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avidtrapshooter
10-20-2007, 08:04 PM
Well we finally got it finished and making decent shot, it has some dimples and is slightly out of round but I am not complaining as I am sure that can be fixed by changing the distance the shot falls and/or thinning the coolant. Here's a picture of the setup. It's had a few modifications since it was taken like a aluminum cake pan or something of that sort to put under the ladle to keep the heat concentrated on the ladle as well as a handle to raise the front of the ladle.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r136/deerhunter4life/DSCF2710.jpg


http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r136/deerhunter4life/DSCF2720.jpg



http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r136/deerhunter4life/DSCF2712.jpg


Sir, you are using too much of the code,, all you need is the url of the pic..

Good luck!

dannyabear
10-21-2007, 09:55 PM
It looks great; I've been wanting to build one for a while now and guess it's time to get started on it. Can you give me the diminsions of the pot? and what size element did you use under it?

avidtrapshooter
10-22-2007, 12:21 PM
45nut - thanks for posting my pictures properly.

dannyabear - email me zanevanmiddlekoop@email.grcc.edu

avidtrapshooter
10-28-2007, 07:25 PM
I ran it yesterday for about 4-5 hours and cranked out about 160 lbs of shot. I am happy with it for the most part, 1 dripper was being stupid so I just plugged it and ran it on 7 drippers instead of 8. It was dimpled and the shot size varied from what I measured it looks like about 40% #8.5 30% #9 20% #8 10% #7.5. It's not all the consistent but it'll work for me!

randyrat
11-21-2007, 07:25 AM
Are you still puttin out shot. Looks good

scrapcan
11-21-2007, 01:56 PM
avid trap shooter,

it looks like you built a fine shot dripper. What did you use for dripper nozzles? Tell us more about your heating element and control.

Aslo about the characteristics of the steel pot. I had been wanting to make an aluminum pot since it will transfer heat better to the melt. But if you metal pot works, That is much easier to build.

Also on your coolant container, just drill a small hole near the top for the reservoir to drain. You can put a small hose bib or weld some steel brake line tubing for the overflow, then you wont need such a large container underneath. Also put a small pet cock in the bottom and you can drain the coolant and wash in the same ammo can.

What are you using for coolant? Your choice of coolant could be causing your dimples. The heat factor is probably causing your shot size variation, thus my comment above about the heat transfer properties of steel vs aluminum.

Nice work and enjoy the shot making.

kycrawler
11-22-2007, 01:42 AM
excellent application of an idea . How long does it take the burner to get the melt up to operating temp ? Do you put ingots in the pan or do you pour in molten metal ?

Single Shot
11-22-2007, 12:42 PM
That is a neat setup. The mods mentioned are a great idea too.

Did you make your nozzles???

Ricochet
11-22-2007, 02:29 PM
Your quench tank is exactly the same as the turtle tank in my basement, which I need to go clean out...

(I wouldn't load the droppings in it in my shotgun.)

avidtrapshooter
11-28-2007, 04:33 PM
Well the nozzles are made of grade 5 3/8" bolts with a 3/16 hole drilled almost all of the way through the length of them, then a hole drilled to .020" through the hex head to intersect the 3/16" hole.
The heating element is a 6" 1100-1500 watt wired in 220. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get all of the lead good and molten. I am thinking about going to a 7.5" 2000-2200 watt burner so it will heat up faster, but we'll see.
The pot itself is made of steel and I like it, I would prefer cast iron but I don't have access to a foundry or anything. I like the steel because it maintains a more consistant temperature when you add in cold ingots. I find aluminum is excellent at conducting the heat but is also quick to lose it.
Thanks for the idea on the coolant tank, that might make things a little nicer.
We are using prestone lo-tox antifreeze as well as sierra brand antifreeze they both produce decent results.

We add ingots into the back of the pan to preheat a bit and once the other ones have completely melted push them in so that are in the lead a little bit.

We are getting ready for another run still gathering wheel weights which are getting harder to come by. I think I have about 70 lbs of ingots ready to go but I am searching for more wheel weights. I think we are making shot for about $2.50 a 25 lb bag plus the time to make it so it was IMO a great investment, beats the hell outta $50 a bag!

I also shot trap with it a few times and have been shooting right around my average of 94-95%. Though it is a little weird shaped it still can turn a clay into smoke. With a 12 gauge 7/8 oz payload of lead on top of it, thinking about going back up to 1 oz though since I can now shoot way more for the same price.

