Shot dripper success...mostly

[Coldfingers]

As my new ped trade gun sits in the post office 14 miles away until sometime Monday, decided to make up something to feed it.
Watched a few videos and whipped this shot dipper up. Took most of the day, but getting there. I think I need to shorten the ramp so The drops only hit once. They are flattened, I think the second strike is putting spin on it and letting it stretch right as it strikes the coolant. But this is my first try, so any advice is welcome.

 

[Coldfingers]

Found a slomo feature on my phone,

 

[Coldfingers]

Going to try again at sunrise

 

[Brokennock]

I am assuming the roll down the ramp tales the place of the long drop through the air directly into the water/coolant of a regular shot tower. If this is true, I would shorten the distance to the ramp, not the ramp itself, hoping to decrease the energy of the drop hitting it so that hopefully it doesn't bounce twice.

 

[Coldfingers]

Tried that, closer and it tries to form a stream.
Started screwed all the way in decreasing the distance, just a flood, kept backing it out a turn at a time till the drip stabilized.

 

[Coldfingers]

The angle of the shelf may play a part too, just stuck it on there and tried it

 

[Dutch7]

That is cool, my uncle left me more shot than I could ever use but I can sure appreciate this process and applaud you for making it work.

 

[Coldfingers]

Shortened the ramp, brought the coolant closer to the ramp, made a smaller drip hole. It seemed to solve the flattening issue. Looking at the shot from a Littleton, mine looks just as good..
When she was running hot I did some sampling, it was dropping 23 drops a second! Did my math 3 times.
With a #69 bit it came out to 10% #6ish, 10% 8s and 80% #7-7.5. Most of my hunting is going to be grouse in the boreal forest so these will work good. Overall I am very happy with the project

Coldfingers

 

[Brokennock]

Very nice. Thank you for the update.
Given that a smaller hole was part of your adjustment, do you think there is a way to make a similar device that will produce shot averaging around size #5?

Maybe I missed it, but do you have a video or photo series of the construction of your device?

 

[Daryl Crawford]

That is excellent! I'd rather make a bunch of shot for my fusil and then small batch the odd ones, melting then down, for ball in my bag mold.
You've got me thinking of a need for a summer project.

 

[Coldfingers]

I just watched a bunch of vids. Learned most from the Russian? Guys. Couldn't understand a word, but I'm a picture guy anyway.
So I am figuring this out myself. I started this on Saturday so definitely not the expert

I think going smaller would be possible with a smaller bit. The problem is the tiny little drills. 0.0292 is the size I used for the 7-7.5. I used mig welding tips. These worked but, not for long I had 1 break off nice stream of pretty lead
I did get a brass bolt to try, and ordered up some aluminum bolts and nuts, these are what the commercial drippers use. Actually looked up the replacment bolts from oasis unit. These will be softer to drill the holes


Saturday was spent dialing things in. I must of run 60 to 80 lbs through it over the weekend. Most went into the remelt.

I kinda rambled there but it's 3 am and noy enough coffee

Coldfingers

 

[Coldfingers]

Brokennock

Ok, just speculating here.
I think it would be possible, might have to go to a bit longer ramp. I took many of the slomo vids to try to understand what was happening. I will be attempting 4-5 shot when my bolts get here next week.

 

[Coldfingers]

In the last pics, I had one of the mig tips break, had to do emergency cooling and get the lead away from the front, that why it looks funny

 

[Coldfingers]

I also found a site that sells the alum bolts pre drilled, but thats no fun.

 

[Brokennock]

No doubt. But I'm looking to go about two sizes larger, and it seems that going smaller fixed some of your issues.
Thank you for the info. I always appreciate learning something like this. Unfortunately I think a project like this is beyond me. Will file it for future reference though.

 

[sheriff john]

Wow! Been looking at the commercially available rigs now that shot has gone to $50 a bag. You nailed it! I've got well over 500 lbs of lead ingots in the barn, considered a shot-maker to convert lead to cash. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Brokennock]

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