Ever clean your shotmaker?

[Hal A Looyah]

Anybody ever clean the drippers on their shotmaker? Ive made about a ton of shot now, with some success. I've suddenly started getting wrinkly shot. I'm using straight antifreeze with some laundry detergent added, no water.
I realize I've never cleaned my drippers. Any ideas?

[kullas]

I have never cleaned my drippers. i guess ya could melt the lead out of them and touch up the dripper hole with a drill bit and touch up the face of the hole. It looks to me if the shot is comming out the same size as before, the openings should be good. Maybe wipe off the drip plate and re chalk.

[Hal A Looyah]

I don't use chalk. I use the red stuff that Jim Stewart uses. I do think I need to clean my ramp, as I'm getting a few "tails" on shot, that I presume is from sticking to the ramp.

[shotman]

drippers are not your problem . coolent is .

[Hal A Looyah]

Those were kinda two thoughts that ran together. Just wondering if anyone cleans their shotmaker periodically. Then a commentary on my recent shotmaking snag. I realize that shot texture is coolant related, but what makes the wrinkly and occasionally popcorn shot? I recently used similar coolant to make some great shot. Does outside temps affect shotmaking?

[shotman]

yes but your mix is very hard to control. I have tried everything out there. Oil works the best as it dont get thick or thin. If you keep temps at about 110 * max.
the pop corn is from too thin coolet . wrinkles is from to cool lead . I clean the drippers about every 500lbs . but need to make sure lead is CLEAN. Kroil soak will help clean drippers . and you can get the little drimal set that has the small bits. just use light hand work or you will snap a bit and that could be a problem. If you have a 7 drip. put 2 bolts in outside 2 holes and run a 5 drip in cool weather

[kullas]

One thing i have found with popcorn shot is from my led getting to hot. I turn the gas down a little and that problem goes away. I heat with a turkey fryer.

[mtgrs737]

My IR temp scanner reads 550 degrees when I drip shot, both the ladle and the ramp, it makes good shot at that temp. I use straight Sun liquid laundry soap as coolant and I shut down the process with the coolant reaches 120 degrees. If you leave the soap in an uncovered container it will evaporate the water out of it quickly and increase the viscosity, so from time to time you may need to add a little bit of water. I have a submersion heater I made out of a 120 volt hot water heater element and a 4" square electrical box to bring my soap temp up to 80 degrees in cold weather before I start to drip shot. I have not yet plugged my outward two dripper holes but may give that a try in cool weater as shotman suggests, so far no problems for me. Making good round shot is a journey, you pick up things along the way and you are rewarded for your efforts with good shooting shot. I have shot many 25 out of 25 at trap using my self made shot.

[mallardsx2]

Yes, as a matter of fact...every time I use my James Stewart it plugs up and is a pain in my ***. Actually I have two of them...I'm trying to get to the bottom of my problem with them but to the best of my knowledge is that they just dont like range lead to be run through them, I am using ingots that are too big and coollinf off the drippers too fast...or I just dont have the majic touch. I never would have bought one if I knew I had to use a specific type of lead in the darn thing!!! I heat up the drippers with a torch and blow them out with an air hose and repeat...


A very frustrated BB maker!