Powder Coating Tips and Tricks

With all of the questions I get over and over from the FB groups, here on KZbin, I thought I would share how I PC and process my 40 S&W 175gn Hollowpoints.
www.powderbythepound.com
www.eastwood.com
bulletsforfreedom

[@KennethLarose]

I was having a few problems with powder coating my cast bullets and came across your video yesterday. I tried your method with the tumbler and they came out perfect. Thanks for the video and advice.

[@RedPill556]

my molds and melting pot are in the mail. ive been getting bullets from Everglades for some time now. its time to cast my own bullets. you and many others have given me much research info. tyvm.

[@steelpunisher6944]

I know this video is a year old but..... Great video! And thank you for taking the time to speak on the importance of being armed in these times and protecting the 2nd Amendment. Good stuff

[@MrRebTyree]

I just found your channel and your videos on "Powder Coating Bullets." Awesome videos my brother from another mother! I know it's a older video, but it's very informative! Been debating doing powder coating my cast bullets for a while now but after watching your videos and Elvis Ammo, I now feel that "It is so easy that a Caveman like me can do it!!! So today I'll be ordering some Eastwood Powder. Heading to Wally World for a toaster oven and Bed a bath and Beyond for the baskets. Thanks for the amazing videos!! Stay strong, Watch your six, and God Bless America and all who serve and sacrificed for this great nation! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@minutemencoffee]

Reb Tyree thanks Man. It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. And the powers that be have removed at least a dozen of my videos over the past year or so because casting doesn’t meet their community standards. Thanks for the message, enjoy the addiction!

[@WestDesertShooter]

Great chat brother glad to see you back at the bench!

[@minutemencoffee]

West Desert Shooter it's good to be back. It is definitely different being home instead of on the road.

[@bluescatreimer]

I enjoy you video's and learned form them, I tried my hand at powder coating last night. I cleaned the bullets with acetone and used Eastwood powder coat, and the coverage was very good. For my first time they turned pretty good, baked at 400 for 20 mins, I learned not to use parchment paper from the dollar store. lol They stuck to the paper but soaking them in water helped me get the paper off. Luckily I stand them on their bottom instead of laying them down.

[@ericlaird7508]

Great video! I can only hope my first experience powder coating will be a positive one! KEEP ON ROCKIN IT !!!...

[@PRACERZ]

SUPER vid thanks. Great and true statement at the end !!!

[@thew1neguy]

Great video, very informative.

[@andrewsteele7663]

Great video, I have subscribed, I have been casting for over 20 years and using a lube sizer, I am now looking to buy the gear to powder coat, cheers from Queensland

[@michaeldickerson873]

I wanted to thank you for the video. I have been using Eastwood. When I checked prices, powder by the pound seemed like you had to buy more than a pound or two at a time…Eastwood is easy and fairly good results.

[@drizler]

I used to see those baskets in one of the dollar stores. It was a few years back though. It’s worth a look though

[@russhayes4882]

Great content !

[@danielgillaspie2556]

I like the Eastwood powder coat stuff I don't know of any other I did try Harbor Freight and it was a total failure so I've been doing Eastwood ever since I've done three different colors I plan to go back and get more colors it's fun and I'm going to try to make some money cuz well I like shooting the powder coated bullets

[@billprice6248]

great prestation , this was help full. bill

[@harlenharris7282]

Great video.

[@user-ot8gv6iv8k]

Thanks for the lesson 🙂

[@bigpoppa6998]

Awesome Video Brother

[@bravoactual5307]

I look forward to trying this, I to have used harbor freight and can't seem to make a good batch

[@sjaakvaak5439]

Nice vid 👍 Greets from Holland 💥

[@TheReloadingPress]

WOW, that powder by the pound seems really durable for handling prior to baking. The Harbor Freight stuff is much more finicky. Now I'm convinced to go buy some better powder. Thank you Sir.

[@minutemencoffee]

Out of the 6 different PC manufacturers I have tried, Powder by the Pound seems to hold up the best. Thanks for watching!

[@GunFunZS]

I would say that on average it is, but I have tried several of their flavors, and they aren't all equal. Some colors stick better than others. Steele Blue seems to be the easiest all around one I have tried. Kawasaki green is pretty nice too. It sticks instantly.

