Improvised Case lube

[mdi]

Almost anything from bacon grease to motor oil will work (thnx AJC1). But one concern is more than how cases are sized, but application, gunking up dies, fingers, hands and removal after sizing. I have used STP for a few things, but I'd never use it for case lube. Once it gets on your fingers it needs a strong solvent or soap and hot water to clean up and same with dies and anything else it touches. Tumbling after sizing would quickly gunk up the media and probably even coat the drum ID. Most other petroleum products will be similar, but not as difficult as STP. (Vaseline, Bag Balm, Motor oil etc.).

A bunch of years ago I was in a Walgreens and in the shoe care dept. I saw a can of Mink Oil Boot Dressing Cream and remembered I read somewhere it makes a good case lube. Bought it, tried it and 30 years later I have not had a stuck case and clean up is easy, most of the time just a quick wipe with a paper towel during after sizing inspection. The only lube I tried that seemed better was the alcohol/pure lanolin mix. But it's so much easier to open a small jar, than mix up a batch for spraying...

 

[Bcwitt]

99% Isopropyl alcohol and anhydrous lanolin liquid are both available at hardware stores and compounding pharmacies and on line.

Mix at approximately 30:1.

You can also use the liquid lanolin on a lube pad like the RCBS style.

If using anything besides tried and true case lube recipes be sure to have a stuck case remover handy. You'll need it!

Smiles,

I like the sound of that.

 

[Bcwitt]

I use spray on olive oil.
View attachment 1004073

I'm totally trying that!

 

[DocRock]

Mink oil seems exceptionally similar to Imperial Sizing Wax...

The Hobo Oil add is most excellent!

 

[AJC1]

Almost anything from bacon grease to motor oil will work (thnx AJC1). But one concern is more than how cases are size, but application, gunking up dies, fingers, hands and removal after sizing. I have used STP for a few things, but I'd never use it for case lube. Once it gets on your fingers I needs a strong solvent or soap and hot water to clean up and same with dies and anything else it touches. Tumbling after sizing would quickly gunk up the media and probably even coat the drum ID. Most other petroleum products will be similar, but not as difficult as STP. (Vaseline, Bag Balm, Motor oil etc.).

A bunch of years ago I was in a Walgreens and in the shoe care dept. I saw a can of Mink Oil Boot Dressing Cream and remembered I read somewhere it makes a good case lube. Bought it, tried it and 30 years later I have not had a stuck case and clean up is easy, most of the time just a quick wipe with a paper towel during after sizing inspection. The only lube I tried that seemed better was the alcohol/pure lanolin mix. But it's so much easier to open a small jar, than mix up a batch for spraying...

I'm not using anything other than imperial aka redding sizing wax. If the question was only something other than will it work.

 

[Thomasss]

Hornady's Unique case lube seems to be the best out there. Problem is anything with alcohol has to evaporate off or you run the risk of denting the case, especially around the neck and shoulder. Unique just doesn't do that. You do have to wipe it off after re-sizing but, it keeps your handd nice and soft; and it goes a long way

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

Tried getting liquid lanolin last winter after a couple stuck cases from one shot. At the time all I found was out of stock. I resorted to hand lubing 1250 223 with mink oil. Did 600 per night. Kept them in a plastic bag until the next weekend. I then resized and wiped with a rag. This was the easiest resizing I’ve ever done but very slow.

 

[DukeConnor]

Mink oil seems exceptionally similar to Imperial Sizing Wax...

!

I learned that here and have been using it with great results.

 

[Dale Alan]

Are you folks using liquid or paste mink oil ? Also, is it pure pink oil or does it have petroleum added . Thanks

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

Are you folks using liquid or paste mink oil ? Also, is it pure pink oil or does it have petroleum added . Thanks

What I used was thick not liquid. Not sure what all is in it. I just looked and it said Mink oil with silicon and lanolin

 

[Ironicaintit]

Today I learned that you could use mink oil to size cases!

 

[mdi]

The first boot dressing I got was a cream in a jar, thinner than vaseline but not watery/liquid. About the same as face cream/Noxema. I picked up a bottle of liquid a few yeas ago and it works just as well, but for application I kinda prefer the cream. IIRC there are no petroleum products in it mainly lanolin and a few other ingredients like coloring, thickener, and good smelling stuff. When I was still working (HD Mechanic) the MOBD helped soften my hands...

 

[greyling22]

This is what and how I made mine. https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/Case-Lube-for-cheap-bastards/42-305174/

It's the same formula of lanolin and alcohol that everybody else mentioned.

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

Are you folks using liquid or paste mink oil ? Also, is it pure pink oil or does it have petroleum added . Thanks

Thanks. This is what I’m gonna do next time as soon as I find lanolin. don’t toss one shot. It’s a great lube for other things. Worked a treat on the door knob to my shop and the lid upside down is a perfect foot to a RCBS uniflow powder measure.

 

[DanK3Pos]

I've used a lot of Hornady One Shot. I've had a few stuck cases, but not due to One Shot.

I recently started using the lanolin mix. Works great, but it is noticeably messier than One Shot. Also, way cheaper.

Quick question, though. When lubing cases, especially when spraying case in a plastic bag, you obviously have no control over how much lube gets inside the case mouth. Do you do anything different when loading rifle cartridges to get lube inside the case mouth or on the expander?

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I've used a lot of Hornady One Shot. I've had a few stuck cases, but not due to One Shot.

I recently started using the lanolin mix. Works great, but it is noticeably messier than One Shot. Also, way cheaper.

Quick question, though. When lubing cases, especially when spraying case in a plastic bag, you obviously have no control over how much lube gets inside the case mouth. Do you do anything different when loading rifle cartridges to get lube inside the case mouth or on the expander?

I use a short and wide plastic bucket. If you shake them most end up oriented with the case mouth up for rifle and pistol. Give it a spray, shake it, and repeat.