Mink Oil as case lube

[PhilMc]

Had a can of mink oil sitting on my reloading desk as I was getting ready to resize some of my 223 cases. Thought what the heck it's worth a try so I put on a nitrile glove and used it just like imperial case lube. Barely takes much at all, every few cases I just gently rub my fingers in the mink oil.

Must admit it works great did about 400 hundred cases without a hitch. Once I was done ran them for a while in the Lyman 1200. They came out beautiful, nice and shiny.

Have been using Hornady One Shot, but this seems to work better.

 

[jwrowland77]

Yep. Works great. Been using the same can about 3 years now. Still got a bunch left.

 

[Potatohead]

What the hecks mink oil?

 

[Salmoneye]

What the hecks mink oil?

Leather waterproofing...

As I understand it, it is mostly lanolin...

Here is what I use...A dab on the fingers does a few cases, and then dab again...

 

[FLIGHT762]

Kiwi Mink oil in the tin and Chapstick / lip balm work great. My latest favorite of the non commercial case lubes is Mobil 1 20-50 wt. synthetic Motorcycle motor oil. Smooth as glass.

 

[41 Mag]

Yep, got to the country one weekend to do some load development and guess what I left sitting on the bench. Had the wife pick me up a can of Mink Oil when she was in town shopping for about $4 and it worked just as good as what I had been using if not a bit better. (Half the price for twice as much.)

 

[jwrowland77]

Sometimes I'll a dab of it in my palms and rub my hands together, then I'll rub a bunch of cases together that way I can do a bunch quickly.

 

[cfullgraf]

What the hecks mink oil?

You will find it in the shoe polish aisle at Wally World.

 

[Kosh75287]

For some reason, I thought it was too expensive to use. but if very little allows lubing many cases, I may have to take another look. I guess there's no shortage of substitutes for reloading commodities, if we just bother to look. Except for primers.

 

[herrwalther]

Might end up switching to Mink Oil after I run out of Lee lube. Might as well considering I already use Mink oil on my leather holster now and then.

 

[gamestalker]

Years back I ran out of lube and used Bee's wax. Worked like a champ and goes a long, long way, much the same as Mink Oil I imagine. But I'm stuck on Dillon case lube right now, been my go to for a number of years.

GS

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Mink oil has been working for sizing cases for a VERY long time.

 

[Potatohead]

Kiwi Mink oil in the tin and

Ahhh. Maybe Im thinking something else but I think I remember seeing my dad shine his shoes with that when I was younger.

 

[Reloadron]

What the hecks mink oil?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Mink oil is made from mink fat and originates from China, though there are mink farms around the world. The fat that is made into this oil is stored just beneath the skin. Removed from pelts destined for the fur industry, the fat is rendered into mink oil.

Mink oil is a source of palmitoleic acid, which possesses physical properties similar to human sebum. Because of this, mink oil is used in several medical and cosmetic products. Mink oil is also used for treating/conditioning and preserving nearly all kinds of leather.

Botanical alternatives to mink oil as a source of palmitoleic acid include macadamia nut oil (Macadamia integrifolia) and sea buckthorn oil (Hippophae rhamnoides), both of which contain a larger percentage of palmitoleic acid (22 and 40% respectively) than does mink oil (17%).

Mink oil and its fatty acids are unique among animal-derived fats and oils. The total unsaturated fatty acids in mink oil account for more than 75% of the fatty acid content, but the oil, nevertheless, has a greater oxidative stability (resistance to rancidity)... than other animal or vegetable oils.

Saddle soap is a proprietary compound containing mild soap and softening ingredients such as neatsfoot oil, glycerin, and lanolin. It also contains beeswax to protect leather. Saddle soap is likely what you saw your dad using on his shoes, I use it on my hunting boots. Great stuff.

Rumor has it that the minks promote saddle soap just like cows promote eating more chicken.

Ron

 

[joem1945]

I make my own case lube from a product called Fluid Film. It's a metal protector and a small can looks like it would make 5 gals of case lube. It's a brown heavy liquid and is cut with alcohol solvent, not the stuff you buy for rubbing alcohol. Mix it until it has a light yellow color and spray it on you cases.

 

[Potatohead]

Rumor has it that the minks promote saddle soap just like cows promote eating more chicken.

Ha! Yea I bet..poor little guys. They are a little stinky though, my cousin had one and it smelled like stale syrup. At least I think that was a mink.

 

[jcwit]

Fluid Film, nothing more than unrefined lanolin, AKA wool fat.

I use it on the undercarriage of my vehicles to prevent rust. It's available at John Deere dealers in spray cans as well as bulk containers.

 

[horseman1]

I have a tub of Hornady Unique lube. I suspect it is just overpriced mink oil. It also works good on my boots but softens the calluses on the tips of my fingers of my left hand. Much more convenient to use than trying to catch that mink and rub him on the cases.