MC Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 OK, I have just bought a shot maker from that well known auction site. It has come from Clay and Game reloaders in lincolnshire. I have plugged it in and had a go tonight. The only coolant I had to hand which I thought may have been suitable was some old model engine fuel which is basically methanol and oil mix. The shotmaker worked fine until I got a bit ambitious and put to much lead in at once which cooled the pot down and then when it melted the lead level was too high and the lead didn't drip, it poured. I made about 1kg of 7.5 shot and 2 kg of 6's which wasn't bad for a first attempt but I also got about 5 kg of **** that can't be used. The shotmaker is a shotmaster and the instructions call for diesel to be used as a coolant which I was going to try tomorrow unless anyone has any better ideas. I read on another forum that liquid detergent thinned down with water works as well which I like the idea of as it won't stink as bad as diesel or be as messy. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 (edited) Dobn't use diesel! It stinks. Get off to BM (Bargain Madness) and buy some of their cheap fabric conditioner*; it's about 85p or so for 2 litres. I have one of those makers. I bought it from Ian (Claygame) at a Game Fair in 1993. Mine was the 110volt version. Get it running and then turn down the thermostat to just below 4 or so. My motto was 'Run it low and run it slow'. If it stops flowing, a gentle tap starts it again. Too much lead in the ladle can cause a gas trap; also, you get smaller shot. The lead should just about cover the drippers. Keep the ramp well-chalked and make sure you don't have any draughts. ('tho keep the work area well ventilated.) Any rough stuff you make, re-melt it and cast it into 'Poundland' metal cake/mince-pie trays. (Each 'tablet' will weigh about 300grams.) The fabcon allows you to just rinse the shot clean. Using oil makes the job messy! *Attributed to sitsinedges! Edited October 26, 2010 by Floating Chamber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted October 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 Ok thanks Do you use the fabric conditioner neat or do you thin it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 NEAT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 You'll need plenty of lids too http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/si...edges/001-1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 also you can use different scented conditionner for various shot sizes .. sniff and tell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted October 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Well the fabric softener certainly works, I have just made a few kilos of no.6 shot. Only one dripper was working properly so I made as much that isn't any use as I did decent shot. Next thing is to make a whole heap of ingots out of my bullet lead and set about making it seriously. The really small stuff doesn't seem to happen and although the drippers say no.7 on them there isn't much smaller than a 6. Still it is good and round which is a start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 (edited) Well the fabric softener certainly works, I have just made a few kilos of no.6 shot. Only one dripper was working properly so I made as much that isn't any use as I did decent shot. Next thing is to make a whole heap of ingots out of my bullet lead and set about making it seriously. The really small stuff doesn't seem to happen and although the drippers say no.7 on them there isn't much smaller than a 6. Still it is good and round which is a start. Might be a good idea to remove the dodgy dripper and clean it by using a blow torch to heat the lead inside it molten then rap it against something to knock out any ****. 0.65mm holes seem to make no7 shot and 0.8mm makes no6 if you decide to commission some new ones. A bit of chalk around the dripper hole helps to stop lead clinging and coming off in bigger drips Edited October 28, 2010 by sitsinhedges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark the hat Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 hi where do you get the drippers from ?? sorry for hijacking the thred:( atb mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 hi where do you get the drippers from ?? sorry for hijacking the thred:( atb mark You make them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 Mag357 and myself knocked up 65 kilo of No6 this week only took 2 hours and we had less than 1 ingot of scrap our best run yet... the end result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 (edited) have you got enough shot there Edited October 30, 2010 by fruitloop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 (edited) i used cat jib lube as it is a dry lube graphite in a spray can on the ramp Edited October 30, 2010 by fruitloop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark the hat Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 sitsinhedges thankyou for your answer to my question,that has cleared that up can anyone explain how this is done (makeing the drippers)? mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 (edited) sitsinhedges thankyou for your answer to my question,that has cleared that up can anyone explain how this is done (makeing the drippers)? mark You get a very short stainless steel hex bolt of the required size, M8 in my case, then you drill it lengthways towards the nut end with a 4mm cobalt drill until, you are nearly right thru. You then drill a small hole of the required size for the shot you wish to make into one of the flats until it meets the hole that was drilled down the length of the bolt. Cheap drill bits will not drill stainless effectively, they need to be Dormer or suchlike and preferably cobalt used with coolant or cutting oil. Carbide is very brittle and tends to break very easily if it catches. You want at least a drill press or preferably a mill for the little holes. Simples Edited October 30, 2010 by sitsinhedges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 have you got enough shot there We shoot virtually every day so we can never have enough shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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