Powder coating made easy

[thenodnarb]

HF red is the best by far of the HF colors. The colors are materially different and it makes a big difference in results.

Stick with red!

[stilly]

Originally Posted by Breakdown

I just saw on another forum you can get powder from www.powderbuythepound.com..havnt tried doing PC yet but it looks interesting

Those guys are expensive though. NICe idea but if you buy it for LESS than a LB, you are bending over a table and dropping your pants for them.

Like 1LB = $25
so then 1/2LB = $18
1/4 LB = $12

and so on and so on and that is the CHEAP powders. Some of their powders are around $30-$35 per lb...
1/2 lb? No probs, that will be $23...

Who the **** does their math? Their goddamn 2 year old?

I ended up putting about 4 different powders at about 2-10oz of powder per in my cart and it was about $56.00 after shipping. I said **** THAT and left.

Here is the deal with them though, if you buy 1 LB or more of ONE color that is not fancy, you can get it for around $22 or less per lb. But you want sparkly candy apple green? Oh your wallet is gonna go to hell for that one...


What about HF yellow? Anyone tried that or the white? I have all three, but only mixed yellow with tiger drylac green and got olive/OD...

[BigBronco]

Walked in to HF today and the powders were on sale for $2.99. So against advice I bought some Yellow. Also bought another Red. Yellow went on thin may need three coats. Baking the first coat now.

[stilly]

Originally Posted by BigBronco

Walked in to HF today and the powders were on sale for $2.99. So against advice I bought some Yellow. Also bought another Red. Yellow went on thin may need three coats. Baking the first coat now.

Yellow might be good to flavor the waters of another color... Say blue or red...

[Spaceghost]

Just used this method with harbor freight red. The coverage wasn't as good as I hoped. I baked them once at 350, then re-tumbled, baked again at 400. They look great with two coats. I am too lazy to post a pic though.

Update:

I noticed something with this technique. The bullets that are on top of the mix have better coverage than the ones on the bottom. I just pull out the ones on the top, shake a few times and pull out the ones on the top again. Repeat until all projectiles are done. I only shake for about 20-30 seconds the first time and five seconds or less after that. Pretty fast and efficient.

[rsrocket1]

Yes, what causes the bare spots is contact with other boolits and rubbing against the container. I made a video of how you can get full coverage regardless of bare spots using a blue nitrile glove dusted with the powder coat paint.



Here's the picture step by step of last night's PC session using a Styrofoam box.

[J-cat]

How does blue work? Same as red?

[Pablo5959]

Hello all,
I have been in contact with a guy name Tim at the attached link.
They sell quality powder coat paint on eBay and there own online store.

Tim said they will sell any quantity and put together a kit with 1/2 LB packs of as many colors as I want with combined flat rate shipping.
There was a little mixup with my order but as soon as he found out about the problem he was right on it making it right.
I will update on the performance of the powder as soon as I can.
Anyway as soon as I get more info about the small quantity kits.
I will pass it on.
Here's the link to his store.
http://www.thepowdercoatstore.com/in...te=common/home
Thanks.
Pablo

[meaty-btz]

Glad to see this still going. Just got back from a run to Yellerstone. Through Nevada and Idaho and Montana and Wyo.. hunting for powder the whole way.. pistol powder that is. No luck.

[stilly]

Originally Posted by Pablo5959

Hello all,
I have been in contact with a guy name Tim at the attached link.
They sell quality powder coat paint on eBay and there own online store.

Tim said they will sell any quantity and put together a kit with 1/2 LB packs of as many colors as I want with combined flat rate shipping.
There was a little mixup with my order but as soon as he found out about the problem he was right on it making it right.
I will update on the performance of the powder as soon as I can.
Anyway as soon as I get more info about the small quantity kits.
I will pass it on.
Here's the link to his store.
http://www.thepowdercoatstore.com/in...te=common/home
Thanks.
Pablo

Good to know... hope they got cool colors. - bummer. I like to have a large assortment, they have 22 colors, but some of their colors look decent for mixing and matching. I would give them a try and I bet they would be happy to tell you have to half cure for the colors or jobs that require multiple coats...

I would give these guys a try for their white, red, neon green, orange or pink...

[Pablo5959]

Well I got my Black and blue today from http://www.thepowdercoatstore.com.
I did a couple of batches using the cheapo green ASBB.



