Tumble Lube Poll - Stands-em UP or Leave-em Lay?

[JudgeBAC]

First several batches I stood up with tweezers. Now I let them lie until they dry.

[dolang1]

I am so glad to read this thread about letting them lay. I think standing them up is the one part of reloading that I detest. I just came in from covering my entire parts washer lid with stood up bullets and while I was doing it I was mentally whining about it. The next batch will definitely by the tumble and pour method. Thanks Don

[geargnasher]

I am so glad to read this thread about letting them lay. I think standing them up is the one part of reloading that I detest. I just came in from covering my entire parts washer lid with stood up bullets and while I was doing it I was mentally whining about it. The next batch will definitely by the tumble and pour method. Thanks Don

That's crazy! I always use my parts washer lid as a drying platform for my tumble-lube boolits too! Great minds......

Gear

[SciFiJim]

I started by standing them up in nice neat rows. The last several batches have been poured out and left laying down to dry. I do take the time to make sure none are touching when laying down.

[GMT210]

It's interesting that the majority of the written responses seem to be slanted to the lay-em down and most of the actual poll results seem to be stand-em up. I can see and agree with the valid reasons for doing either, its just interesting to compare.

[Marlin Hunter]

I'm Lazy. I leave them where they fall. But I do spread them out so them are not on top of each other. I am put them in the oven on "warm" for about an hour. The lube is hard and dry: No stocky mess.

[dualsport]

I'm really lazy, I guess. I tumble them in a plastic bowl of some kind, and don't even dump 'em out on wax paper, just leave them in the bowl. Every now and then I give it another shake as they're drying in the bowl. I probably overlube, looking into that, experimenting with less and less lube. Some very advanced casters have had good results with no lube at all.

[crabo]

SO, will a water dropped boolit continue to harden if it is covered with LLA? I heard someone say it would not, but I didn't think it was a function of air.

[cbrick]

SO, will a water dropped boolit continue to harden if it is covered with LLA? I heard someone say it would not, but I didn't think it was a function of air.

It's not, it's a function of temp. Wouldn't matter if it's air temp or lube temp, it's how fast it cools.

Rick

[ETG]

Let em lay.

[Ricochet]

SO, will a water dropped boolit continue to harden if it is covered with LLA? I heard someone say it would not, but I didn't think it was a function of air.

It's spontaneous recrystallization occurring within the alloy at room temperature (or whatever temperature it's at.) Doesn't have anything to do with air. If you want to quickly get it to a stable hardness level (slightly less hard than it would eventually reach at room temperature), heat the boolits to 200°F for 1-2 hours right after you quench them. Next day they'll be at a stable hardness, ready to go. Would take from one to several weeks at room temperature. If you use heat in the lubrication or lube drying process as many have said they do, realize that heating likely affects the hardening cycle of heat treated alloys. Not a bad thing, just something to be aware of.

[jonk]

I just dump them and let them dry however they fall. The whole point to tumble lubing is to do it fast. If I were to take each one and hand dip it, or even worse take the slimy wet devils and take time to stand each of them upright, I'd be at it just as long as with a lube sizer- so then I'd just use the lube sizer.

Haven't noticed any problems other than cosmetic and I'm not that picky.

[Ricochet]

The whole point to tumble lubing is to do it fast.

Exactly.

[azcoyhunter]

I tumble them, let them lay.
A day or two later turn them over.
When totally dry, recoat them.
When dry with a second coat, load and shoot.
The second coat reduces leading.

[Recluse]

Life is way too short as it is.

Let 'em lay.

[barrabruce]

New to this game..but..Iv'e tried both ways.
Standing is a sticky messy affair the way I do it and they get knocked which my fumbling fingers and thumbs.

I let lay as they fall on greaseproof paper.
I think I've gone back to over using the Lee alox.
Thay have a streak when they sit on the paper of etrxa lube.
After they are dried over night.
I collect them all the put them in a thick plastic sandwich bag or what ever and rub them with my hands ..put them out in the sun for a bit till it gets hot and rub or slosh around a bit more.
Seems to even the lube out and takes some of the lube off. Seem to shoot good.

When I size I use didshwashing liquid straight after they come out of the mold.
Seems easier if youv'e water quenched some wheel weights before they set hard the next week or so...

As usual I maybe quite wrong!!

Barra

[mooman76]

I also couldn't vote because I use both methods. I stnd them if I feel like it or don't have allot. If I have allot I just leave them lay. I do move them around when they are drying though every so often. It helps them dry quicker and helps then dry with less of a flat spot on them.

[RU shooter]

I also just rollem and dumpem But a little tick I found is instead of using wax paper or whatnot I use a piece of metal lath or coarse screen or mesh.it allows the LLA to dry quicker and more evenly the entire way around the boolit without it puddling were its laying on the wax paper.

[imashooter2]

Standing them up defeats the whole purpose of film lube... Speed.

[ghh3rd]

For several batches I stood them up -- either I thought they would dry better, or looked cool, not sure which now. I got tired of that and tried laying them on wax paper, with a little space between each. I couldn't tell the difference.

Randy