Dimples in shot

[Hal A Looyah]

I just wanted to share my experience and encourage someone in the quest for round shot. I have little space and 5 kids And I've always felt compelled to use water soluble coolant. I've used TrimE206 mixed about 1 quart to 3 gallons of water, for about 1500 pounds of slightly dimpled shot. I switched to cheap antifreeze and got a small hole instead of a dimple, but good looking shot otherwise. I read that thinner viscosity causes the dimples and holes. I added liquid detergent ( couple of pints) to my antifreeze until the dimples went away. Just thought I'd share.

[mtgrs737]

Hal,

I am using Straight Sun Liquid laundry soap as coolant and I have never gotten a dimple or hole that I remember seeing. I think that part of your problem may be the viscosity but I believe it is the rate that your coolant is absorbing the heat from the pellet. If you have ever made popcorn shot by using staight water then you know that it is because the water absorbs the heat too fast causing a shell to form and the inside is still molten so it explodes. A viscosity and a coolant like Sun soap will cool the shot pellet slower and not cause it to deform as much. Also make sure your coolant tank is deep enough for the pellet to cool enough so that it is not too soft when it hits the bottom and the other pellets come raining down on it. Getting the cooling rate and viscosity just right is almost impossible, but close enough may work for you as it does for me.

I did a test run with antifreeze and fabric softener and found the anti-freeze not quite as good as my soap, but the fabric softener was awful as it made popcorn shot and caused anything that it touched to rust! On the plus side the soap is readily available, cheap, and it cleans the shot when I wash it off with water.

[Hal A Looyah]

I'd like to learn more about the popcorn shot. Ive never experienced it. That explanation doesn't make sense to me. Why would a molten lead core explode? It makes more sense that the water is heated super fast and creates a steam pocket that disrupts the fragile molten droplet by penetrating it's surface with exploding steam. I wonder what coolants make " popcorn shot" most often?

[shotman]

dropped in pure water you will have a mess. and maybe more. the molten lead is 1/4 from the coolet that is too close for water . The sun soap works but it heats up very fast. If you set up a cooler thats fine. When you wash shot with water you have to get graphite on it soon or will oxidize fast.
I have used every thing that has been talked about . Some work ok. Price is what changes things . I like Hydrolic fluid the best. The shot after it is dipped in gas and air dried will stay shiney from now on.
You can run 100lbs of shot in 5gal of fluid without a cooler set up. 100lbs a time is all I want to mess with. That takes time to sort and roll for roundness
You have you have a good cheap supply of wheel weights and shoot a LOT to pay for a set up to run large amounts

[Sitsinhedges]

If you get popcorn from using fabric conditioner it's because you are getting the lead too hot. Either get a thermometer or just listen for the tell tale crackle as the lead hits the coolant. Below 350c is usually fine.

Done with care fab con will make superb shot without the cleaning or safety issues of other coolants.

[mtgrs737]

Hedges, I have read about others using fabbric conditioner with great results. I did not have good luck with it, and like I said it rusted everything it touched. Maybe I didn't use the right brand, mine was Purex brand. Sun liquid laundry soap works great for me so I will be using it from now on. I would like to try oil but don't want the mess of it. The soap does not transmit the heat as well as other coolants. The temp of my coolant tank is much hotter at the top than at the bottom after a 65 lb. run. I have found that stopping the shotmaker when the coolant gets to 140 degrees F will help keep the shot rounder.

[shotman]

If you dont let it go passed 120* your ok, 140 is too hot and it will break down your soap. OIL it dont

[DOZER's DAD]

Gentlemen -

For what is is worth over 4.0 years casting round shot, my experience is this.

Sierra brand antifreeze straight, water rinse 2 times, air dry 24.0 hours, tumble with graphite 1 minute per pound, milk jugs carry 50/55# filled up, cold smelting your lead to keep zinc and contaminents out, lots of fresh ventilation either outdoors or ductwork and blower fans works well.

I have tried hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid, dish soap and water and either they make popcorn/starburst shot or the cleanup is way to messy and majorly time consuming.

I hope this helps.

[xringdave]

I've have used brake fluid from day one makes real nice shot, cleans up with warm soapy water.
Never had any problems.

[Russel Nash]

I use water.

The shot popcorns when the lead is too hot.

I have stuck my bare hand in my coolant tank just like two inches below the surface and caught the solidified shot in my palm.

I have never used anything else but water. One, I am lazy and wanted to avoid all the rinsing steps. Two, I am cheap and didn't want to blow my money on detergent, anti-freeze, brake fluid, etc. Third, some of those other coolants are flammable. Fourth, I have two weimaraners, my hunting buddies, which would just kill me if they ingested anti-freeze.

[jimb16]

I've been using Sierra AF, but have recently been thinking about adding liquid soap to give it a greater viscosity. Any ideas on that?