Lanolin/Heet Case lube?

[david bachelder]

So I wanted to try something different.

Lanolin:
I go online and buy some lanolin. Now Solutions Liquid Lanolin, 100% pure, intense protection. Water removed.

Next I go to Walmart to get some Heet.
I see two kinds, one is in a yellow bottle and the other is in a red bottle. the yellow bottle is labeled as "HEET". The Red one is labeled "Iso Heet"

Neither bottle lists the percentage of alcohol. The articles I read never mentioned the Heet bottle color, red or yellow?. I toss a coin and leave with the yellow bottle. I come home and mix a batch. The lanolin doesn't seem to want to stay in solution. The bottle phase separates, lanolin on the bottom and alcohol on top.

I'm guessing I lost the coin toss and should have left with the red bottle.

Does anyone know for sure?

Red or Yellow Heet ????

 

[Itzdapig]

I have only used the red.

 

[Electricalbill]

Bought the RED Iso-Heet (12 ounces) last time and mixed it with 4 ounces of lanolin. I could not find a higher grade of alcohol than 80%- and I was at the auto-parts store... needed to size some brass!

Poured into a spray bottle that can be closed off when not in use. I have never had it separate once mixed.
Just one spray in a medium-sized USPS cardboard box does 40-50 .223 cases.
Just roll them around by shaking the box.

More info than what you asked for,
but it lasts a long time and is easy to use.

 

[david bachelder]

Did it stay in solution? Or did it separate?

 

[John3921]

I've never made the stuff - but I've read you want the red iso-heat. Red heet is like 99% isopropyl alcohol, which is what you want. Yellow heet is methanol. Rubbing alcohol is also isopropyl alcohol (80 or 90% concentration) and will work - but heet is better because it is a much higher concentration of the isopropyl alcohol.

THR thread on the subject: Spray lube look for a post by Big V near the bottom of the thread.

 

[Rule3]

Why bother with Heat? You can buy 99% Isopropyl alcohol for less at most drug stores.

 

[rondog]

Use the red Iso Heet. And Rule3, it works far better than drugstore alcohol, I've tried. The lanolin an Iso Heet works very well. I use paste lanolin, not liquid.

 

[Weber]

You can only use the red Heet.

I use 20-24 oz of Heet to 4oz of liquid lanolin. Shake before using, and only use a small amount as it lubes really well and gets on everything if you over do it.

 

[Cheetos]

I use the 91% isopropyl alcohol from the drug store. The lanolin does settle to the bottom after some time so just give it a few shakes before you use it.

 

[david bachelder]

Thanks

I did a lot of research and John3921 is right on target.

The Yellow bottle is 99% Methanol (Heet).
The Red bottle is 99% Isopropanol (Iso Heet, isopropyl Alcohol).

Evidently Isopropanol is a better solvent for lanolin than methanol is. The yellow Heet will work, but you will need to shake it all the time.

PS
I couldn't find 99% isopropyl alcohol at any drug store, and I looked in all of them. Walmart had 91% but that was the highest concentration I could find.

 

[Rule3]

I use the 91 or 99 it makes no difference.

 

[GW Staar]

I'm wondering where the 99% figure came from for Red Iso-heet?

Reason I ask is in the last year or so I heard a rumour that Iso-heet was reformulated.

In their ad it says, "Iso-HEET contains isopropanol and special additives including Fuel Injector Cleaner."

Anyone know if it's the same formula that's worked well for years, or will the "additives" affect how well it works in the Lanolin formula.

I can't find 91 or 99 percent alcohol at Walgreens or Walmart....my only local drug store choices....so I use the Iso-heet.....so far as I can tell it seems to work about the same as Dillon's lanolin.

 

[Rule3]

Just pull up the MSDS of any Heet product. But as I mentioned above and on other threads it make no difference, use water or any % Iso alcohol. The only thing that changes is how fast it evaporates. Heck use the 71% alcohol or whatever. Gin or Vodka.

 

[david bachelder]

Tried a new batch with the Iso Heet (red bottle) rather than the HEET (yellow bottle), the difference is amazing.

 

[RussellC]

I'm wondering where the 99% figure came from for Red Iso-heet?

Reason I ask is in the last year or so I heard a rumour that Iso-heet was reformulated.

In their ad it says, "Iso-HEET contains isopropanol and special additives including Fuel Injector Cleaner."

Anyone know if it's the same formula that's worked well for years, or will the "additives" affect how well it works in the Lanolin formula.

I can't find 91 or 99 percent alcohol at Walgreens or Walmart....my only local drug store choices....so I use the Iso-heet.....so far as I can tell it seems to work about the same as Dillon's lanolin.

99% is impossible unless you buy reagent grade anhydrous isopropol. Then once open, it will absorb moisture out of the air and stabilize at approx. 95%. You will not find 99% iso on the shelf in drug stores, sometimes 90%, which is no doubt high enough for these purposes.

Russellc

 

[Khaot1c]

I added some 90% isopropyl alcohol to an order I was making at Amazon. Mixed with the suggested amount of lanolin it works great. It evaporates very quickly and I can start sizing within 5 minutes of lubing cases.

 

[DSling]

What about denatured alcohol?

 

[stavman11]

so far the Lanolin and Iso HEET (red) is the Best case Lube i have tried... and the Cheepest..


I also have some 91% isopropal alcohol but havent tried it... maybe will on next batch... but that could be awhile... 12oz has lasted me a few months and still have 1/2 left

 

[Elkins45]

99% is impossible unless you buy reagent grade anhydrous isopropol. Then once open, it will absorb moisture out of the air and stabilize at approx. 95%. You will not find 99% iso on the shelf in drug stores, sometimes 90%, which is no doubt high enough for these purposes.

Russellc

What he said. Even if you go to the trouble to buy 99% it won't stay at 99% for long unless you store it in a controlled environment. The 91% drugstore grade works fine. It appears that what used to be the 'normal' concentration of regular drugstore rubbing alcohol, 70%, has recently been diluted to 60% for several house brands. This is undoubtedly a cost cutting move and so they probably don't call attention to it on the label unless you look for the very fine print, so read carefully if you use standard grade rubbing alcohol for the isopropanol content.

Any sort of supersaturated solution will eventually stratify anyway, so giving it a good shake before spraying is just SOP for whatever spray case lube I use. Personally I really like the Lee wax lube more than lanolin as a spray lube.