Grandpa's 450 sizer

[RSVP2RIP]

So I finally managed to get the Lyman 450 sizer/lubricator from my grandpa's basement. It has some black lube in it and top punch and size die for the .45 cal T/C Maxiball. He was a chmist and made his own lubes but I think this one went a little rancid. How the heck do you get the old lube out? I read the Lyman instructions and it doesn't cover this. I took the die out and just started crankin away and push/pulled the old hard lube out. Then I heated it a bit with a heat gun and let it run out into a cup. How much of a new tube will it take to get the rest out? Should I do the same method to remove all the old lube after I put the new tube in or should I just start sizing/lubing until the stuff is gone? Too bad they don't have a removable bottom so you can just push all the gunk out. Maybe that's a new $$$ idea...

 

[rcmodel]

It is probably Lyman Ideal lube.

It is a black graphite lube that does smell bad.

It is most excellent lube though!

If I were you, I'd just put a new stick of lube in it and start using it.

BTW: The bottom does come out, still attached to the threaded rod, or at least it does on mine:
Be real careful of the o-ring seals.
And some of the early ones had leather piston cups that don't take kindly to messing with them!

See the parts list on page 5 of this link.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/pdf/LyC_BC_LS_4500.pdf

rc

 

[BigDog(RE)]

When I picked up my used 450 it was also full of Lyman moly lube. I took the sizing die out, setup a pan underneath it, and used a heat gun to melt all the lube out. It didn't take that long to clean it out...

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I can tell you for certain that it was NOT Ideal lube. My grandfather was the ultimate cheapass, he probably scammed somone out the sizer. He used to take grease from my uncle's donut shop and do something to it and shazam = instant muzzle loader lube...except you couldn't shoot alot before you had to clean the crap out of your barrel! His stuff was milkly white color when new but now it's black and it doesn't smell.

 

[FROGO207]

Try looking up how to make lye soap this was possibly what he used. It will turn black when old sometimes.