Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading
Powder Coating Lead Bullets
unfy:
--- Quote from: bkoenig ---Another alternative....powder coating bullets. I'm SERIOUSLY interested in this. They just look so purty.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?171403-Powder-Coating-Boolits
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/395802_Powder_Coating_Cast_Bullets_.html
Sounds like a lot of work for handgun, but for rifle bullets it has a lot of potential. I have a toaster oven sitting in the basement that's never been used...
--- End quote ---
So full kudos to bkoenig for this thread. He was going to try it out, but is waiting a few weeks possibly... I'm not that patient >:D.
Going from the castboolits thread (didn't read the ar15 thread...).... I figured sure, why not. I've always wanted to get a powder coat set up anyway. Do read the CB thread, it covers a lot of ground and is really handy.
So, went to Harbor Freight here in Omaha (90th & Maple) and gathered stuffs. Came out to around $190.
Powder coat gun: $60 (plus a 2 year warranty for $10-$20 or so).
3 gallon air compressor (oil-less): $70
3 lbs of different colored powder coat: $15
25 foot air hose: $9
air hose accessory stuff: $9
I picked up the air compressor cause I dunno where my little one went. I went oil-less so didn't need to worry about an oil separator / filter. This particular compressor also has pressure regulator which will be handy for getting the 15-25psi folks have reported the gun liking.
The hose & accessories: just because I dunno what all I've got at home for stuff. Well, I know I got cheap hoses, wanted something a little bit better.
3 colors: red/white/black. HF offers 4 colors (yellow being the other), but I didn't want yellow for whatever reason.
What's left to buy:
Some cheap aluminum baking sheets: I've got a plan on how to orientate the bullets nose down so that the base of the bullet gets a decent coat. Prolly $4-$8 ?
A cheap toaster oven that can do 400F for 20min. Variable temp might be kinda cool if it's necessary to pre-heat items. Anyhoo, $20-$40 walmart ?
Process:
Cast bullets, or clean old bullets with acetone. Dry completely.
Place on thick aluminum foil or something (basically conductive).
Powder coat spray a decent coat.
Carefully move to toaster oven and bake at 400F for 20min.
Peel off of aluminum foil.
Done.
You can size before PC and after PC just fine apparently.
Benefits:
Appears to eliminate leading.
Possibly slight velocity increase.
Issues:
Possible problems with accuracy, possibly more so on rifle rounds.
I'll be building a jig / plating tray thing that will hold TC bullets nose down so that the base of the bullet gets a good coat, and also eliminates "painted-stuck-to-something" issues.
Again, all hail bkoenig for discovering the CB thread. I hope to be trying this out friday night or this weekend.
whatsit:
Wow, I didn't think it would be so cheap to get into. I figured it would be a few hundred bucks, at least.
What do you use for a power source to charge the bullets so the paint powder sticks? Is that part of the special powder coat gun?
unfy:
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-30-psi-powder-coating-system-94244.html
That's the HF powder coat gun. Needs an air compressor. Includes the charging / static system with it.
The CB thread mentions that crafstman might have a cheap electric only gun (ie: has it's own fan / air compressor built in ?) ... but i've not seen it and people complained about it being 'cheapy'. Granted, I doubt the HF product is 'quality' heh.
SS_N_NE:
Here is the Craftsman system they mentioned in the thread: http://www.amazon.com/Craftsman-Complete-Portable-Powder-Coating/dp/B004YEAYCW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364517600&sr=8-1&keywords=craftsman+powder+coating+system
About $180.
Eastwood automotive also have some lower cost guns but require an air compressor.
http://www.eastwood.com/hotcoat-powder-coating/powder-coat-guns.html
About $99 for cheap gun, $169 for a nicer one.
bkoenig:
The Craftsman gun was on sale for around $30 for a while last year. They must have been clearancing them out. Sounds like they're not a very good gun, but work just fine for small pieces like bullets. If you plan on using it for anything else the Harbor Freight one looks like it's a better tool, and its still very cheap.
I'm thinking drill a hole in the baking sheet that's just slightly smaller than the diameter of the bullet in front of the first driving band, then set the bullet nose down and coat. You'll still get a little lip of powdercoat, but when you size after coating it should get knocked off.
Question: If you coat a boolit is it still a boolit or is it now a bullet?
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