Powdercoating copper

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Sylvanite

Sylvanite

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Joined
Jul 18, 2006
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Location
Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA.
Is there a trick to powdercoating (in clear) bright copper without discoloration? I find that just the heat of the curing cycle causes copper to yellow, taking on a slight bronze cast. I'd like it to remain bright - but how?

Thanks,
Eric
 
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Eric, if it's for the blank then you could underturn it then clear cast it. I have had great success clear-casting bright copper braid.
I don't have a clue if it's for the kit bits though.
 
If it makes you feel any better, we have had the same problem.

But, I don't find it objectionable in selling them.
 
Eric, if you're talking about bullets maybe this will help. Don't put the powder on real thick, turn your oven down to 350 and just leave it in for 8-10 min..Also, get your powder from Columbia Coatings. I had the same problem and when I did all of the above the problem went away.
 
Originally posted by rherrell

Eric, if you're talking about bullets maybe this will help. Don't put the powder on real thick, turn your oven down to 350 and just leave it in for 8-10 min..Also, get your powder from Columbia Coatings. I had the same problem and when I did all of the above the problem went away.
Click to expand...
Is there something about the Columbia powder that protects the copper against heat discoloration? I find that I get "bronzing" (for lack of a better term) even when I put an uncoated cartridge in the curing oven for 8 minutes at 350(+/- 10) degrees. To illustrate:

200812223158_PCC.jpg


From left to right, (1) a bullet right out of the box, (2) a bullet that has been polished to match the copper pen parts below, (3) an uncoated bullet that was baked at 350 for 8 minutes, (4) an uncoated bullet that was baked at 350 for 10 minutes, and (5) a clear-coated (eastman high gloss clear) cartridge that was cured for at 350 for 20 minutes after flow-out (also at 350).

#1 is not bright, but is copper color. #2 is bright copper color. #3 and #4 have taken a bronze tint - and unevenly so. #5 has a slightly more pronounced tint, but the coloration is even.

Given that the heat alone causes the color change, I'm skeptical that a different brand of powder would change things. I am, however, willing to be convinced if Columbia adds some sort of corrosion-inhibitor.

Now, I'm sure I could still sell a pen with a tinted bullet, but I'd like to be able to pair a powder-coated cartridge with a copper kit (and have them match). I'd hate to have to drop back to brass lacquer, which is far less durable than powder paint.

Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks again,
Eric
 
NOW I see what you're trying to do. I THINK the answer is, no, you can't powder coat bullets and expect them to stay the exact same color as copper pen parts. I don't know if the pen parts are real copper or just copper colored. You might try powder coating the bullets with a copper powder, I don't know. I don't use copper pen parts so I have never ran into this EXACT problem. The problem I was having seemed to be much more severe than what I can see in your photos. I still get a little discoloration but I can live with it seeing as I'm not trying to "match" a particular color.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful to you.
 
Originally posted by rherrell

I THINK the answer is, no, you can't powder coat bullets and expect them to stay the exact same color as copper pen parts.
Click to expand...
Rick,

I suspected I was out of luck, but hoped someone here had a technique for preserving the copper color. I'll still powder-coat, but try alternative solutions when I need a bright copper bullet.

Thanks for the help,
Eric
 
Eric,
I'm in the same boat as you. At first I thought I must be doing something wrong, only to find out this is a universal problem. I don't like the bronzing either but I guess we have to live with it. It was a great question, thanks.
 
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