[@30roundclipazine79]

I can never get eastwood powders to adhere the way that you did by just the shake and bake method. maybe i'll try my FA vibratory tumbler. subbed.

[@minutemencoffee]

30ROUNDCLIPAZINE With Eastwoods powders, depending on the color, you sometimes have to shake them for a while longer. I have found that with the PBTP, especially the mirror colors, they tend to adhere slightly better. Using a VT, has been very successful in getting the paint to stay on. You'll get some knock off but for the most part it works well. Thanks for watching!

[@30roundclipazine79]

Thanks for the reply. My biggest pain is Eastwood mirror black. Loads of bacon had success with it 🤷‍♂️

[@journeywithin2088]

Liked all your info. I also will stand up my bullets, but I will not put a propane tank next to a 400 degree oven.

[@JeffinTD]

Nice video. I’d like to see someone use a ransom rest or at least sandbags and get us some real accuracy numbers comparing traditional lube/size, various powder coat methods, and maybe some jacketed.

[@smsgtbulldog]

Superb video!!!!!!!!

[@brandonlopez5855]

Learned a lot ty

[@gregggibson3109]

Thanks for taking the time to produce this video. I’ve never used a vibratory tumbler to coat bullets, do you feel that that is the secret to the durable coating that you’ve achieved?

[@bobsudds8554]

Can you please link the info on the hollowpoint moulds you are using. Thanks, keep up the good videos..

[@gruntspy44]

Yeah bacons method works well for me. Especially the hollows

[@lennyround-n8xlq]

One thing you can do is dump the boolits in cold water right out of the oven. The powder coat skin will seize up tighter. 👍🏻

[@patrickbyrne2952]

Nice job

[@turbo-yu6eg]

For someone who wants to get into powder coating and doesn't care about any specific color but has a "function over form" attitude which specific powder choice would you specifically recommend as the best powder to use, and from where? Specifically, first/primary use would be to use on the Lee TL309-230-5R for loading in 300-blackout (that bullet isn't working well for me with just regular tumble lube). I want to add diameter to their "as cast size" which my mold even with good alloy is just barely dropping at 0.309" and I think the boat tail design is part of the problem as well and I have heard powder coating helps a lot with curing gas cutting issues on bevel base bullet designs in magnum revolver loads ~ so assuming it would help with the Lee boat tail design of this bullet for the 300-blackout.

[@dacoelec]

Amen bro!

[@GunFunZS]

I'm going to get some of those baskets. $5 each is great. Where is the last range in your intro clip. If Suntides keeps a steel range like that set up, I am a lot more motivated to get a membership.

[@thebiggestcheese54]

I started using lead that was taken from the ballast of a boat too. It is VERY hard. Not sure what the BHN number is but has to be high. I had a tough time breaking up the 20 lb ingots I bought - tried a log splitter to make slivers to put in my 20 lb Lee lead pot. That was not very successful. Eventually formed 1 lb ingots.

[@wkelley4127]

Excellent video! Questions on 'Powder by the Pound' products: Is it Steel Blue or Steel Blue S that works good ? Also which is better, Kawasaki Green or Mirror Green ? Have you tried Mirror Red ? Thank you. Ward

[@mr.matthews67]

I'm out here anyways... Might as well enjoy what I'm doing. Good stuff man. 🤠👌

[@1300nessie]

Here may be an idea to stand them up easier. Take those plastic bullet trays loaded ones come in and glue two or three together. Put your powder coated bullets in those nose first then your oven tray on top and flip it over. They should stay standing and evenly spaced.

[@luckyshotammunitiongunsllc2369]

Look good dude😊

[@594marco]

Great video’s man 👍. I was wondering what is your ratio for your casting mix? How much wheel weight lead to pure lead? Keep up the good work!! Cheers

[@minutemencoffee]

Its a hodge podge of mixture. Sometimes I use 85/10/5 Lead, tin and antimony, other times I just cast the wheel weights. Lately I have been cutting down and melting lead from a couple of 1000 lb blocks of pure. Thanks for watching! I appreciate the feedback.

[@michael184272]

Very informative video..thanks Would like to get started in powder coating bullets..I don't cast my own so the boxes of lazer cast bullets that I have previously purchased obviously are pre lubed..Can I still use these and if so how do I get the bullets cleaned

[@toml802]

Very informative! I’m just getting into the cast bullet thing and I have a question. I have an old bag of 7-1/2 shot leftover from trap shooting days. I have no idea what the alloy of that would be. Just wondering if you know of anyone melting it down for cast bullets?