Blammer
11-28-2007, 05:38 PM
awesome!

hmm, maybe somebody could send you, say 50lbs of lead and you give them back 25lbs of shot?

Blammer
11-28-2007, 05:38 PM
your fellow shotgunners will probably be scrapping for lead for that deal and you'll get some for "nuthin"

avidtrapshooter
11-28-2007, 07:42 PM
I have actually been considering that a fair bit. I calculated their cost once, and I think if they paid all of the shipping in a USPS flat rate box and paying $20 for a bucket of wheel weights weighing something like 140 lbs it would cost them something like $13.50 a bag.

Tristan
11-28-2007, 08:43 PM
Avidtrapshooter,

I would love to make one of those!

I think I'll start looking for some steel scrap...

Great project!

- Tristan

jjamna
01-05-2008, 05:03 PM
Are you dropping straight in the coolant or do you have a soapstone bar for the lead to hit before the coolant?

scrapcan
01-06-2008, 01:34 AM
jjamna,

I am not the owener or builder of the above pot but I can answer your question.

If you look at the picture of the nozzles you can see the lip that the shot hits and then rolls down before it drops a short distance to the coolant. The soapstone is rubbed onto the small ramp to aid in the shot rolling smooth. I mentioned above aobut making a small overflow tube. That is to keep the distance the shot drops constant.

jjamna
01-06-2008, 01:42 PM
Ok I gotcha. I didn't see that at first till you pointed it out. I went to the Littleton website. You can but the nozzles for $49. I think I am going to try and make one.

avidtrapshooter
01-06-2008, 02:19 PM
If anyone needs help building one of these send me an email and I can send you drawings of the ladel, and the drippers if you decide to make those yourself. I would suggest ordering the drippers from Littleton or from James Stuart, maker of The Better Shotmaker, you can find his contact info here http://www.geocities.com/jstewart1934/My_page.html. I have also come across somewhere the idea of double drippers, 2 drippers per bolt. Has anyone does this and could they shot me a picture or describe to me how it's done? If not I am going to bust out the drill and have at it again and try to get some going. I am probably going to need a larger tray for ingot preheating as well as a larger burner, to be able to keep the lead level proper as I am sure 16 holes is going to push out a fairly large amount of lead and I don't think the way it is now that it is going to keep up.

Here is my email address if you would like a drawing of it:

zanevanmiddlekoop@email.grcc.edu

RP
05-05-2008, 12:02 AM
just installed doubles on mine got them from James S and yes it eats the lead up. I bought my shotmaker and iam selling shot to pay for it thinking about making one myself you got a good looking model job well done.

686
05-05-2008, 10:51 AM
just installed doubles on mine got them from James S and yes it eats the lead up. I bought my shotmaker and iam selling shot to pay for it thinking about making one myself you got a good looking model job well done.

just remember , some people sale lead ingets on ebay for $25.00 plus for 25lbs and some people want you to not sale it on ebay but make shot and sale them the shot for $25.00 for 25lbs. i did that untill the fun wore off. if you want to sale shot to pay for your shot making investment you fave to sale it for more than $25.00 per bag or you should save the extra work and just sale the ingets and make your shot. try to get the people that want your shot, to bring you ww to exchange. if not you will be running out. some exchange 100 raw ww for 50 lb finished shot. out of 100lb raw you will get about 75 lb shot. this would mean you have to melt and clean that 100 lbs, make 75 lb shot and only get 25 lbs for all your work and exp. have fun and sale it for a profit. i to make shot and ww are getting hard to find at any price. have a good day charles

Odawgp
10-01-2008, 12:31 PM
This is great!!!

I am building one that will looks similar instead of a electric heating element
I picked up a camp chef at a garage sale ($15 bucks) that i will build a bracket to attach the aluminum ladle to

My dripper's are a little different instead of the stainless steel bolt i am using tweeco wire feed tips. I will need to modify them a little I plan on drilling out the ladle side to make it easier for the lead to get into them
https://www.mythermadyne.com/thc/en/US/adirect/thc?cmd=catProduct
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fications

here are the plans for those interested
the ideas were taken from some postings on this forum
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u286/odawgp/shotmaker.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u286/odawgp/shotmakerJPGs-2.jpg

I have plans to tap a spigot like valve into a cast iron dutch oven so that i can pour molten lead into the ladle rather than have to fuss with ingots

anyway this is a great sight

great looking shot maker avidtrapshooter!!!