Both batches where 1 coat.
I'm on the lookout for the black BB's now.
The black is a Sherwin William's and the blue is a Cardinal brand.
Tim at the web store said he would add a 1/2 LB option but haven't done it yet.

[mif_slim]

My HF red is turning out brown.. lol.

[stilly]

My HF red turned out brown too, but two coats and it was up to brick red...

Pablo those last pills look pretty good. The coating looks rather thick. I might have to

[BigBronco]

Went by a powder coating place that did some stuff for me a while back. Asked a bunch of questions and learned a bit. I was able to get a bit of free powder from them. A forest green a Bronze/grey and a small amount of PINK. Told me to use denatured alcohol to clean prior to coating if needed. Also added it should not need cleaning unless contaminated after casting them.

[stilly]

Good stuff to nah...

[Spaceghost]

Pablo, what container are you using again? I quickly glanced at the thread again and didn't see it. Are you swirling or shaking up and down?

Thanks!

I also ordered some of their gloss black and let them you recommended them. Also put a link to this thread in the comments.

[J-cat]

I got some of the cardinal blue powder and a convection oven. So I preheat the oven to 400 degrees and stick the boolits in for 15 minutes? The instructions on the bag say the cure time is 10 minutes. Does that mean I have to let it cool for 10 minutes or can I just load them hot?

[Spaceghost]

Resize them before loading.

Originally Posted by J-cat

I got some of the cardinal blue powder and a convection oven. So I preheat the oven to 400 degrees and stick the boolits in for 15 minutes? The instructions on the bag say the cure time is 10 minutes. Does that mean I have to let it cool for 10 minutes or can I just load them hot?

[Pablo5959]

Originally Posted by Spaceghost

Pablo, what container are you using again? I quickly glanced at the thread again and didn't see it. Are you swirling or shaking up and down?

Thanks!

I also ordered some of their gloss black and let them you recommended them. Also put a link to this thread in the comments.

#5 in a triangle recycle.

This one the top locks.
A square one will work also.

[Pablo5959]

Originally Posted by J-cat

I got some of the cardinal blue powder and a convection oven. So I preheat the oven to 400 degrees and stick the boolits in for 15 minutes? The instructions on the bag say the cure time is 10 minutes. Does that mean I have to let it cool for 10 minutes or can I just load them hot?

Put your colored pills in the oven,(I still don't know if preheating helps.
Let things heat a few mins, until they start looking shinny.
Then cook for 10mins.
Let them cool a couple mins ether in or out of oven, or water drop. Doesn't matter.

[J-cat]

10-4

I'm gonna give it a try.

[Ferrum]

Has anyone thrown a little moly in their PC mix? Help? Hurt? Not worth it?

[Pablo5959]

Guys
Tim at the powder coat store has added the half lb option.
Attached is the link to the colors and prices. I think you will find the prices pretty fair. http://www.thepowdercoatstore.com/po...powder-coating
I will be placing an order as soon as I get off work.
Also I want to let you know, I get nothing out of promoting Tim's products.
I just found his stuff on fleeBay.
Pablo

[rsrocket1]

Originally Posted by Ferrum

Has anyone thrown a little moly in their PC mix? Help? Hurt? Not worth it?

Try it and report back. We're all still in the experimental phase.

Someone reported that graphite is a failure. It coated the lead and prevented the powder from sticking during the tumbling process.

[roc_my_tims]

Tag

[Spaceghost]

I just received shipping notification on my powder! I wanted some zombie killing green, but wanted to try the gloss black first.

Originally Posted by Pablo5959

Guys
Tim at the powder coat store has added the half lb option.
Attached is the link to the colors and prices. I think you will find the prices pretty fair. http://www.thepowdercoatstore.com/po...powder-coating
I will be placing an order as soon as I get off work.
Also I want to let you know, I get nothing out of promoting Tim's products.
I just found his stuff on fleeBay.
Pablo

[Pablo5959]

Originally Posted by Spaceghost

Pablo, what container are you using again? I quickly glanced at the thread again and didn't see it. Are you swirling or shaking up and down?

Thanks!

I also ordered some of their gloss black and let them you recommended them. Also put a link to this thread in the comments.

Spaceghost,
The answer is yes, all of it. (Are you swirling or shaking up and down?)
There's kind of a sweet spot between not enough and to many BBs.
If your getting to many spots with no powder, it's from the bullets hitting each other, add more BB's.
I would rather have a little to many BB's then not enough.
I just pour some BB's off the top after the shake, onto a paper plate until you get down to some bullets. Pull out the easy ones. Do a lite swirl then repeat.
Here's what good powder gets you.