[@coatsbrothersfirearms8406]

One of the better videos I've watched lately. Awesome stuff. Maybe I missed it. How long do you run the bullets in the tumbler with the PC? Many thanks. Walter

[@minutemencoffee]

I usually run the tumbler for about 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the bullet. Basically trial and error. It's not like we cant recycle the bad ones right??? Thanks for watching!

[@tires2burn]

After you go through all this work , do you pick up all your lead when your done shooting? Just curious.

[@geoffreypenuel2746]

I just stumbled upon your channel, good stuff man. I'm about to start casting and PC as well. Do you have any recommendations on a good white powder? I've seen a bunch that don't seem to coat well. Thanks man

[@robbiekipping1124]

Brilliant

[@tkarlmann]

Where do you get the small trays that fit in the oven? What HF thermometer was that? I can't find any HF thermometers that looked like the one you used for less than $26. Ebay has some starting at $8.19. What oven do you use -- it looked new. (I'm just getting into casting & powder coating.)

[@paulscountry456]

Does that effect chamber pressure? Do you know if those powders are epoxy or polyester?.

[@richardbrouillette7690]

Was watching one of your videos and you said u drumel the extent holes on witch side do u grind the incoming or out going side of the ball travel

[@adamlong54]

The polymer coated bullets. Have always shot better than lead or copper jacketed bullets. Its like slick50 Teflon clean barrels and very accurate

[@wayneeck9805]

My question is, How do you get that powder to stick, so good, to your bullets?? I started powder coating a while back, but I have trouble with most powders not sticking to the bullet, Harbor freight being one of them, I have found one, out of three ordered, from the The Powder Store that does almost a good job. the other two, no coverage, just dulled the lead by the tumbler. So how do you prep you bullets before you put them in the tumbler, to get such good coverage and not come off, handling it? Or is it my soft lead. I use a lead with a BHN of abut 8.

[@SaltyJim]

Which color from what company have you found has best adherence and coverage?

[@guypurinton2228]

Everyone talks about what temp and how long to bake them, but nobody talks about what to do with them after the time is up in the oven. I saw one guy would take them out of the oven and dump into a big bucket of water. Is this the "norm" ? Thanks and great video!

[@yolo-qr2fq]

Dropping them in a bucket of water helps separate the bullets after powder coat for some. It doesn't hurt them and because they don't get hot enough it doesn't change the BHN.

[@trikkeingferret]

Great videos. How long? At what temp are you heating them?

[@minutemencoffee]

Powder by the pound recommends 400 degrees for 10 minutes

[@jakew4007]

I'm just starting casting bullets. Do I need to hard cast the bullets if I'm powder coating for 9mm?

[@dhallftworth1]

Does lead hardness matter as much, when you coat them?

[@rodneil5920]

Do some colors work better than others in the Powder by the Pound brand ? I'm new to powder coating and in watching videos some say that different colors of some brands don't work as well as others. Does the color matter ? Thank you!

[@gasparoochie]

I learned alot from your video with great ideas. One thing that I'd love to know is where did you get those wire baskets ? Possibly a website where they are availble would help. Thanks again for the ideas from your video.

[@tommywilliams8359]

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

[@gasparoochie]

Tommy thanks for the idea of where to look for the wire baskets but I wasn't able to find them. Maybe I didn't put in the correct words for the search. Would you please give me the correct words for the search so I can find them ? These basket trays certainly look like they are better suited for standing up the bullets on the trays for when they go in the oven for baking them. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks

[@tommywilliams8359]

@@gasparoochie Squared Away™ 6-Inch x 12-Inch Mesh Drawer Organizer in Matte Nickel

[@jsmith4368]

What tumbler are you using? Thank you.

[@1911geek]

Where did you buy the your lead bullets unlubed "raw" for coating

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

I just subbed based on what you said about the second amendment

[@Tay-ky3fi]

How many 9mm /556/300 bullets does 1lb coat? Thank you

[@bretthovey5634]

hi i am using eastwood powder and i have to be extremely careful as the powder will come off when handling the bullets. also can you put a link up for the baskets please

[@roger_revo]

Did you size these bullets before or after powder coating?

