Imperial sizing wax. Has anybody tried making it better ?

[FLYCUTTER]

Has anyone tried to duplicate or improve on Imperial die wax ? That stuff is over $4. a ounce and I know there are a lot of intelligent minds out there that can make this stuff cheaper.

[runfiverun]

I probably have a tin of it somewhere [shrug]
but quit using it when I started making lanolin and castor oil and neets foot oil lube.
the only difference is I can't just wipe it off so I toss my cases in the dry tumbler after sizing now.

[M-Tecs]

I just started using this http://www.sharpshootr.com/royal-case-die-lube/

It's $11.99 for 8 ounces

[Randy Bohannon]

The sharpshootr case lube was recommended to me 10 years ago and still using my first container, best stuff I have ever used.

[GhostHawk]

Anything with lanolin seems to work for me.

Ben's Red works for most things.

Homemade vasoline being roughly equal parts of Beeswax, Coconut oil, and Olive oil alone or with Lanolin works fine.

But the biggest single difference for me was de-priming with a hand de-primer, citric acid wash, rinse, dry before it ever see's my dies.

[skeettx]

I use it ALOT and have never run out of the original tin, I do have two others standing by for service
but may not ever need them
Mike

[Hawks Feather]

I have used Imperial for many years and it works! I have tried some others that have not been listed (yet) and they work for 'normal' reloading, but when I really start working brass I want Imperial.

Jerry

[Pumpkin]

Runfiverun; could you give me amounts of lanolin,castor oil, and neats foot
oil to make your case lube. Thank you. Pumpkin

[runfiverun]

2 to 1 then 10%.
some make it 50-50 and some use lanolin and vasoline.
I just worked the 2 parts of castor oil to 1 part castor oil [treat the lanolin like a liquid for the measurements] then add in the neets foot oil as the lube cools down.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...319205-lanolin
here is how I make it.

[retread]

2 to 1 then 10%.
some make it 50-50 and some use lanolin and vasoline.
I just worked the 2 parts of castor oil to 1 part castor oil [treat the lanolin like a liquid for the measurements] then add in the neets foot oil as the lube cools down.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...319205-lanolin
here is how I make it.

Would that be by volume or weight? Thanks

[runfiverun]

volume 6-8 oz's liquid lanolin is the same as 6-8 oz's not melted in a measuring cup before melting just like bees wax.
then you'd add 3-4 oz's castor oil and stir.
as it starts to cool pour in the neets foot and keep stirring [you'll feel it change]
I use the mark-1 eyeball to measure in 10% by volume.
it smooth's everything out and makes it feel oily with a little sticky instead of a lot of sticky.

[Mytmousemalibu]

Tub of lanolin paste. Works just as good if not better and one tub is enough for a few generations...

[toallmy]

I picked up a pound of Randy's lanolin a wile back to mix up some cases lube , and I'm afraid ill never be able to use it all . With all the lee , rcbs , and a couple tins of imperial I have put up over a lifetime .

[lotech]

Imperial works well and a tin of it lasts a very long time. For the fanatically frugal, however, plain Vaseline does a pretty good job.

[Three44s]

I don't grouse about the cost of Imperial, that said what I do not like is that it's difficult to keep from applying too much and getting dents on shoulders.

So I am testing the Hornady Unique lube and it's working great thus far! I am kind of hustling along as I have been full length sizing a few thousand .223 and 5.56 cases lately.

It cost $3.95 and there is probably six times more material in the tub and it's a harder base so it's easy to keep the amount going onto each case thinner so to keep shoulders from getting much lube on them. About the only complaint I have with the Hornady product is that the plastic tub is too fragile, mine cracked whilst I fought the lid off ......... LOL!

I guess after 40 years of farming my old mitts are just a bit too agressive for the softer Imperial lube?

Three 44s

[376Steyr]

I haven't tried to reproduce Imperial lube, but this stuff works good too: http://www.bagbalm.com/
Plus, after you use it, your cases are no longer red, rough, or chapped!

[lotech]

For applying no more than just the right amount of Imperial...I use a twice-folded folded red shop rag. Smear a very small amount of the Imperial on an area just large enough to lube about ten rifle cases at a time. It lubes adequately for a sizer die, but not nearly enough to dent brass.

[NavyVet1959]

If you are looking for something that works and you can find pretty much anywhere, consider the mink oil (paste) that is sold for waterproofing shoes.

Another thing to consider is that some of the hair dressings that are popular with certain ethnic hair styles contain a high percentage of lanolin, so they could be used also.

I've even sprayed a drop of white lithium grease on my fingers and used that in a pinch for a case lube when I was helping someone with a reloading problem and discovered that part of the problem was that they weren't using a lube on their cases during the resizing.

[toallmy]

To avoid putting to much lube on my brass no matter what case lube I use I smear a little on the pad and role the brass on it , bottle necked only . I use the spray bottle on straight handgun brass .

[KenT7021]

I use STP engine oil additive.It appears to be the same as RCBS case lube.