Making case lube, but I can't dissolve all the lanolin. What to do?

You take the mixture and on an electric range or hot plate, heat it in a double boiler arrangement just enough to get it to dissolve. Low heat to avoid the mix catching fire. You have to use the liquid lanolin as well. Note if it sits a long time it will need to be shaken up some before use as well. I am going to try using wire pulling lube instead when I run out of this current batch. I think this will not need heating.

I actually pour the mix together in the inside container first and then heat it. Stir until dissolved. Cool and use. Heat and mix it quickly or a good amount of the alcohol will evaporate.

Probably not the only one. but figure that most all DIY case lube starts with the liquid lanolin and 99% isopropyl. Easy to find on Amazon

It would make me extremely nervous to heat 99% alcohol. Store-bought reloading lubes aren’t that expensive and are a very minor cost of reloading. Sometimes we get a little too cost-conscious for our own good, I think. Yes, my reloads might cost 14.06 cents rather than 14.0.

But in the apocalypse, I’m happy to know it might be a solution.

Guessing here, but if your lanolin came as a solid, the undissolved portion is probably the long-chain (high molecular weight) fraction, undissolved and too heavy to suspend in alcohol. Liquid lanolin is fractionated (ie distilled) to remove this part.

In the end, I'll bet it doesn't matter. Lube, and be merry.

As with any "mixture" of "anything" there is only so much of compound X that will dissolve, or go into solution with compound Y

You probably just have too much lanolin.

I also agree or disagree with heating a flammable liquid on the stove?

Why folks go through the hassle of mixing all this crap up is beyond me. There are other products out there that are CHEAP and work just as well.
But then there are those that wash brass in the kitchen sink and dry it in the kitchen oven?

Guess some folks have tons of brass to lube.

Wire pulling lube from Homer Depot works great as does the Lee lube, mix a small amount in regular rubbing alcohol and you are all set.
But this has been hashed over and over,

This has been an interesting thread. It helps me remember why I buy it already mixed.

9mmepiphany said:

I've never seen the wax type lanolin

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Walkalong said:

Do they make a wax type?

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It's called Anhydrous Lanolin. I've used it as a lube for swaging 22 cases into .224 jackets like Imperial wax. Great lubrication properties under high pressures.

Now-a-days, I don't bother making home brew cheap stuff.

A couple of bottles of Dillon spray lube is not expensive and lasts a long time.

Just drop the bottle in a pot of warm water... even hot tap water will do and agitate it. People are talking like we are using a propane torch.

For me, the lanolin didn't stay in suspension once cooled. But, all I needed it for was to spray a large bucket of brass.

Walkalong said:

How much thicker is the Anhydrous Lanolin?

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I can't come up with a good analogy. Its definitely semi-plastic and very sticky. It would take some force to push your finger to the bottom of the jar, or dig out a tablespoonful.

https://www.makeyourown.buzz/lanolin-anhydrous-usp/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LANOLIN-OI...item41975ca41e:g:PGYAAOSw0hlZE3be:rk:167:pf:0

That's the stuff I bought. It's a liquid, mixes with the Heet with no problem and it's SLICK!

Most of you are using 12 to 1? I have been using 10 to 1 and the same bottle that someone pictured here on this thread. I have never had a problem with it failing to mix or anything else......beats the hell out of factory $7 a can.

Hot water.

Be aware that whatever you have left over is going to re solidify. Do not flush it down the toilet because after it clumps up and stuffs the line, whatever your flush down afterwards is going to not go away as intended.

9mmepiphany said:

A common ration is 12:1 alcohol to lanolin. So for a 12oz bottle of Heet, I would have mixed with 2oz of lanolin.

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Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't a 12:1 ratio be 12 oz of Heet and 1 oz of lanolin ?