[@minutemencoffee]

RogerRevo I size them after the powdercoating.

[@DanielHunterUSA]

What is that mold named again?

[@sagesid7489]

What was the diameter before and after powder coating?

[@jerrythompson9111]

When recasting, powder coated bullets what does it do to your leadpot?

[@D70340]

All the junk floats to the top. You just skim it off.

[@waynefelker3103]

WHERE DID YOU FIND THE TRAYS?

[@kittensausage5901]

I don’t know if anyone else has asked, but do you size your bullets before or after you PC? Or both?

[@minutemencoffee]

Chester Crow after I powder coat them. Without the coating, the lead would gum up the sizing dies. Thanks for watching!

[@thomasleonard3926]

Where can I find baskets like that to use for powder coating

[@LSUtiger607]

He said he bought them at Bed Bath and Beyond.

[@rb67mustang]

You are able to shoot more because you are saving. If you shot only factory fresh ammo, I think you would see the difference in cost.

[@jimmypage4753]

what are those baskets called exactly? trying to find them on amazon because i looked for them at my local ACE hardware store and no luck

[@minutemencoffee]

Risky Business go to bed bath and beyond. They are $4.99 each

[@Billbobaker]

Can we use the load data for jacketed bullet of the same weight for reloading polymer powder coated bullets?

[@minutemencoffee]

That is usually how we do it, we work up the loads on a 5 round basis with a light load and working your way up. I have pushed my 9mm to over 1300fps with my CZ with no issues. I hope this helps Thanks for watching!

[@toddfritz5036]

Could you place the coated bullets, into an old plastic "shell holder" , up side down, from a box of bullets, nose first, then just flip them over into your pan? They would stand up, you might not get as many in a pan, but it might be faster. I don't know... just thinking outside the "box of bullets." lol

[@toddfritz5036]

OOOooopps. I guess someone else had the same idea. Thank you for the video.

[@garypic4083]

Whats the point in powder coating bullets

[@kansasfreeman]

What powder are using here ?

[@beverlygolden9893]

Great video thanks for taking the time but I was on BBB website and cant find those baskets, do you recall exactly what theyre called ? i made some from 1/4 hardware cloth and are nice but collapse under alot of weight , thanks

[@AndyCinDallas]

Mesh Drawer Organizers

[@tommywilliams8359]

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

[@Jeff-hn7gi]

Can you give us your velocity?

[@kristoffersetzer9169]

Looking at casting my own bullets as well due to ease of getting lead, how long does the powder coat last as far as amount of bullets coated?

[@minutemencoffee]

Kristoffer Setzer, I am still using the same 2lb container and hve PCd about 5000 per 1lb of powder. I have about 20 difderent colors from multiple manufacturers so it will be a while unril I run out. Thanks for watching!

[@dmvmsp]

Do you size your powder coated bullets or don’t need to?

[@D70340]

Absolutely size them!

[@austinparton9761]

Is that mirror green or a different color? I'm about to make a order tomorrow and would like to see that color on my lead!!!

[@minutemencoffee]

Austin Parton it is mirror green and i think a bit of light blue or the neon yellow... crap, I don't remember

[@austinparton9761]

Bullets for Freedom and Liberty It's all good, I've decided on mirror green for my 9mm. Thank you for all you do. You answered powder coating questions that the other KZbin big wigs couldnt

[@michiganlifepreppers540]

Ok I’m new to powder coating. I’m starting with the harbor freight powders. No matter what I do, I cannot get the powder to stick. I’ve tried all the methods. Should I just try a new powder? Ugh. This has become frustrating.

[@minutemencoffee]

Michigan Life Preppers we all have started with the harbor freight powders... usually end up with the eastwood or Powder by the pound. There is a lot of different methods to use as far as getting it to stick. Elvis Ammo has always been successful with his methods thanks for watching!

[@brendarichey3237]

.

[@7mmstw100]

i cant seem to get the powder to stick to the boolits

[@yolo-qr2fq]

Use the right container and maybe preheat the bullets for 2 minutes then try an powder coat.

[@edstimator1]

I don't work nearly as hard as you do to knock of the powder that I just worked to put on.

