hafod Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 due to the increasing prices of lead shot over the past couple of years , hands up how many reloaders have considered or have made their own shotmaking machines , perhaps if you have made your own shotmaker what kind of results have you been getting and what kind of quality is the finished product , perhaps we could even start a thread for those of us who would like to have a go at building our own shotmakers and perhaps share a bit of research and design on the subject because of the amount of questions that have no doubt been asked in the past about shotmaking there is interest out there on the subject . i,m just dipping my toe in the water here and testing the temp , as there,s sure to be quite a few of us who have done a lot of reading on the subject and would be willing to give the project a go , andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 I think the horse has already bolted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 I think the horse has already bolted. Quite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 hoooo it was you that had the lead from the church roof then lol ,nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted September 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 phew a couple of bobs worth there SITS jesus how much is there , i paid £ 82.00 for 20 kgs of no;6 a fortnight ago , that makes me even more interested now . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) Quite mmm im down to my last 5 kg i need to get in the workshop and get some made !!!!!£82 for 20 kg =£4,10 per kg that seems a little high mrk 2 mrk 1 Edited September 2, 2012 by fruitloop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 Go for a deeper coolant tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 id never really thought before how they made the shot, but the machines look pretty basic, ok i know theres going to be more to them due to the temperatures rerquired but it isnt as bad as i thought, do you actually get consistent shot size and round balls straight out of the tank or do they need work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 id never really thought before how they made the shot, but the machines look pretty basic, ok i know theres going to be more to them due to the temperatures rerquired but it isnt as bad as i thought, do you actually get consistent shot size and round balls straight out of the tank or do they need work? It comes with experiment, reading, good advice and experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brin Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 bought mine fron america very cheep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted September 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 fruitloop on the mk1 how did the mig tips , ( if thats what they were ) work out ,i,ve milled out stainless steel bolts in the past , which was the easy bit , it was drilling the dripper hole in the bolt flats was my problem those tiny drill bits , i just kept breaking them all the time , but i suppose using hss drill bits with stainless steel didnt help me either but thats the only drill bits i could get at the time so could anyone recomend using mig tips as drippers instead of the bolt drippers as an alternative , due to the fact of mig tips availability and different hole sizes f/c i totally agree with what you said in your last post , good advise is paramount , as there is so much conflicting information out there both good and bad , on the subject of shotmakers and shotmaking , that it creates even more confusion for a person like myself who is interested in making both their own shotmaker and own shot , good advise is essential before embarking on the project hence the posting on the subject . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 Sitsinedges is the man to speak to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 bought mine fron america very cheep have a link please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) Go for a deeper coolant tank. have got a deeper tank now this was to prove the idea and i will have to do a up to date vid of the set up i have now as it has mutaters a little fruitloop on the mk1 how did the mig tips , ( if thats what they were ) work out ,i,ve milled out stainless steel bolts in the past , which was the easy bit , it was drilling the dripper hole in the bolt flats was my problem those tiny drill bits , i just kept breaking them all the time , but i suppose using hss drill bits with stainless steel didnt help me either but thats the only drill bits i could get at the time so could anyone recomend using mig tips as drippers instead of the bolt drippers as an alternative , due to the fact of mig tips availability and different hole sizes f/c i totally agree with what you said in your last post , good advise is paramount , as there is so much conflicting information out there both good and bad , on the subject of shotmakers and shotmaking , that it creates even more confusion for a person like myself who is interested in making both their own shotmaker and own shot , good advise is essential before embarking on the project hence the posting on the subject . yes mrk1 was mig tips as i to was having problems drilling the small hole in the stanless boltsuntill i got slightly moor exspensive drill bits.yes thay did work but it did take a bit of exsperimenting to stop the dimpleing and popcorn affect also im yosing cheep lundry fabric softner as coolent and it works perfect http://www.cromwell.co.uk/GUH0260930A Edited September 2, 2012 by fruitloop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) have got a deeper tank now yes mrk1 was mig tips as i to was having problems drilling the small hole in the stanless boltsuntill i got slightly moor exspensive drill bits.yes thay did work but it did take a bit of exsperimenting to stop the dimpleing and popcorn affect also im yosing cheep lundry fabric softner as coolent and it works perfect Have you tried the copper-ease yet Edited September 2, 2012 by sitsinhedges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 no not yet will get some from work redy for the next bach. when you say copper ease do you meen the spray copper grees or the copper grees in the tin?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) no not yet will get some from work redy for the next bach. when you say copper ease do you meen the spray copper grees or the copper grees in the tin?? Probably either, mine came out of a tube and I just put a nice thick layer on whilst the shotmaker is still cold so all the carrier burns off leaving a teflon like surface. It's a revelation after chalk, proper non-stick Edited September 2, 2012 by sitsinhedges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 well i have a can of the spry so i will give it a go . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted September 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 so could you in essence then , build your own then using a single ring 1500 watt electric hot plate , and say a cast iron skillet as your ladle , drilled and fitted with tips or bolt drippers to make a stewart or littleton type shotmaker . as looking on fleabay you could buy the hotplate and skillet for roughfully 50 quid , just a thought at least . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 A boiling ring will work, a boiling plate wont get hot enough, they have built in thermostats that cut out well below lead melting temp. I had stainless steel pots welded up to the size of a boiling ring which itself sits on soft firebrick carved at a 12' angle with the element let in. I also used a cooker simmerstat to control the temperature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted September 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 fantastic this is the kind of information that i,m looking for boiling ring was what i was talking about not a hotplate sorry , well that explains a great deal now then , ahh this gives me a chance to use the plasma cutter now then to cut out and weld up a ladle , by the way thats a good looking set up you have there by the way , thanks a million sits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 Bear in mind that besides the base angle of 12' the ramp on the pot needs to be at 18' to make a total of 30' and it wants the underside grinding away to form a knife edge. Any burrs will catch the shot as they leave the ramp and make tear drops instead of round shot. The top of the ramp wants to be welded to the bottom of the pot with the drippers set about 10mm above. The element wants to be positioned so it touches the back of the ramp to keep it hot, then I use a 6mm bolt thru the pot into a socket on the base to affix it in position but leaving it easy to remove. I use 0.6mm drippers for no7 shot and 0.8mm for no6 shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 loads of very good info there chaps just done my proto type today just want the 0.8mm drills to get hear. Sitsinhedges how deep do you recomend the coolante tank to be ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tad-blody Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 Nice one Sits, like Hafod, this makes more sense now thanks to the excellent pics. I'm puzzled where the second element went to from one of the pics though ? also where could you get soft firebricks ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted September 2, 2012 Report Share Posted September 2, 2012 loads of very good info there chaps just done my proto type today just want the 0.8mm drills to get hear. Sitsinhedges how deep do you recomend the coolante tank to be ? Bigger the better because the coolant wont get too hot too quickly. I would suggest 200mm plus as ideal. I started with large ammo tins but now use a childs metal waste bin from Wilkinsons hardware as demonstrated. Holds about 12litres of cheap fabric conditioner and sits in an overspill plastic base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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