[Spaceghost]

Thanks Pablo! I am mostly shaking up and down, I feel like swirling isn't doing anything for my pills. I am convinced my troubles are caused by the crappy powder from Harbor Freight. Three coats for perfect coverage is getting annoying...

Of course, I now have another 200 bucks in molds and what not in my midway cart. I don't even own something in 300 Blackout and considering one just so I can cast for it. I'm addicted...

[Pablo5959]

Only HF Red dry tumbles ok.
Mix a little HF black with the white and get some interesting looks.
Personally I don't think I'll even use the HF stuff again.

[thenodnarb]

I still like spraying better. HF red works great for that. One coat and bake and they're done. The self contained gun that does everything so you don't need a compressor is probably a good option vs the harbor freight gun. I got the HF gun because I already have a compressor but I've got hoses and wire going everywhere.

I wonder:If powder coating works so well, I wonder if a spray on varnish would work equally as well. a good polyurethane dries hard on its own without curing, can be sprayed or maybe even tumbled, and you can add color if you wish by mixing in dye. might have to try that.

[stilly]

Originally Posted by thenodnarb

I still like spraying better. HF red works great for that. One coat and bake and they're done. The self contained gun that does everything so you don't need a compressor is probably a good option vs the harbor freight gun. I got the HF gun because I already have a compressor but I've got hoses and wire going everywhere.

I wonder:If powder coating works so well, I wonder if a spray on varnish would work equally as well. a good polyurethane dries hard on its own without curing, can be sprayed or maybe even tumbled, and you can add color if you wish by mixing in dye. might have to try that.

Yeah but the temps and durability/flexibility to hold on while being smashed is what makes me question it... :\

I believe any food type polypropylene plastics should be the type to use. Go to Carl's Jr and get a salad- that container is a number 5.

Same with many tupperware type bowls/containers. But not the acrylic or too clear stuff. The stuff needsw to be frosted I think. I mean, the frosted stuff is easily identified... :\

[Ferrum]

I was doing some thinking on the container theory for coating... Would a static dissipative or conductive work any better?

I.e. http://www.lacontainer.com/container...ctive/statcons

[stilly]

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o I am thinking the conductive...

Damn G better Group buy that...

[Ferrum]

Originally Posted by stilly

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o I am thinking the conductive...

Damn G better Group buy that...

I found them in single units, was just curious to see if these would be better?

[sofbak]

Originally Posted by Ferrum

I was doing some thinking on the container theory for coating... Would a static dissipative or conductive work any better?

I.e. http://www.lacontainer.com/container...ctive/statcons

I originally thought the conductive container would work the best. But considering the results that rsrocket1 got using just a zip-lock baggie, I had to rethink this.

It seems that the charge is being generated by the bb's tumbling with the bullets. So if that is the case, it also seems that you would want a non-conductive container to keep that charge inside the container, as opposed to letting the container conduct it away from the contents.

If you found singles, get one of each and prove empirically which one works best. The results might go a long way toward optimizing this process.

[meaty-btz]

for those of you with brown HF Red results, your TEMP IS TOO HIGH.. or you are cooking too long.

[Pablo5959]

Hello guys,
I got some more colors from the powder coat store. http://www.thepowdercoatstore.com/po...powder-coating
So here some of the colors I got in half LB bags.



I think I need to get bigger #5 containers. The green and orange took a second coat but that seems to heavy.
By the way, I put some HF red brick red in the back for comparison. I went pack and check some pictures when I did the HF red and they where bright red then. And I followed the directions and did not over cook.
Pablo

[Pablo5959]

I just thought I would spread some independence cheer.
Cardinal blue and red. Very easy to do.
The HF white is a tough nut to crack.
Have a great 4th.
Pablo

[stilly]

Originally Posted by meaty-btz

for those of you with brown HF Red results, your TEMP IS TOO HIGH.. or you are cooking too long.

390 for 15 minutes is too high and too long? wtf then?



Pablo: Nice pics.

[Pablo5959]

Up date from cast boolits.
Some guy tried putting his bullets in a sandwich baggy with color and tied a knot so the bullets where in a tight bag so they couldn't bang around.
Put the baggy in the #5 container and shake. NO BB,s.
Last night one other member confirmed this works.
I haven't gotten a chance to try this yet.
Here's the link. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...y-be-crazy-but