[@amats3]

Hm... I tried the Tumbler with Eastwood mirror black and after 20 min...an hour...still not coating. 🤔 ?? Must be the powder 😕

[@tires2burn]

What happens when lead WW's are no longer available? In Wa state lead is banned just like everything else.

[@skipallen3309]

So with the PC, what is the size of the 40 bullets? Do you have to size them? I'm new to the casting business.

[@minutemencoffee]

Skip Allen, they are cast at .401 After they are cast and powder coated, run them through a .401 sizing die Amazon sells the Lee kit for about 24.00 Yes, you will need to size them as any discrepancies in your mold and Bullet will be brought into specs. Hope that helps

[@skipallen3309]

@@minutemencoffee Thanks! Good information, very helpful!

[@uclajd]

Is that just a regular steel pan, or no stick? Ever use no stick foil?

[@minutemencoffee]

Jim D it’s just a mesh pan I got at bed bath and beyond for five bucks I’ve used non stick foil but it wasn’t what I was looking for

[@roger_revo]

What is the name of the green powder and its distributor you using in this video?

[@minutemencoffee]

The green I used was a 50/50 combination of Mirror Green and the Springfield Yellow. Thanks for watching!

[@roger_revo]

Did you purchase them both from Powder by the Pound?

[@minutemencoffee]

Yes... I purchased them from Powder by the Pound they are great to work with. The extra 2.00 for the container makes it worth it.

[@patriotkieler9750]

We just need a progun KZbin competitor that we can all jump too.

[@minutemencoffee]

agreed, the amount of time, money and lead we spend to make these videos only to have some "anti" shill flag them, and then we don't meet community standards and it disapears. Frustrating to say the least. Thanks for watching!

[@johnthompson960]

What about sizing the bullet, before or after coating or both??

[@minutemencoffee]

John Thompson sizing the bullet before you powder coat doesn't work unless you live the bullets. The PC coats the bullet making it easier to size. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching

[@johnthompson960]

So far my problem is with Lee mold for 45colt 255gr flat nose, they are dropping at .4545. After coating they are about 458. I can barely get them thru the lee .452 sizer. They look like the coating is thinning out after passing thru. So I lube them and put them thru a lyman .451 sizer then after coating I use the Lee sizer .452. What a pain!!

[@mariom3900]

They got the same ones at family dollar for like 2 dollars

[@minutemencoffee]

well... there you go. You just saved 3 bucks! Awesome!

[@rodneykratzer7933]

Do you degrease the bullets before you put them in the powder??

[@minutemencoffee]

There is no grease used. They are poured, then powder coated, then we run them through the sizing die to get to final size.

[@MegaRiffraff]

Is there any color that’s works best ? I’ve tried hf black but can’t get it to stick

[@minutemencoffee]

MegaRiffraff HF black doesn't stick well for anyone... The Ford light blue, mirror anything, the irredecent colors usually take two coats. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@MegaRiffraff]

Bullets for Freedom and Liberty thanks for the help , I ordered mirror blue from pbtp today, see how that goes.

[@cobia1794]

Just subbed... Your 9mm, What do you size to? If you don't mind... .356 , 357 many say .358?? I got the .358 sizer Just wondering... Really a great Vid here! Elvis is a good dude, finally unsubbed, the one about tempering/annealing with shortest oven time, put me over my attention threshold.

[@watsonomerta3231]

Nice tshirt my friend

[@aolinger680]

I guess I need to find Fortune Cookie's video to get any info about using a vibratory tumbler instead of a plastic bowl or bucket.

[@minutemencoffee]

A Olinger get an extra tumbler and a small container of air soft bbs As your powder and tumble for 8-10 minutes It’s not that difficult Get a wire mesh basket and a piece of flat cardboard to dump them on to and bake them up like normal.

[@edheinz4134]

Why not stack them upside down in an empty segregated bullet box and then set your pan upside down on the bullet boxes and flip it over to stack them straight up ?Thatway you don't have painstakingly stack them

[@minutemencoffee]

we actually use bullet trays, nose down and then flip them. it works great. The point of me doing it this way was to show how the PC adheres to the lead even with the handling of the bullets. Thanks for watching, I appreciate the feedback!

[@chriskoort5717]

11:36 - LOL. This video was made in 2018. Current year kinda trumps that.

[@waynefelker3103]

OR BASKETS