Went to the website. Not necessarily complicated but, if you don't get it just right, it will come out poorly. Other powders seem like shake and bake and you are good to go. Have to think about that one. Also, seems to be a tad more expensive but, I guess that it offset by having to use less.
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Powder coating bullets/what brand
- Thread starter IAM Rand
- Start date
Went to the website. Not necessarily complicated but, if you don't get it just right, it will come out poorly. Other powders seem like shake and bake and you are good to go. Have to think about that one. Also, seems to be a tad more expensive but, I guess that it offset by having to use less.
I was spraying a bright Hemi Orange in my shop where I also had my then brand new black Laramie crew cab parked. I was running a 36" fan for ventilation with the windows and overhead door open and was spraying in the opposite end of the shop from where the truck was parked. I almost had a heart attack the next day when I backed the truck out into the sunlight. Fortunately it washed right off but lesson learned. The fan blades are still orange.
Casual Smith Nut
Member
To the OP I use Eastwood light blue. I think it’s called Ford Blue or something like that. I’m not around to check it at the moment but I do know it’s Eastwood.
I’ve had great results doing the shake n bake method, baking on non-stick foil at 400 degrees F leaving the bullets as-is poured from the shake canister. I’ve smashed bullets to verify no flaking of the coating. Recovered bullets from the berm show the coating also still intact. So far no leading even at 1,400fps with some of the magnum loads.
I have not tried the other powders such as HF. These are my results… one example to consider. I’ve heard varied reports of people using same techniques. I think the variance comes with lead hardness, alloy mixture, and fit/size of the bullets. I think you just have to try it and see how it turns out.
I’ve had great results doing the shake n bake method, baking on non-stick foil at 400 degrees F leaving the bullets as-is poured from the shake canister. I’ve smashed bullets to verify no flaking of the coating. Recovered bullets from the berm show the coating also still intact. So far no leading even at 1,400fps with some of the magnum loads.
I have not tried the other powders such as HF. These are my results… one example to consider. I’ve heard varied reports of people using same techniques. I think the variance comes with lead hardness, alloy mixture, and fit/size of the bullets. I think you just have to try it and see how it turns out.
I bought mine from Smoke also. I went with clear. Really like it as it doesn't looked like it has been painted. It covers well also. No leading since I started using it. Shake and bake method in retired toaster oven in the garage at 400deg for 15 min.
Rosewood
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Here is what I have learned so far. More bullets in the bucket is better than fewer. Not sure why but, when I put about 50+ in the bucket, the coverage came out better. I used HF white with okay results. I then mixed in some of the prismatic blue I had and it came out better.
Next stop will be Eastman to see what they have.
Next stop will be Eastman to see what they have.
4barrel
Member
I troll a few forums. Eastwood is the winner. You have less smoke when you pull the trigger. Forrest r has the best info on these. There is a guy called <SMOKE>on another forum that people rave about his powder. Blue seems to be the most popular and easy to use color. I have too many lube sizers <7>and to old to change directions.
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A tip to help the powder cling in the "shake" step. Swap the PITA plastic bb's with a few inflated water balloons. The small water balloons seem to have a thicker rubber than standard balloons and hold up well.
The balloons are much easier to handle than the bb's and do a much better job generating the static charge we are looking for.
The balloons are much easier to handle than the bb's and do a much better job generating the static charge we are looking for.
Paul in Nevada
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I asked about Lee's tumble lube bullets in the wadcutter thread and it got me wondering how well the tumble lubes do with powder coating. Does anyone powder coat these?
Casual Smith Nut
Member
I have a couple of tumble lube bullets which I powder coat. They take the powder coat just like other bullets. Specifically the ones I have done are Lee 93gr TL sized .314 and Lee 230gr TL sized at both .454 and .452. All shoot well. Very little smoke and no leading.
Rlg#17
US Veteran
Either Eastwood, or Hitech for me. Tried several of the others, and I wasn’t happy with the results. I found that they didn’t cover as well, or adhere to the bullets as well as those two brands.
Acetone and shake and bake is the Method I use, baking in an old toaster oven for the cook. A Lee push thru sizing die, and my bullets are as good as any on the market.
Cheaper powder’s produced more smoke when fired and recovered bullets had more of a burn mark on them.
Regards, Rick Gibbs
Acetone and shake and bake is the Method I use, baking in an old toaster oven for the cook. A Lee push thru sizing die, and my bullets are as good as any on the market.
Cheaper powder’s produced more smoke when fired and recovered bullets had more of a burn mark on them.
Regards, Rick Gibbs
I've been doing shake and bake for a little over 5 years.
Because I live in a dryland environment all I use for the
shaker bowl is a Redi Whip container.
I use Eastwood Ford Light blue. Here's a link:
Eastwood Hotcoat Ford Light Blue Powder Coat
I've done 7 thousand of various calibers this year.
Because I live in a dryland environment all I use for the
shaker bowl is a Redi Whip container.
I use Eastwood Ford Light blue. Here's a link:
Eastwood Hotcoat Ford Light Blue Powder Coat
I've done 7 thousand of various calibers this year.
Paul in Nevada
Member
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Are there any colors or glosses of the Eastwood to specifically avoid?
I haven't heard of any bad ones. When this all kicked off, I
knew folks who started with the harbor freight red and the
Quality Control was spotty. So people migrated to better
powder coats.
On one of the boards a poster from either Wisconsin
or Michigan used Eastwood Ford Light Blue. It works for me.
That's the lead in to your question.
Since then, The additional ones I have actual exposure to are
Eastwoods Black Stardust, Full Gloss Clear, Metallic Red, Appliance
White, Hi Gloss Jet Black and Grey. So from that Limited exposure
I tend to say there isn't one that's bad. The guys I cast and
shoot with tend to act like they have a love affair with cast bullets
and get wrapped around how striking they can make them look.
For me, I just want the easiest most hassle free way of covering
the bullet to keep from having my shop and guns from being
crapped up. I hate cleaning guns almost as much as using tumble
lube or a Lubri-sizer.
I've got about a pound of the Ford Light Blue left and I "think"
I'm going to go with the Full Gloss Clear when it's gone because
any debris or flakes that come off during sizing won't leave
visible pieces like the light blue does. Whatever I generate will
still be there but won't be as visible. Keeps the wife happy.
I bought the Lee 124 TC 9mm mold and it works great with powder coat. Used the standard 175 TC in .401 and it works just as well. The lube grooves seem to have no bearing on powder coating.
Rosewood
