. |
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Posted: 10/2/2020 1:50:03 AM EDT
[#33]
 Don't forget the hammer test. Should look like pic. If powder flakes off, no good. Also PC bullets take a shorter OAL to keep from sticking into the rifleing than an identical plain lead bullet. Do a dummy round to be sure. I had many issues when I started to PC. |
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Posted: 10/2/2020 10:28:45 AM EDT
[#34]
Eastwood is 10 minutes from my house...any benefit of ordering their powder from ebay vs just buying it directly from Eastwood?
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Posted: 10/2/2020 8:38:32 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: If you powder coat first, you don't need any lube to run the bullets through the lee sizer. It doesn't hurt anything that I know of. |
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Posted: 10/3/2020 1:22:27 AM EDT
[#36]
POWDER
Quote HistoryQuoted: Eastwood is 10 minutes from my house...any benefit of ordering their powder from ebay vs just buying it directly from Eastwood? The powder came today There's only two factors when ordering this powder on ebay vs picking up locally
Suspect price will be the same or less if picked up locally So pick up local:2 ebay: 0  Attached File |
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Posted: 10/11/2020 12:34:36 PM EDT
[#37]
FIRST BATCH
thought I'd give it a go with the new $15 cheapie toaster oven, goal is 10 good projectiles to size and make dummy rounds with  Attached FilePowder coating went well  Attached FileHumming along well it looks like  Attached File |
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Posted: 10/11/2020 12:38:48 PM EDT
[#38]
FIRST BATCH RESULTS
ruh roh!  Attached File Attached FileI had the toaster oven to 375F, after removing the bullets I found my grill thermometer and ran the toaster without any bullets  Attached FileI suspected the toaster's temp setting would be off but not over 100F  |
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Posted: 10/11/2020 12:44:53 PM EDT
[#39]
SECOND BATCH
OK I did another test batch, toaster's temp setting right at 300F, this time 11 more bullets and with thermometer The temp shot up to 475F again but looks like I caught it in time before they starting melting. The $15 toaster is useless, there's no working temp control, it's either OFF or MAX Second batch saved from runaway toaster:  Attached File |
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Posted: 10/11/2020 2:08:37 PM EDT
[#40]
All toaster ovens have to be checked for temp with a stove thermometer, when it's set make a mark with a Sharpie
so you know where the temp knob has to be set. I guess I was lucky, got mine at wally world for less than $20 and marked temp know. |
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Posted: 10/11/2020 4:29:22 PM EDT
[#41]
I bought my toaster oven at Goodwill, went there several times before they had any. I have a button that has a picture of a slice of pizza, that seems to be the hottest. It was only getting to 350 or so so I shimmed the temp sensor so it wasn’t inside the oven quite so far. That didn’t do it so I made a heat shield around it with foil and that got it close enough.
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Posted: 10/11/2020 4:42:13 PM EDT
[#42]
Next steps is to size the 45ACP projectiles, then do the dummy rounds. Unconverted my Dillon 550B that was set up for 40SW, haven't set it to 45ACP yet.
I'll probably use my other toaster oven for powder coating then buy a replacement for food use |
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Posted: 10/11/2020 5:27:46 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Next steps is to size the 45ACP projectiles, then do the dummy rounds. Unconverted my Dillon 550B that was set up for 40SW, haven't set it to 45ACP yet. I'll probably use my other toaster oven for powder coating then buy a replacement for food use Is there no lower setting on the new one? Might want to check the other one with a thermometer first. |
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Posted: 10/11/2020 9:31:48 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Is there no lower setting on the new one? Might want to check the other one with a thermometer first. Yes for now on pre-check with a thermometer |
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Posted: 10/12/2020 6:38:47 AM EDT
[#45]
I wonder if the cheap walmart oven is a lemon or if they are all like that. You could exchange it and see if you get better results then get your money back on that one if its a POS too.
ETA: I thought OP said he got the $15 oven at Walmart, which would make return and exchange easy. OP didn’t say where he got it. |
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Posted: 10/12/2020 7:40:21 AM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I wonder if the cheap walmart oven is a lemon or if they are all like that. Mine is from walmart, was on clearance for under $20. Mechanical thermostat and timer. Temperature markings are fairly accurate, 400f marking gives about 375f. I adjusted with a thermometer until I found the 400f setting and made a mark with a paint pen. |
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Posted: 10/12/2020 6:54:28 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I wonder if the cheap walmart oven is a lemon or if they are all like that. You could exchange it and see if you get better results then get your money back on that one if its a POS too. ETA: I thought OP said he got the $15 oven at Walmart, which would make return and exchange easy. OP didn't say where he got it. was on sale at Best Buy (now it's $29.99) and is past the return window. The oven does come with a 2 year warranty but to make the claim I'll have to spend $15 shipping to get a new $15 toaster oven. I didn't check it when I purchased it, just stashed it in the closet
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Posted: 10/12/2020 9:22:48 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted: i saw a youtube vid, where he dumped them all on a tray and baked them in a big gooey clump after 20mins @400* he poured the whole mess into a big bucket of water i tried it once with LEE 358-158 FP and 90% looked fine . i typically use blue nitrile gloves and place them on a paper thin silicone baking sheet : Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: How meticulous do you have to be keeping the bullets separate when baking the pc on? Do they stick together? i saw a youtube vid, where he dumped them all on a tray and baked them in a big gooey clump after 20mins @400* he poured the whole mess into a big bucket of water i tried it once with LEE 358-158 FP and 90% looked fine . i typically use blue nitrile gloves and place them on a paper thin silicone baking sheet : I have been doing it that way and it works great. Have to break a few apart. My powder coat is like 325 deg for 20 min though. I load for bulk plinking so this might not be the method for loading competition ammo. |
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Posted: 10/13/2020 2:48:18 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I’m curious if after a few heat cycles the mesh tray will still be flat enough on the bottom the so I can stand boolits up on end and put them in the oven without knocking them over. I just dump them in the mesh tray and the tray hasn't warped yet. You can also buy some of the $1 disposable mesh aluminum grilling trays and tin snip and fold them into a pan. |
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Posted: 10/13/2020 8:40:49 PM EDT
[#50]
SIZING
Got to size the 11 bullets from the second batch and 3 questionable ones from the failed first batch. Setup: - RCBS Rock Chucker with RCBS Case Kicker - converted to use Hornady Lock N Load die bushings - Lee .452" sizing kit  Attached FileThe 11 bullets from the second batch, I sprayed them with Dillon spray lube before sizing. I also let these bullets air cool vs quenching, so should be softer and size more easily. They did. You can see the sizing marks:  Attached FileHere's the 3 dubious ones from first batch. They're mucked up, most likely out of round to begin with  Attached FileOne of the bullets from the second batch had some bare metal showing on the bands, not enough to worry about. It was that way before sizing  Attached FilePulled out my trusted Dillon calipers to measure the bullets  Attached File |
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