homemade lanolin & alcohol case lube?

[dilly]

i always heard any water in the alcohol will cause the two to separate after it sits awhile. all the alcohol was for anyway is to spread the lanolin real thin. once sprayed out the alcohol would evaporate and the lanolin would migrate around the cases it was sparyed onto in a couple of minutes.

I just did the same thing and got the solid. Pure lanolin is solid! If it's liquid it's got to be mixed with something, so I got pure. So you say if I get 99% alcohol it will still go into solution?

[eljefeoz]

I use it like I would Imperial. A small dab on the fingers every few cases. I just wipe those fingers over the case before sizing.

A very thin film is all that is needed.

+1
That's about all I use

[Lloyd Smale]

i do it like that often when loading hunting rounds but its a bit slow for progressive loading of 223 or 308. Especialy if your using a case feeder

I use it like I would Imperial. A small dab on the fingers every few cases. I just wipe those fingers over the case before sizing.

A very thin film is all that is needed.

[Gar]

I use the anhydrous lanolin wax (the paste stuff) and use 99% alcohol. If it sits for time it will drop out of solution. Just shake it up before spraying. I've tried the 91% alcohol and it doesn't mix in very well.
After reading Zerdoz's response, I think I may try some 'Iso-Heet'.

[rondog]

Picked a bottle of Iso Heet at the FLAPS the other day, gotta try that next.

[Newtire]

+1
That's about all I use

That's what I did and I found out that the lanolin paste that I got at the health food store did a better job.

[garym1a2]

I have done this. Just get my hands guey and go to town.

ive done it with the solid too. Add a little to some alcohol and just warm it in the microwave for a few seconds before using. Actually i dont use it that way anymore. Ive found the easiest way to lube cases is to put a hundred or so in a shoe box and put a pea size lump of lanolin in the palm of your had and rub it into both palms then work your hands around in the box of cases. Ive never had a stuck case that way and it about eliminates over lubing and the dented cases you get from it. Ive done thousands of 223 like that and ran them through a small base die and have done my largest magnums that way and again it worked slicker then snot. .

[rondog]

Well, the Iso HEET seems to have done the trick, got a batch in the spray bottle and it's working.

[frankenfab]

Awesome rondog. Thanks for sticking with it and updating us. I have some pure lanolin I was going to use for lube, and now I know what I am going to do with it.

[DCM]

I use the paste lanolin and STP also works great. Last week I bought some Imperial wax case sizing lube. Now I have a case solidly stuck in my .243 small base RCBS sizing die. Never stuck a case in all these years using "homebrew" and the first time I try the one that is said to be the best, I ruin a die. Never will I buy that stuff again!

1/4"X20 tap proper drill, bolt, washers and some spacers will get the stuck case out.
Drill and tap the flash hole to 1/4-20, spacers just larger than the base of the case, washers on the bolt and "crank" the case out.

[rondog]

Awesome rondog. Thanks for sticking with it and updating us. I have some pure lanolin I was going to use for lube, and now I know what I am going to do with it.

I have a big plastic tub (mortar mixing tub from Home Depot). I tossed in a big mess o' .303 Brit cases and gave 'em a few spritzes, then mixed 'em around with my hands. The HEET evaporated in minutes and they've been sizing just fine! Tickled, I am.....

[Newtire]

1/4"X20 tap proper drill, bolt, washers and some spacers will get the stuck case out.
Drill and tap the flash hole to 1/4-20, spacers just larger than the base of the case, washers on the bolt and "crank" the case out.

OK DCM, Sounds like a plan. A pipe nipple ought to work for a spacer. I'll get to it next week first chance I get. Thanks for the great tip!

[David2011]

Newtire,

DCM's procedure works very well. A 3/8" drive socket a little larger than the case head makes a good spacer. Since the die is tapered, the case is free as soon as it moves just a little. Been there a few times, ALWAYS because I didn't give the alcohol enought time to evaporate from the lanolin and always sizing 5.56 NATO. Never got any other caliber stuck. Haven't stuck a 5.56 case since the first few; just started giving the alcohol more time to evaporate.

