Alox 350/Beeswax Recipe Help

[Tpb10505]

Hi! New to the forum and to casting. Hope to have a shiny custom mold from Tom to show off in the near future. I'm casting for 40 S&W and have Alox 350 and Beeswax. I know the basic answer for a recipe is 50/50, but then I've also heard of folks using microcrystaline wax. I was just hoping someone would have a simple recipe I could use. I've done quite a bit of searching and haven't found what I'm looking for yet. How much microcrystaline are people using to imitate the original Alox? Thanks

[Eutectic]

Tpb10505,

Welcome to the forum!

I have used Alox 350 and Beeswax for a lot of years. It is hard to beat.... Read the "Extreme" thread up in the Sticky's above and you will find my efforts to replace it. I think I might have made it though....

If it were me I'd forget the microcrystaline wax.

My warmer weather formula is 45% Alox 350, 51% Beeswax, and 4% Carnauba wax flakes. The Carnauba really improves the old NRA formula for me.

When the thermometer goes to zero or worse I change to 48% Alox 350, 48% Beeswax, and 4% Carnauba.

These are all by weight percentages.

Randy Rat who is a vendor here is a good source for Carnauba wax flakes.

Eutectic

[Tpb10505]

Awesome! Thanks Eutectic!

[runfiverun]

7% will be close enough to make 2138-f

[Tpb10505]

Eutectic,

I tried the recipe last night, and the carnauba flakes didnt melt 0.o Man it ended up being a real mess

[runfiverun]

carnuba has a hgher melting temp than b-wax does.
try melting the whole thing again.

[mdi]

When I've used carnuba flakes in a lube recipe, I try to remember to melt the carnuba first, turn down the heat then add beeswax and other stuff...

[Eutectic]

Eutectic,

I tried the recipe last night, and the carnauba flakes didnt melt 0.o Man it ended up being a real mess

I use a double boiler and have never had a problem. Melting carnauba first is a thought to try but I never have. I always add it with the other ingredients and watch the carnauba flakes.... They will melt last as they have the highest melting point in this formula. Be patient as the double boiler won't get anything too hot even it if takes several minutes to no longer see flakes not melted in the liquid.

Eutectic

[6bg6ga]

An old microwave is great for melting carnuba flakes in a 4 cup measuring cup. Once melted combine the other ingredients and re-heat.

[Tpb10505]

thanks everyone! I'll try melting them first or seperate

[Bullet Caster]

For excellent boolit lube, I use Recluse's formula of 45/45/10 for tumble lube. I then combine the Recluse lube with 50% bee's wax. You can't tell it from RCBS rifle lube when compared side by side. They look identical. Recluse lube is 45% Johnsons Paste Wax (for the microcrystline wax) 45% Lee Alox with 10% mineral spirits. After mixing up the Recluse formula of mule snot, I then combine it 50% with 50% bee's wax. My M1 Garand loves it! BC

[fredj338]

I gave up on the dbl boiler & got a small qt crock pot w/ two temp controls. It works great for making up bullet lubes. Make sure you get one w/ a removable crock so you can pour the lube out easily.