PC vs Hi-Tek coating

[hrpenley]

Ok, how about another contentious thread, Powder coat vs Hi-Tek coating, who uses which and what have your results been?
I have not tried the Hi-Tek but have been thinking about it. I have been using PC successfully for a few years now, Starting on of course the Harbor freight Black, (Which did not provide the best results) I have setteled on the Eastwood brand so far but I am still not happy with the flow of the paint - I have only used Black, Red and silver. I am thinking about adding some color to my life and trying to decide if I want to try hitek or another eastwood powder or perhaps a mfg that I have not tried yet. So looking to find experiances with the above so I don't waste more money and time..... I am sure this has come up in the past but coatings change all the time and new stuff is tried so what have you got......

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

My choice is PC.

Mostly cause one and done.

multi coats required for HITEC.

Both produce favorable end results.

More steps to hitec.

Just my feelings.
CW

 

[Brad]

I used Hi-Tek before I powder coated.

Hi-Tek is far easier to apply in large quantities. It is not as picky about the application method. Yes, it adds a step of drying but that isn’t a big deal. It does require 2 coats.

Powder coating is a single step application. Humidity can be an issue at times. It is a slower application process.

I never had the results with Hi-Tek that I have with PC. Hi-Tek always left me some leading. PC rarely leaves any leading. Hi-Tek, if under baked, can lead to some nasty barrel fouling that is very tough to remove. Hi-Tek can also leave a burning plastic odor in the air that I have never had with PC. This was really bad at an indoor range, bad enough that other shooters mentioned it,

If Hi-Tek gave the results I get with PC I would be using it. The ease of application would make it the hands down winner. Sadly, I get results that make that an impossible choice. PC wins hands down in performance and that is the things that matters most.

 

[4and1]

I've only done PC, so I can't comment on Hitec. I use powder from Smoke, but I have heard Eastwood powder is great and Horror Fright not so much.

 

[popper]

HiTek works, PC works. HiTek process is more critical - first coat has to be right. Shake-n-bake PC is easy, almost can't go wrong. My conclusion, HiTek for commercial and PC for hobbyist. Just because of the process.

 

[hrpenley]

HiTek works, PC works. HiTek process is more critical - first coat has to be right. Shake-n-bake PC is easy, almost can't go wrong. My conclusion, HiTek for commercial and PC for hobbyist. Just because of the process.

Does the HiTek give a better finish? I'm not worried about the process I can set up for almost anything and I have a fair amount of "free time" to play around, however if the finish and overall result is basically the same then its not worth the time to try it. We are working on a copper plating setup now but if it does work we will only use that for "special" applications as it is quite involved and a little more costly than the powder coating.

 

[fiver]

quite a bit more costly.

powder is like 5$ a pound at the harbor freight store.
then all you need is a toaster oven that works for the most part, and an empty butter container or the like.
some air soft BB's or Styrofoam Beads or plastic beads from a kids toy set or maybe nothing.
an oven thermometer is nice and cheap at the walmart.
I think I was all set up and good to go for 75$, most of that was the oven since I didn't want to spend 25$ on gas to drive to the thrift store and back.

 

[Rick H]

I use "Smokes" powder mixed about a third with Harbor Freight Red (trying to use up the HF stuff) and get excellent coverage with one coat Shake and Bake in a #5 plastic container with air soft black BBs. I stand them up and bake them for 20 min. after I get flow in a convection toaster oven at 400* F (temp. checked with Taylor Oven thermometer in with the bullets)

The smaller 95 gr. Ranch dog bullets were shaked, poured it a screened basket and baked. The finish isn't as good as when stood up but plenty good for practice pistol ammo.

 

[Ian]

If you're set up for PC, stick with it. The grass isn't greener.

Buy only Polyester, TGIC-crosslinked powder, with 80% or higher gloss, wherever you get it. Red, yellow, and black are notoriously difficult colors to shake/bake. Sky Blue from PowderBuyThePound has been flawless for me.

 

[popper]

No, no better finish. I used it (liquid green) on 40sw, worked fine after I got the process figured out - 2 coats. Tried gold powder, more difficult for me. It is more expensive in the quantity we buy. It is not a bad product, PC just easier for me. Attempts to HT (for HV rifle) were not very successful with HiTek. Coating gets real dark and tended to flake off for me.
CBA has link for Smoke's in swap & sell

 

[hrpenley]

Maybe I will try a pound from smokes and a pound from powder by the pound, I have see a lot about both of those on the board, I found powder by the pound, does anyone have a link for smokes?

 

[hrpenley]

One thing I have not had a problem with was PC flaking off, even at rifle velocity's, I don't want to sacrifice performance for pretty.... I want both lol.

 

[Ian]

I haven't been able to burn PC either. 430⁰ fir 50 minutes doesn't faze it. Melting a coated bullet in the casting furnace will melt out the core without discoloring the jacket, takes a minute or two longer to cook the coating to ash.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

I have found. When melting salvaged PC bullets. The PC forms a solid surface covering. Which i believe holds more heat in the lead and eliminates some loss of trace elements "sn"

 

[Wolfman]

I don't think a small container of hi-tek would cost much. Order some and try it. Then, you will know which one will work the best for you.

 

[JamieHazel]

After using shake and bake pc I gave the rest of my hi-tec away.

 

[popper]

I don't think a small container of hi-tek would cost much Check it out before you post. IIRC 60$ for the liquid, less for the powder.
edit: it was more for the liquid in transportation cost. Power is not a hazard.

 

[hrpenley]

Ya, its a little pricey, That's why I am trying to find out personal experiences before I spend that much, 60 bucks buys a lot of PC....

 

[Capfrank]

I bought both white and black Harbor Freight (not good) ... I bought 2 colors of Eastwood (very good) just ordered 2 more different colors of Eastwood

 

[Intel6]

Been doing HiTek for a few years and also have been PC'ing for over a year. I found I like HiTek for doing larger quantities of pistol bullets and the PC for most of my rifle bullets. I am picky about how my finished bullets look and so I don't care for the looks of shake and bake PC. I know it is perfectly fine but I don't care for how they look. The HiTek coats evenly and I prefer the final results regardless of the extra effort. I do like PC for rifle bullets as I think it is a tougher coating so I PC most of my rifle bullets but I stand them up so I get a nice PC coat.