Cleaning Lanolin off Resized Cases

[Mikey8]

Hello everyone, New to the site.
This question has probably already been asked so I hope I am not duplicating too much.

I have started using lanolin/alcohol mixture to lube my cases before I size them. It works very well for me. I have a bunch of 7.62 X 51 cases I did about a month ago. When I went to swage them, I found that the mixture dried and now I have a coat of lanolin on them. I ran them through my tumbler and all it did was load the insides of the shells and primer pockets. My media is sticking to everything on the cases.
I tried using straight Simple Green, but it does not see to clean it off. I tried extremely hot water, but it still seems to be on the casings. My next step is going to be Lacquer Thinner if I cannot find anything else that works.

I am hoping someone else has had this issue and figured out a simple solution.
Thank you.

 

[Itzdapig]

Sounds like your using way to much lube to start with! I use the corn cob media afterwards with no problem.

 

[mdi]

Perhaps your lanolin/alcohol mix ratio is too "rich"? I use lanolin diluted in alcohol (the 90%+ stuff) and I have adjusted the ratio to leave a very light coating of lanolin when the alcohol evaporates. I also just put a light "squirt"/coat as it doesn't take much and I can use a paper towel or shop rag to wipe my cases good enough for powder to not stick. The amount left on my brass after a "pre-priming inspection wipe" is quite light and serves to deter any corrosion during long term storage. I have some nice shiny ammo I reloaded in '89 that were lubed with Mink Oil Boot Dressing (lanolin)...

But, to answer your question, since lanolin will pretty much dissolve in alcohol, perhaps try alcohol to clean the brass?

 

[FLIGHT762]

Since you let the lanolin stay on the cases for a month, you'll probably have to wipe off the cases by hand one at a time. Try some 91% rubbing alcohol before you try Lacquer thinner / acetone.

I've been using alcohol / lanolin lube for many years. I tumble in walnut shell immediately after sizing and the lube comes off in an hour or so of tumbling. That is all I use for volume resizing.

Lesson learned. Clean the lube off right after sizing.

 

[Mikey8]

I think that was my problem that I waited to long to tumble them. Its like a thin sticky residue now. I think i will try the thinner to see if it will cut it.

 

[Laphroaig]

I've found paint and lacquer thinner doesn't do a good job of dissolving lanolin. I wet tumble in hot water and TSP.

Laphroaig

 

[Sunray]

Lanolin is what makes unprocessed wool waterproof. I'd rethink using it at all. However, hot water(130F) and dish soap is what is used to clean it out of wool.

 

[Reloadron]

You started with isopropanol alcohol and lanolin and my guess was a little heavy on the lanolin. The alcohol is used as the carrier and evaporates. I would grab a few jugs of alcohol or thinner as mentioned and slosh the cases around in a bucket for awhile and then drain off the alcohol. It should remove the lanolin.

Ron

 

[Mikey8]

That's a good idea. I know it had to be heated for the lanolin to dissolve in it, but is worth a try to see if it would dissolve the remaining residue.

 

[quartermaster]

If you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, that will work. I use mine after setting shoulders back on my brass, but usually clean them within a day or two.

I'm sure as mentioned above, the same % of alcohol or stronger will work.

BTW, welcome to THR

 

[Schwing]

I just dissolve a tube of lee case lube in about 12 oz of alcohol and use that... no need to remove it and, even if you still think you need to, it wipes off with a dry rag.

 

[Rule3]

Try Denatured alcohol or Acetone.

Your mixture on lanolin to alcohol should only be about 2 parts lanolin to 98 parts isopropyl alcohol.

 

[BrianC636]

Since I reload in my shop and it has a bathroom, after sizing I throw all the brass in the sink with some of that "purple cleaner" stuff that acts as a degreaser for 30 min or so prior to wet tumbling and I don't have any issues. If I just wet tumble, the lube doesn't come completely off.

 

[murf]

dawn dish washing liquid and hot water. agitate, rinse and dry thoroughly. at least, that's what i do.

murf

 

[Mikey8]

I have tried Dawn, AJax, Simple Green full strength, Extremely hot water and none of these worked to remove the lanolin.

The original mix I used was Around 5% lanolin to 95 of alcohol (92% isopropyl ) The mixture works very well and I will continue to use it. I will also make sure in the future that I do not let them sit before I clean them. This is after the fact though that now I have around 400 cases that I want to tumble. The last batch of ones I did tumble were totally packed inside with walnut media. It takes quite some time to "pick" out the insides of 100+ 308 cases and also the primer pocket.

Suggestions of what I "should" use for lube or that I "shouldn't" use lanolin really does not address my original question/request. I will still continue to use lanolin/alcohol mix. It works very well for a lube for those of you that have not tried it. When you want so size a couple thousand rounds, you need something that will work on quantity. Just make sure you do not let them sit for a month or more before you clean them.

The suggestions of alcohol or acetone are good suggestions. Thank you, I will give those a try.

 

[Rule3]

Lanolin is a "wax" the best solvent for wax is Ammonia but of course folks freak out about using it on brass, A dilute solution of it should remove it and not hurt the brass if not left on for a long time. Wipe it on, wipe off with fresh water and should be good to go.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You started with isopropanol alcohol and lanolin and my guess was a little heavy on the lanolin. The alcohol is used as the carrier and evaporates. I would grab a few jugs of alcohol or thinner as mentioned and slosh the cases around in a bucket for awhile and then drain off the alcohol. It should remove the lanolin.

Ron

Exactly what I was thinking while reading the thread.

If you used alcohol to apply the the lanolin what you make you think you need to use something other than alcohol to remove it?

 

[Jesse Heywood]

If they're not primed put the cases in a pan of boiling water with some dawn detergent. The lanolin should float.

 

[Otto]

Buying alcohol, thinner, acetone, etc. to remove lubing is just another unnecessary expense.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Buying alcohol, thinner, acetone, etc. to remove lubing is just another unnecessary expense.

I'm sure he has a little alcohol left over from when he made the the lube.

 

[Otto]

If his cases require alcohol (or any solvent) to get clean....then he needs to find another lube.

 

[ljnowell]

If his cases require alcohol (or any solvent) to get clean....then he needs to find another lube.

No he just needs to better follow the procedure next time.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If his cases require alcohol (or any solvent) to get clean....then he needs to find another lube.

No he just needs to better follow the procedure next time.

I agree and remember, he is using alcohol as a base for the lanolin so in reality he isn't using a solvent to remove the lube, he is suspending the lanolin in the same base it was applied with.

Did you read the whole thread?

 

[rldrSEAN]

lanolin oil removal

I use a home made batch of 12 oz. ISO Heet gas line dryer and 1 oz. of lanolin oil in a spray bottle. Shake vigorously before using! No more stuck cases, over 2,000 cases and not one has stuck. I resize, then using a red Cotton shop towel to wipe off the excess lanolin oil. When I am done running several hundred cases as described I wash off the rag in hot water and Dawn dish soap. The cases are not tacky or slick once I've wiped them dry. I hope this is helpful.