My powder coating method
- Thread starter Brad
- Start date
fiver
Well-Known Member
5- just come along from the early guys having success with it.
the cup I use happens to be a 5 but the lid is a 3 [shrug]
but lots of stuff come in 5's, cool whip and some of the stuff like macaroni and potato salad from the store,
they also have decent lids that stay tight.
if you got a 1 and it is sturdy with a decent lid give it a go, the worst that happens is you go dig through the sterilight containers down at the dollar store, or have to buy some cool whip for a dollar or so.
the cup I use happens to be a 5 but the lid is a 3 [shrug]
but lots of stuff come in 5's, cool whip and some of the stuff like macaroni and potato salad from the store,
they also have decent lids that stay tight.
if you got a 1 and it is sturdy with a decent lid give it a go, the worst that happens is you go dig through the sterilight containers down at the dollar store, or have to buy some cool whip for a dollar or so.
Sandspider500
Member
Zip lock brand plastic containers are #5, if you get the pack of em you can use the rest for bullet containers.
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Just ordered clear, bacon grease, and translucent copper from Smoke. He says the translucent cooper looks a little blotchy but covers well.. He was saying these 3 cover evenly and a little thinner. We will see. I've been having problems with 30 calibers get to fat in the nose to chamber in my 94's. Going to be trying traditional lube on them.
I've got some of the Translucent Copper and wasn't too impressed with the color. It does coat well, but is a little too translucent if you will. 2 coats is better, but I don't prefer to do a double coat unless necessary. YMMV though.
Bacon Grease coats well and seems to be one of those colors that when added to another helps coat better. I'll bet a translucent bacon grease would be awesome for a single heavy coat and ugly as a mud fence to boot.....
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Yeah good to hear. I'm not concerned with how they look, I have enough problems getting finally fitting correct. As you point out that these coatings "coats well"' that's what I'm looking for. The clear is also supposed to coat well. My thoughts were to add clear to a green and orange paints I have already and see what comes out..
Smoke did say the translucent copper, was just as you describe. The clear is what I'm curious about as it does not have the unnecessary color pigments to deal with.
We'll see.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Untrue.
That is to say I haven't seen a big difference.
Airsoft BB's can be added if the need is there. But Im using 2 & 3's for mine and they are fine. I tried the mixing cups for paint and found that that plastic was brittle and cracked pretty quickly. This is What I find problem with some containers. Plastic in general allows build of static.
CW
Or you can do as I did and just get the better Rubbermaid containers with the snap on stackable lids. I'm not talking about the cheaper thin plastic, but the heavier plastic. I keep a certain color in each (with BB's in each also) and just stack them. It does take up some room, but when PCing, it's just pick a color, drop bullets in, and coat away. Some may not use BB's, but I have from the beginning and will continue. It's a "use what works for you" kinda thing.
The clear's do coat easily and I use clear in almost all of my colors for a translucent color. That said, I am beginning to believe that the more gloss, the easier it is to coat. More testing to follow.....
The clear's do coat easily and I use clear in almost all of my colors for a translucent color. That said, I am beginning to believe that the more gloss, the easier it is to coat. More testing to follow.....
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I like larger containers.
Remember static builds better with more surface area. Thats what BB's do. They aint magic they are increased surface area!
SWIRLING over shaking.
Try BB's if ya have difficulty coating.
There is mo wrong way as long as your bullets get a good coats of powder.
The jugs for body builders powders. Energy drinks and weight loss powders work well.
DONT get caught up in "ONLY #5". Try wjat ya find.
I do as DHD mentions. One container for each powder. If I have a dud powder or mix of powders. I toss that and start over. Once it works, It stays in that jug!!
Your bullets need be clean and untouched if at all possible. I also warm them!! I put them in a basket and that basket on top of my oven. The bullets are not to hot to touch. They are warm to the touch. Do not neat in oven, you will make them too hot. You need to warm your over to temp. So just put them on top of the warming oven. Ince you start a rythm. The bullets warm as one batch bakes.
CW
Remember static builds better with more surface area. Thats what BB's do. They aint magic they are increased surface area!
SWIRLING over shaking.
Try BB's if ya have difficulty coating.
There is mo wrong way as long as your bullets get a good coats of powder.
The jugs for body builders powders. Energy drinks and weight loss powders work well.
DONT get caught up in "ONLY #5". Try wjat ya find.
I do as DHD mentions. One container for each powder. If I have a dud powder or mix of powders. I toss that and start over. Once it works, It stays in that jug!!
Your bullets need be clean and untouched if at all possible. I also warm them!! I put them in a basket and that basket on top of my oven. The bullets are not to hot to touch. They are warm to the touch. Do not neat in oven, you will make them too hot. You need to warm your over to temp. So just put them on top of the warming oven. Ince you start a rythm. The bullets warm as one batch bakes.
CW
Reloader762
Active Member
Love me some clear, I get mine for smokes and it's one of the easiest powders to get excellent coverage and a little goes a long way.
Not the same bullet but here is the Clear on the Lee .312" 185 gr. RN I'm getting read to place on the tray.
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Reloader762
Active Member
I think you will like the Translucent Copper from smokes, it fast became one of my favorites.
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Reloader762
Active Member
Well if you have ever seen the old Lyman / Ideal #357443 mold with the hairline crimp groove in the forward driving band you know how shallow that is.
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Reloader762
Active Member
Very seldom do I have issues with too much powder on the bullets so I don't have to go through the process of shaking or tapping off excess powder, once in a while I'll have to give a few a tap to knock off some clumping. I always start with about two level Tablespoons in a quart size #5 contain I've recycled out of the trash with air soft BB's or plastic pony beads an add 50 to 100 bullets depending on size and weight. It's easier to add addition powder if needed than have too much to begin with.
I plan to coat about 400 Lee 120 gr. 9 MM TC bullets today with a couple new powders I got from Smoke. The humidity will be in the high 80s today so I'll coat in the house where the humidity is low and take them back out to the shop to cure. Otherwise, I'm just exposing my bullets as well as the powder in the bag and containers the opportunity to suck up moisture and kill any static electricity.
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