I'm finding it hard to find time to do the casting part, COVID has stuffed up my day job, had 3 weeks forced un-paid holidays, but that time has been spent doing things around the yard that needed doing. That and other lingering projects i have been putting off that took longer to do than i hoped they would.
I managed to get about 10k .30 cal 180 grain cast and coated the first week, i just need to get on the sizing part of the process.
That's not good to hear, Tazza. I've had enough of COVID stuffing everything up too.
My biggest issue is no space and next, just having too many projects on the go. Had an offer to share some space within a large shed but I don't think it will work out for the best.
So now if all goes well I may have a new business unit to move into around Xmas time. If I can sort out that deal I'll have about 4x the floor area I have now and a stack more height for pallet racking and storage.
The industry i'm in has been on a decline for years, COVID has just helped make it even worse. I told them we needed a different line, but i'm sure we all know how the higher up think, or don't think.
I have far too many projects started or on the to do list that i'll never ever finish them with only the odd weekend available as every second sunday is generally my range day.
I have plenty of land to make space, the enclosed water tight space requires money to set up sheds, sheds that are the size i'd really like are more than a car......
Yeah, sharing space in theory is a good idea, even if you're good friends with the other person, but thing can go south and cause you all sorts of issues, i have seen it a few times. I hope which ever way you go it does work out well for you.
Finally used some of the bonded release agent today. After mold got up to temperature the bullets were falling out before I got the mold fully open. This was on a mold that I had to tap on many times to get the bullets out. Tried it on a new buckshot mold and it worked extremely well.
I am going to coat the buckshot with Hi-Tek. Do I coat it before I tumble like on bullets before sizing? I normally tumble for 8 - 12 hours to smooth the area the sprue was cut.
Last edited by DDriller; 10-14-2021 at 12:55 AM.
Thank you for posting your findings. Most appreciated. Glad the bonded Mold release worked out.
Can you please post a picture of the Buck Shot you are wanting to coat with Hi-Tek coating?
That way I may be able to shed some light on if you need to tumble or not before coating.
I would like to see, how much metal is left after Sprue cutter has removed the excess?
Just a quick note, the Hi-Tek bonded Mold release, works very well with Fishing sinker Molds, and badly corroded Molds as well.
You can paint on the mixture, and where there is pitting, just add a little more into the cavities and dry. The Mold should work just fine as the alloy cannot remove the release agent within the corrosion holes, and the Lead will not stick to those areas.
Last edited by HI-TEK; 10-14-2021 at 01:42 AM.
tried some BCB black.
Wasn't impressed.
finish was dull and blotchy.
Acetone (UN1090) is easy to find at the local hardware store.
MEK and MIBK are not a stocked item at hardware stores and has to be special order. the extra cost of sourcing these solvents with the included freight cost doesn't float my boat.
But if it works for you, Knock yourself out.
I'll stick with what I know works, and my customers are happy.
Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor.
Australia
I'm glad i don't use MEK anymore, easy to get if you know where, but it's more expensive than Acetone, stinks REALLY bad
Never use BCB, if it's the product i think it is, didn't it take a long time to dry before you could bake after coating? Hi-tek can be re-baked within an hour if the weather conditions are right.
I'm happy with Hi-Tek, faster to apply than the old product i used, cheaper, and i like the old bugger i buy it off, being made in australia is a plus.
With the Kryptonite Green, MEK gives a darker tone than Acetone.
Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor.
Australia
yeah , This Quote Originally Posted by nicovanj View Post
Hi-Tek works great but BCB Coating works better.
Ha... Yeah...... right.
470 Nitro Express.
Hi Tek TMG Gold coating, Lee 400 grain plain base plinker load @ 2050 fps. Yes plinker, compared to full house 500 grain 2250 fps load, this is very easy to shoot. A heavy rifle.
Shoots clean.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |