OK I had a crazy idea driving home from work today, and figured I'd run it by the folks here.
Place I work has a really nice trap and skeet range and although I've never been good at it I've always enjoyed it.
Problem is shot gets real expensive real quick and with a baby coming this summer an already tight budget is about to get a lot tighter.
I acquired a Mec loader in a deal, and started mulling over a shotmaker, until I saw the cost. I have seen similar homemade setups but they all involved more materials, tool, skill and time than I have
My thought is to make a complete functional shotmaker using off the shelf items that most any area would have.
Cheap cast iron pan (10" round $8 at wally world)
Cheap single hotplate $(10 at wally world)
Wire welding tips ~$1 apiece (WM, HD, HF, ATW, etc) with .024 orifice should drop about #7 shot x5
flashing or thin sheetmetal panel $1-3 for drip ramp.
pop rivets
Total cost around $25 assuming you buy everything but the rivets and tooling that most folks have or can get cheaply
Was thinking drill and tap the side of the pan for the nozzles (1/4-28) to easily change size or tips if they wear out.
Screw the tips in.
Drill holes of the appropriate size for the rivets in the pan.
Bend the flashing to where it is at a 45degree angle to the drippers (easily bend to better angle if this isn't correct angle)
rivet them together
set the hot plate at enough of an angle to let the lead flow to the drippers
Put the pan on the hot plate
put bucket or catch vessel under the output
add lead
turn on and let it go.
I haven't done it yet, but seems (in my head at least) to be a sound theory and quickly/easily/cheaply assembled and looks to duplicate the high dollar store bought rigs. Anybody tried this or see where this wouldn't give comparable results to a store bought unit?