How do I delube bullets?

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Twiki357

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How do I delube bullets?

Short story - I bought a batch of miscellaneous lead that included every thing from wheel weights to old broken cast lead solders, including an assortment of cast bullets. Most of the bullets were not sized or lubed and I have no use for them. However there were 500 cast SWC 38's that were sized and lubed and that I can use.

The problem - the SWC 38's that were sized and lubed were stored in a coffee can without a lid in a hot dusty area. A lot of the lube has partially melted off so they need to be relubed. I sprayed them with brake cleaner that got rid of the dirt and grit, but it turned the left over lube into a sticky mess something the consistency of axel grease.

Question - Can anyone suggest something that can clean off this remaining lube so that I can relube the bullets? Everything I have tried so far either has no effect or has made them stickier.
 
Well, you won't be able to get all of the lube off of there, but I would suggest that you melt it off. As long as you only go about 200-300 degrees, you won't melt the bullets but the lube should melt right off. Stick them on like a window screen in the oven or something like that and let the lube drip into a pot.
 
Well, you won't be able to get all of the lube off of there, but I would suggest that you melt it off. As long as you only go about 200-300 degrees, you won't melt the bullets but the lube should melt right off. Stick them on like a window screen in the oven or something like that and let the lube drip into a pot.
If its just a wax based lube like most are, boiling them in a pot of water works great. I can't believe I forgot to mention in in my first post.

Boil them and let them cool...the lube will float to the top and harden into an easy to remove sheet.
 
+1

What he said.

Boiling water, let it cool, & all the lube and dirt will be floating on top in a hardened sheet you can throw in the trash.

Avoid using your wifes cooking pots though.

And old metal coffee can is your best best.

rc
 
Thanks for the replies. That boiling water and an actual metal coffee can sounds like the way to go..... Off to the garage and then the kitchen. Sure do like the guys & gals of THR.
 
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