Imperial Sizing Wax is great stuff. I prefer it to Dillon or homebrewed lanolin for small batches because the cases aren't left with the sticky residue. Lanolin based lube is still the go-to for large batches, though. Not sure why your case got stuck using it as I have never had that happen with Imperial. I rub my fingers in the wax and then lightly rub it onto the neck, shoulder and base of the cartridge. Enough gets on the rest of the case in the process. If you're willing to try it again, make sure the first few cases are completely covered with the thinnest possible coating so the die is lubricated and a little unevenness in subsequent cartridges won't result in a stuck cartridge.

David

[1Shirt]

Used Lanolin and alcohol for quite awhile, worked good. Then somebody posted using mix of cheap olive oil and alcohol in a spray bottle. About 1 to 3 ratio. It worked and have been using it for past three or four years. Works well, but you do need to shake it up before you spray. I use it for large batches of brass that I am going to tumble anyway, and that takes care of the oil.
1Shirt!

[loaded303]

Is this what Lee Sizing Lube is? Lanolin??? Or what is Lee made of that it don't hurt the powder?

Just ordered 16oz lanolin: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LANOLIN-OIL-...item19e956d49f

FIRST: Bought 16 oz pure liquid lanolin oil....How much iso-heet or 99% alcohol do I mix in?

SECOND: After I apply the lanolin/iso-heet mix can it dry first and let it sit a day or 2? Or Immediately size cases...

THIRD: Do I have to wet tumble my cases again before trimming and/or loading? I sure hope not....

Thanks Guys

[runfiverun]

i'll tell you that you DO NOT want to wet tumble cases with lanolin on them.
the water comes out gunky and junky your pins will be covered with the same black gunk and it's havoc cleaning them off.

use about 4-5 parts of the alcohol to 1 part of the lanolin.
you could also get around to doing what iv'e taken to doing and mix the [solid] lanolin with castor oil.
and use my fingers to apply it.
I use it for case sizing and swaging my own bullets.
you really don't need much.
just remember to use the walnut or corn-cob to clean the lanolin off first.

[loaded303]

i'll tell you that you DO NOT want to wet tumble cases with lanolin on them.
the water comes out gunky and junky your pins will be covered with the same black gunk and it's havoc cleaning them off.

use about 4-5 parts of the alcohol to 1 part of the lanolin.
you could also get around to doing what iv'e taken to doing and mix the [solid] lanolin with castor oil.
and use my fingers to apply it.
I use it for case sizing and swaging my own bullets.
you really don't need much.
just remember to use the walnut or corn-cob to clean the lanolin off first.

I don't do dry tumble....only set up for wet. I read where the lanolin doesn't affect the powder and primers. I have been using Lee case lube inside the neck and rubbing it on one at a time. Looking for faster and easier and cheaper options. castor oil is not a viable option for me at this point and I do appreciate the tips and ideas. I have been hitting the cases with white scotchbrite after sizing and trimming while in the zip trim. Best Wishes

[Newtire]

Wasn't sure where to ask this -

The homemade case resizing lube a lot of people use with lanolin and 91% isopropyl alcohol - is that made with paste lanolin or liquid lanolin?

I thought I'd read it was paste, so that's what I bought. But that stuff is sitting in the bottom of my spray bottle like sludge in an outhouse, and it sure ain't interested in mixing with the alcohol! Did I get the wrong stuff?

I use the paste as a resizing lube. Just get it warm in the microwave and only touch it with your fingers ( you'll soon figure out how much to use). I also use it for case forming. Today, I formed some 5.7 mm Johnson Spitfire from .30 carbine cases. For me, I prefer it over Imperial Sizing Lube that everyone raves over. I've also used it to make many .256 Win. Cases from .357. Sounds like you have a good supply. Use it!

[Rich/WIS]

If you-can't find the liquid most drug stores carry it in a cream form in the breast feeding section. I have used it with Iso-heet and it will dissolve most of the cream but leaves some undissolved solids in the bottle. If the solids bother you strain it through cheese cloth, but the solids were never a problem when I used it. I have found the liquid in health food stores and in stores that sell cosmetics and have even ordered it over the internet (cheapest even with shipping).

[lightman]

I've never made this type of lube but I do use and like the Dillon lube. I think most of these lubes will separate when left unused and require being shaken before being used. I use a gallon ZipLoc bag and fill it about half full of cases. Two or three pumps on the spray bottle, roll them around a little, dump them out to dry and they are ready to size. I like this better than about any of the many other lubes and methods that I have used.