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Post by dougader on Sept 1, 2015 15:34:13 GMT -5
Thanks, Hoover. Good to know. I've been reading pc threads over at the cast boolits forum. The perfecting of the process continues and it's easy to get lost.
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jsh
.327 Meteor
Posts: 884
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Post by jsh on Sept 1, 2015 16:34:56 GMT -5
Dick or Jeff, how big of a mess does that make? Just curious as to what you guys have come up with to seperate and return PC to the bowl. I am still doing the cool whip thing, but always looking for better, easier and faster. Jeff
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Post by hoover on Sept 1, 2015 16:56:35 GMT -5
Hardly any mess at all! PC wipes out of tumbler with a paper towel. When shaking PC bullets over newspaper from basket it collects on newspaper and I just fold paper slightly and shake back in tumbler. The more the powder is used, the finer it gets, and the better it sticks to cast slugs. It is eeally simple, fast, clean. I doubt I will ever use lube/sizing again. When you can process 5-600 bullets an hour with little effort, it is worth it. I think the results speak for themselves too.
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Post by sixshot on Sept 1, 2015 20:12:04 GMT -5
I have 3 seperate tubs so I don't have to change anything. I just use a plastic collander, its less abrasive than the wire ones, shake it pretty hard onto the newspaper & dump it back into the tub & get ready for the next batch. I've stayed with the HF red because it seems to really stick to the cast slugs & its only about $6 a bottle & one bottle goes a long way. As Tank said, there really isn't any mess, just dump it back in the tub. Don't know if they still do it or not but Hornady use to sell extra tubs so I bought 2 extra about 15 years ago.
Dick
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Post by dougader on Sept 1, 2015 21:31:58 GMT -5
I'll probably just buy another tumbler, get some hf red and see if my Lee pot still works.
I only have about 100 pounds of lead and I expect it will go fast with 400 grain bullets...
The last time I bought lead, it was only $5 for a 5 gallon bucket full of wheel weights from Les Schwab. Now most of the wheel weights are zinc.
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jsh
.327 Meteor
Posts: 884
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Post by jsh on Sept 1, 2015 21:59:38 GMT -5
Thanks. I have a few extra tubs so I will give it a try. About how much powder to dump in the tub? Just enough to cover or does it really matter since one will be collecting it any way? Jeff
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Post by sixshot on Sept 2, 2015 1:17:03 GMT -5
Jeff, when I'm painting the 385 gr. HP's I usually do about 200-225 at a time, I don't count them, I just kind of eye ball it. You don't want to put too much strain on your motor. Then I add about 2 table spoons of HF red paint & give it 15 minutes with the lid on. Dump them in the plastic collander, give it several good shakes to remove any excess paint & then bake them 10 minutes. If I'm painting 100 gr. 32's I'll do 500 or more at one time, add the same amount of paint & start it up. You will have paint left over, depending on how much you have you can add to it, no need to get carried away adding paint. That one lb. bottle will coat a lot of bullets. You will notice a few bare spots but thats ok, they are actually painted but there's something in that pigment that doesn't always completely coat every speck of the bullet once you bake it, thats not a problem. Just check & see if you are getting any leading ( you won't) & then just keep on shooting. Clean up is almost a thing of the past. Its still a good idea to add a little light weight oil at the front & rear of the cylinder and on the base pin but as far as crud or burnt lube, thats pretty much history. Powder residue is about the only thing you will ever have to wipe off.
Dick
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Post by Markbo on Sept 2, 2015 11:09:27 GMT -5
I just want to make sure I understand correctly... you shake up the slugs in a tub and then shake them off in a basket/colander before placing on a pan to bake? I have been veeeeery carefully picking them out with forceps to place on the tray. And I being too tedious???
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Post by sixshot on Sept 2, 2015 11:18:14 GMT -5
Markbo, yes, once they have been tumbled for 15 minutes or so the paint bonds really well. Just dump them into the collander, I use a plastic one & shake it pretty hard several times to remove the excess paint. I actually flip them like you would flip an egg. Then dump them on to your non stick foil, no need to stand them up. Just don't double stack them. Pop them in the oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, allow to cool & then size them & load.
Dick
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jsh
.327 Meteor
Posts: 884
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Post by jsh on Sept 2, 2015 13:07:52 GMT -5
Shake and bake. Lol
Don't get those mixed in the candy bowl for the Halloween trick or treaters.
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Post by paul105 on Sept 2, 2015 14:21:41 GMT -5
I think Dick mentioned he uses a used toaster oven to bake the coated bullets. Also, IIRC, Tank said he used the kitchen stove.
Is it safe to use the kitchen stove?? Is the powder coating non-toxic?
Thanks,
Paul
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Post by dougader on Sept 2, 2015 15:32:28 GMT -5
I've read that it's toxic. I wouldn't use the kitchen stove...
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Post by sixshot on Sept 2, 2015 16:16:59 GMT -5
I don't think anyone is using the kitchen stove! You can get a toaster oven very cheap & just use it for powder coating or you'll end up sleeping on the couch with the imprint of a frying pan on your @%#&^!! And don't trust them to be 400 degrees just because you set the dial to 400 degrees, you might get a surprise.... like melted bullets! A thermometer is nice. Yes the paint is toxic, don't use the same oven you cook food in, why do you think guys wear respirators when they spray paint cars.
Dick
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Post by Markbo on Sept 3, 2015 9:56:38 GMT -5
I'll be darned. I have been waaay too tedious then. I will try it this way. Wonder of Lynda will miss that green colander. P.S. Just in case anyone is wondering - because I know that I did - yes this method works with store bought bullets too. BUT... you must be absolutely certain that all traces of lube are gone or the paint won't adhere well. Lots and lots of hot water initially then an acetone bath and more hot, hot water.
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jsh
.327 Meteor
Posts: 884
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Post by jsh on Sept 4, 2015 19:39:42 GMT -5
I had good luck with the cool whip method, but am fixing on doing the shake and bake as I type. One thing for those that have not tried this yet. Make sure to preheat the oven. I drilled a hole all the way through the top of mine and stuck a digital thermometer in it. I set the thermostat to 400. I had to tweet it a bit to get the 400 mark. I checked it after that every time for quite a while. It stayed at 400 and I only check it every once in a while now, still fine. I just used a square of aluminum duct work tape to seal off the hole inside and out. Jeff
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