Wheel weight melting and making cheep bullets

Honestly, never noticed that temp is that important.

I watch until powder goes shiny, then give it another 5 minutes or so. You've left therm.in too long when paint starts slumping around base
 
I used old wheel weights for years, 200gr HG68 Semi wad cutter in a four cavity mould. Thousands and thousands cranked up to the old school IPSC major power factor. Never an issue with fouling or accuracy. I got them free from local mechanics and wheel shops, saved a small fortune with minimal time over the casting furnace. Two of us split the cost of the sizer, mould and Lee casting furnace. It more then paid for itself in the first season
 
Yeah it’s interesting hearing different things from people who have done it by eye for years and
Reading peoples story’s about how they fallow a recipe to the T and both end up with the same
Quality and out come in there casting and powder coating
 
Picked up some Eastwood lime green to slap on some slugs. Different colours are gonna lay down and have a different thickness due to pigments. And it was on sale so bonus lol mini convection oven is ready to do.
What are people doing for times and temps?
200’c 15-20min?

I suggest you get a accurate oven temperature gauge. The Black and Decker oven I bought was over 50 degrees out from what the dial setting was. I just use a bead probe from a Fluke meter through the door.
I’m using 400 degrees F for 20 minutes with Eastwood powder and they come out really nice.
 
I suggest you get a accurate oven temperature gauge. The Black and Decker oven I bought was over 50 degrees out from what the dial setting was. I just use a bead probe from a Fluke meter through the door.
I’m using 400 degrees F for 20 minutes with Eastwood powder and they come out really nice.

Getting or making a PID controller is a great way to go. Keeps the leadpot within a few degrees for awesome casting consistency.

When you have a bucket of bullets cast drill a hole in the toaster oven and bypass the cheap temp controller for accurate temperature while powder coating.

No more guess work!
 

Well I tried out my powder coating for the first time and had decent success.
Alittle more fine tuning and waiting for the 20min with this Eastwood powder but they are coated, I went with 15mim and I have a few ugly ones but they will work for now.
 


Loaded up some more of my 45acp cast 230 RNs said and done $7-8 to make 100
For the little effort involved this has become a good hobby for cutting costs. I used the lee
Wax on this batch of 45 because I had them done and ready before I started powder coating.
 
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Well I did alittle more playing around with this powder coating. I tried doing the pour into the pan and hope for the best...I found it’s harder to get a even temp and the batch flubbed and peeled and the temp got away from me. Did another batch where I stood them all up and payed more attention to the temp and they all came out very well with a good coat. With a convection oven the temp is about 20’-30’ higher then what the oven tells you it is and that difference really poochs the batch.
 
I am shake and making with a #5 tub and plastic balls I am getting good coverage. Thinking about trying static spray but that’s more money and gotta decide if it’s worth the extra $200
 


Casted up another batch of 10mm and then gave them a powder coat.
I am pretty surprised how well these things shoot and keeping things clean.
The smell is definitely different...

I need to get a .452 sizing die and I will start powder coating 45acp and stop Using the lee lube wax.
 
For powder coat and BP try a using an over powder card and a disk of lube under the projectile.
I use NRA # 1 formula (50/50 bees wax and Alux) when I do this. Makes the fouling soft and still get to work with clean greaseless projectiles.
 
JMHO I think u need to flux a bit better and run the lead a little hotter,your boolits will come out shiney and smooth. Carry on the obcession-err hobby will do you good
 
Shouldn’t need to add tin and antimony to wheel weight lead to cast 45 acp. I cast a ratio of 2 to 1, Pure to WW with great results powder coated bullets. Load everything from 9mm to 45/70 pretty much.
 
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