Powder coating toxicity

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Sharps '74

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I'm just getting into powder coating. Bought a toaster oven and burned off the 'NEW' in the basement - Pee-YEW !!!

When power coating bullets, are there fumes and if so, are they toxic? Is this something best done outdoors?

Still pretty damn cold here in the Cariboo for that.
 
Haven't got the powder as yet, but when it arrives I'll wait for a suitable day to do it in my unheated (as yet) outdoor shop.
 
Is a standard VOC half-mask sufficient for protection? I am finally going to be getting my casting gear set up. Not looking to expose myself to anything dangerous...
 
B said:
Is a standard VOC half-mask sufficient for protection? I am finally going to be getting my casting gear set up. Not looking to expose myself to anything dangerous...
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a good VOC mask should do the trick, but still, do it outside, those fumes are also irritating to your eyes. And, you can always have fume particles deposited on your clothing/hairs, make sure you clean them off
 
^ I plan to set myself up outdoors in a large shed. Faceshield on top of the half-mask since that's how I roll when the lead pot is on anyway.
 
1. Powders containing TGIC are the ones you have to watch out for. There are TGIC free powders out there.

2. Once cured, babies could chew on the stuff.

3. Get an old range hood, pipe it outside which ever way you see fit.
 
yomomma said:
1. Powders containing TGIC are the ones you have to watch out for. There are TGIC free powders out there.

2. Once cured, babies could chew on the stuff.

3. Get an old range hood, pipe it outside which ever way you see fit.
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Unfortunately for me I ordered some PC listed as TGIC free that Emerald ended up saying actually did contain it... I would recommend people take precautions regardless.
 
I haven't gotten into PC bullets yet and I'm already thinking it will be short lived like the molycoating fad.

Still have to size after coating, just like greasers, which I have to do for BP anyway. Trade off is less smoke if shooting indoors with smokeless.
 
I don't size unless applying a GC. long as the bullet chambers it comes out the end. What part of the Cariboo you in. Im in the 50 and yes this weather can go away
 
I live in an apt which is restrictive for powder coating & casting bullets, but have a good friend who invites me to do it with him in his garage on those nice spring days! Any other times my cast bullets are lubed with the #450 lubricator/sizer. Treat powder coating like casting, wear a mask &/or do it with lots of fresh air....
 
Sharps '74 said:
I haven't gotten into PC bullets yet and I'm already thinking it will be short lived like the molycoating fad.

Still have to size after coating, just like greasers, which I have to do for BP anyway. Trade off is less smoke if shooting indoors with smokeless.
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I honestly doubt that it will be short lived. In addition to less smoke you can also achieve significantly higher velocities over cast lead bullets. Barrel leading is also greatly reduced so gun cleaning time is reduced. Yes you have to size them but that doesn't make them any more inconvenient than lubed lead bullets.

Since people are getting velocities that rival or exceed plated bullets at a fraction of the cost I think powder coating is going to get more popular, not less. The only real cost involved is the toaster oven (usually under $25 on Kijiji) and powder and a pound does MANY thousands of bullets.

An added bonus is that since the coating protects the lead core the actual composition of the alloy becomes less critical. Whereas plain range lead can be a little soft when used as a casting alloy once it is powder coated the issues associated with soft cast lead bullets disappear.

It is a little more work than standard cast lead bullets but it is well worth it. I use two toaster ovens concurrently and I preheat the bullets on top of one of the ovens so while I am coating one batch of bullets and setting them on a tray I have two batches curing in the ovens at staggered times. Right now I can process about 700-800 per hour and I am sure that once I get the routine down I'll be able to do 900-1000 per hour pretty easily.
 
c.t.smith said:
I don't size unless applying a GC. long as the bullet chambers it comes out the end. What part of the Cariboo you in. Im in the 50 and yes this weather can go away
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60 kms west and south of Quesnel. We're 1500' higher than Quesnel, so we get a lot more snow.
 
ted_dent said:
It is a little more work than standard cast lead bullets but it is well worth it. I use two toaster ovens concurrently and I preheat the bullets on top of one of the ovens so while I am coating one batch of bullets and setting them on a tray I have two batches curing in the ovens at staggered times. Right now I can process about 700-800 per hour and I am sure that once I get the routine down I'll be able to do 900-1000 per hour pretty easily.
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That's quite a system you got going! Good idea.

I usually run two, sometimes three moulds when casting which allows adequate cooling time between pours and builds up a stock in different weights and calibres.
 
Big hello to Ted Dent. You are the man!

A powder coating toaster can never return to toast anything else. Ever! Ideally, when you are baking powder coated bullets in your toaster, outside is best.
Always set the timer & leave. Don't stay, don't watch the process, & DON'T inhale any of the vapours! When the timer bell dings after 13-15 minutes of baking time, wait 5 minutes before you open the toaster door. Its freakin hot!
 
Sharps '74 said:
That's quite a system you got going! Good idea.

I usually run two, sometimes three moulds when casting which allows adequate cooling time between pours and builds up a stock in different weights and calibres.
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I was lucky in that I already had one unused toaster oven kicking around and found a big 2 tray convection toaster oven on Kijiji for $25. I found some correct size metal trays at a dollar store (I line them with parchment paper so the bullets don't stick). A couple of $1 plastic containers for swirling from Dollarama and a couple pounds of powder & I was in business.
 
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