Hello, everyone. I posted this question over on the CBA site few days ago..no response..so I thought I would try over here.
First, let me say a few words of praise for Randy Rat..bought a box of beeswax & anhydrous lanolin...I had previously ordered a pound of Carnauba. Quality is great! Funny thing about his B.W...I had been using some I had gotten right from a beekeeeper years ago..but Randy's stuff has an extreemly strong honey odor..wonder what they been eatin?
Anyway, I mixed up my std. mix of beeswax base, anhydrous lanolin & castor oil mix..#5A..this is a bit stiffer than SPG..but can still be absorbed into skin without balling up when rubbed between fingers. I use it for most of my pan-lubed smokeless BPCR & some revolver loads.
The first thing I noticed about the bayberry wax..other than it's nice smell... was it's hardness..cut with a sharp wood chisel, I got chunks..but a whole lot of powder..this stuff has zero ductility!
This made me think it would overharden my std. mix..so I started adding in small quantities. To my surprise..there was really no noticeable hardening..if anything..I think it's a bit softer..but it did make it alot smoother in texture.
I ended up adding 35%.
Next, I mixed up another identical batch, but this time added carnauba..ended up at 10%..this stiffened it up to my original non-bayberry hardness..but was alot sticker now..though still can be rubbed into skin without balling. I have found for my use, a softer lube is more accurate.
Only drawback is now I have to wait till spring to see if it works!