Hi-Tek vs PC my personal opinion

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Moose_Master

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I've had a full day with the result of a bunch of PC and Hi-Tek coating bullets for 9mm. I took my time and enjoyed every single phase of what I was doing. I've "painted" around 9000 bullets today.
Now at the end I was thinking about the amount of work that I had to put for each one compared with the results. Hi-Tek coating is by far more time consuming and elaborate procedure compared with PC. Once the procedures in place Hi-Tek is relatively simple. What makes it more time consuming is the fact that a number of two coats minimum is required. Imagine doing the same thing twice(or even three times) for let's say a tray of bullets. So yes, it more time consuming.
PC is easy breezy what a sleazy. One coat and done. Even that PC requires 15 minutes and Hi-Tek only 10, with PC the productivity is way better.
Now the results are debatable. I speak for myself so if anyone has a different opinion I totally agree.
So the final test is: bullets rushing out the gun barrel vs what they leave on the barrel inside walls. I personally could not make a really visible difference between Hi-Tek and PC. For real. If a personal verdict would be required shooting wise, I'd go with Hi-Tek. But thinking at the amount of time spent (not wasted) I would have to think again and again which one should I choose in the future. I'm still not 100% sure that Hi-Tek is really worth the extra time vs PC-ing even though my procedures are clockwork. The oven is never empty. Two trays go out and another two go in right away. I have no dead times. So I'm not fumbling around at all.

I use an oven rated "big", but big if I compared with a lil' toaster oven. If I would have an oven the size of the one I use in my kitchen....heck yeah.....I would Hi-Tek exclusively.
1000 bullets every 10-11 minutes going in the oven would make the process 100% worth the time. In two hours with all the phases in place, I could get 10 000 bullets coated, easy.

Anyway, these are my thoughts for now I thought I'd share with y'all.

Here some pictures with few bullets ready to rock'n'roll.

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That's awesome. I use both and find the hi-tekway easier to use but in 9mm it's just not nearly as effective for me as powder coating. I find in both of my 9mm carbines they lead the throat but PC leaves the whole barrel clean and shiny. I shoot a bunch of hi-tek and then a mag of PC to clean it out.
 
Compared with Hi-Tek the PC is really simple. Add bullets into a plastic container, add a bit of acetone, cover the container and shake. That's to degrease the bullets so the powder will stick perfect to the lead. Then in a different container drop the cleaned and dried bullets. Add powder, close the lid and shake vigorously to create static that will make the powder stick to the bullets. Then the coated bullets drop them on a sturdy steel mesh or metallic basket(canadian tire has some great ones). Make sure the bullets are spreaded on the basket bottom. Put the basket inside the preheated oven. Bake. When the oven time bell rings take them out and serve.
I think I made a video for a friend but not sure where it is or if I still have it. If I find it I'll post it.

The Hi-Tek process is not that fast but once the procedure in place is just fun. Takes a lil longer tho.
 
Moose, I recently started using the mesh basket method vs standing them all up on a baking sheet. The issue I am having is the projectiles are slightly sticking to the basket. When I pull them off I pull small amounts of powder coat off. Any way to avoid this?
 
Just drop the basket into cold water when it hot, it will break up.

Anybody try wet the powder then tumbling coat,use paint thinner or water, auto shop just mix powder coat with water coat rams and big parts
 
Now depend what kind of mesh basket are u using. Mine I start using them for Hi-Tek or PC from the brand new state. I've seen some baskets that looks good when new but then at the slightest bullets shake the paint or whatever coating they have peels off and looks ugly. Also the stainless steel mesh being sticky a bit is no big deal. The big deal is the coating coming off when trying to unstuck the bullets. That symptom tells me something else.
Out of 200 bullets on a tray probably 10-15 will stick to each other or to the mesh but none of them will have the paint removed whine I smash them to the ground.
Another angle to look at is your baking temp. When the bullets are to be introduced in the oven the inside temperature should be already at 400F or whatever is your desired temp.
Then I know that certain powders (when PC-ing) are iffier than others. I kinda settled for Emerald Coating as it's the best I've tried yet.
 
I`m getting a full size range with oven for the shop. Something used, from Kijiji. Use the top elements for preheating molds and the oven for heat treat and coatings.
 
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Very good idea Jet...I'm wanting to do the same thing but have to get some of the other "projects" out of the shop before I can even get to the 220 hook-up.

just a word on the Kijiji adds, most modern stove have a "glass top" type element cover. We had one of these in a house we rented one time and I'm sure that it wouldn't get hot enough to melt lead if you wanted to use it for a pre-melt sort of thing. I would be sure a stove has the open elements on top.
 
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mmcintyre1220 said:
Moose, I recently started using the mesh basket method vs standing them all up on a baking sheet. The issue I am having is the projectiles are slightly sticking to the basket. When I pull them off I pull small amounts of powder coat off. Any way to avoid this?
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it, people worry to much about getting a perfect coat with pc, i have shot 4000+ pistol bullets with small amounts of pc removed, no problems and accuracy as good as jacket at the distances for pistol.

Clark

tried paint thinner, its a messy process for home use, shake and bake is the easiest/cleanest for me.
 
I double for shake'n'bake. Easy, fast and reliable.
When few bullets will stick to the mesh I just throw the whole thing on the ground and they unstick without to much fuss with no coating missing. And as f55 said, a chip here and there won't change anything and won't lead the barrel.
 
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