TGIC-free powder that does not tumble coat: should I just try a regular powder?

MDF

MDF

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
Location
North of Toronto
Just a data point on a powder that I have tried with tumble coating.

RAL 7004 Signal Grey does not seem to work very well with tumble coating.

https://emeraldcoatings.com/product/ral-7004-signal-grey/

I'm using a polypropylene (recycle symbol 5) container and have tried with and without airsoft pellets. The powder sticks to the container something fierce! If you poke at the powder on the container walls you can see it fly away from the wall and then magically suck back to the wall. It's almost like watching metal filings react to a magnet. But I just cannot get the powder to stick to freshly cast, acetone-washed, cast lead bullets.

I'm able to get a very thin and splotchy coat that, when baked, looks like water beaded on a waxed surface. Three to four coats will give me a coated bullet but it's not a smooth coat.

I'm thinking it's this particular powder. As far as I can tell, I am doing everything that I've read about for tumble coating. I don't have an electrostatic applicator and don't want to buy one at the moment.

Does tumble coating generally work with TGIC-free powders? Is it just a matter of finding a powder that will work? Or do non-TGIC-free powders work better?

The classic Tool Blue does not appear to be TGIC free. Or at least that's not mentioned on the page at Emerald:

https://emeraldcoatings.com/product/tool-blue/

Is non-TGIC-free powder safe to work with as long as you work outside and wear a respirator? Or should we avoid it at all costs? Just wondering what the consensus is now on TGIC powders.
 
Some powders just don't work well. I tried Signal Blue without success too. One thing you might try is placing the bullets and powder in a medium size Ziploc freezer bag, place THAT in the #5 container and shake / swirl that around. The plastic on plastic will generate the static. Rubbing the container on a chunk of carpet will also generate more static.

Auggie D.
 
Ral powder will not work on tumbling lead, at least that 13 pounds in different colors powder at my garage, don't ask me how I know it, ��
 
Try different brand will work, the only way make ral work from my knowledge is mix powder with paint thinner, tumble then dry then bake, coat twice
 
clark zlm said:
Try different brand will work, the only way make ral work from my knowledge is mix powder with paint thinner, tumble then dry then bake, coat twice
Click to expand...

I did not try paint thinner but I did try acetone once. The powder clumped together into little balls that were rubbery at first but then turned solid.

I think those of us with RAL powders are going to have to bite the bullet, so to speak, and buy electrostatic applicators.
 
jmop Maybe too much static---Try wrapping a used dryer sheet on the container and tapeing it on. I used this on my powder thrower with a light flake powder that stuck to everything.. I know, not quite the same but might work??
 
Ral powder have no problems for stick on bullet, the problem is color not evenly, always got spots light color, maybe ral powder is to fine to cover lead
 
Another problem I should have thought of to mention before is that, a problem some have with "shake & bake" is that if they live in a hi humidity area, they have complained about powder not sticking. Something to try if you haven't yet...wait for a real hot dry day to coat your boolits. i'm very much puzzled by your troubles to coat a boolit...more troubles than a new bride with a drunk groom kinda thing.
 
Emerald Coatings "tool blue" is a powder that works. The application is easy, the results are outstanding. I feel the lure of using other colours, but there are two downsides: some other colours don't work as well as "tool blue."
The other downside is that a pound of "tool blue" will probably last for ten thousand bullets +! Not really a downside....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom