Lee water based sizing lube? Yuck

[Martin Luber]

Was given some tubes of this stuff, don't know how old it is.

Tried it on rifle brass, which turned green with verdegris the next day.

Anyone else try it?

Am thinking of tossing it...cone to think of it l better check my dies for rust!

[Rcmaveric]

I have used it. Didn't like it on brass. However, it makes an excellent plastic polish. For all the plastic on plastic sliding parts of my Lee load all and Lee Drum Powder measure and perfect powder dropper, it really helps those and prevents powder leaks.

It also makes a good lube for paper jackets.

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[Froogal]

You're talking about the LEE sizing lube? That is what I use. I put the stuff into a small bottle, mix it 50/50 with water. I lay the dirty brass out on a shop towel and put a drop of the mix onto each brass case. I then smear it all around the case with my fingers, stand the brass on end and let them dry. THEN I go to work sizing and depriming. When that is done, I place the brass into the tumbler and run it for about 2 hours. Comes out nice and shiny.

[Bookworm]

I use the Lee sizing lube all the time.

I have a small spray bottle, maybe 4 ounces. I squirt about an inch long strip of Lee lube in there, and fill it with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

Shake shake shake. It dissolves, or at least goes in suspension.

Lay out the brass on an old cookie sheet. Spray three or four times, it dries in minutes. Size as usual. No need to clean it off.
Works like a champ.

The lube will settle out after a while, but a few shakes mixes it back up. Cheap, very cheap lube that works.

[tankgunner59]

I use Lee sizing lube straight from the tube. I have spread it on the cases with my fingers and let it dry, and I have spread it on the cases with my fingers and sized right away. It works well for me both ways, I tumble clean the brass after use and they come out clean and shiny.
If you don't want it I'll PM my address and pay the shipping, send it to me. [smilie=1:

[Jniedbalski]

I have used it also both ways. Dry or wet put on with my fingers and rolled on a pad in one of my old calipers cases. I think it’s some kind of thin foam material works good

[toallmy]

I used the lee case lube for a few years along with the rcbs case lube on a pad to roll my brass on until I ran into some brass that wanted to fight back . A friend gave me a piece of can of imperial wax he had to try on my stubborn resizing no problems resizing since . For every day use I use a mixture ( from a kind member that recently passed away ) of 50/50 lanolin / Vaseline . Whatever you use don't forget to use it:wink:

[dkf]

All I use is Lee sizing lube for sizing all my brass. I mix one tube with 16oz of rubbing alcohol. Spray on, let dry and size. Never had any issues with it. Never has it tarnish brass or not come off easy.

[NyFirefighter357]

I have read that it's synthetic wire pulling lube. I bought a quart size bottle of Klein's synthetic waterbased wire pulling lube for $8 works without an issue. No need to clean the cases or worry about powder contamination either.

[gwpercle]

I've used it since it first came out. Prefer it to the greasy STP type case lubes .
Mix with denatured alcohol and apply with spray bottle .
It has never turned any of my brass green with verdigris or caused rusting when applied straight out of the tube with finger tips or when mixed with denatured alcohol and sprayed on...don't know whats up with that .
I like and continue to use the case lube because it's not greasy and can be removed easily.
Gary

[country gent]

I have used it for several things over the years, but seldom as case lube. 1) I have mixed it 1-4 with water to wet paper patches when wrapping. This gives the patch a light wax coating that makes it easier to handle and work with. 2) before the tumble lubes for bullets I used it as a bullet lube tumbling on for light velocity loads, worked pretty well here also. 3) It also works well as a releae agent for bedding and repairs. One nice thing is you can see where it is applied and its easy to remove when done.

[44magLeo]

I use it straight. Apply lightly with fingers. Size and deprime. Then use boiling hot water with dawn dish soap and a bit of vinegar to wash the cases. Rinse with boiling hot water. Spread out on a towel to dry.
They come out clean and shiny enough.
I've used STP as a lube, too messy. I have can of Imperial sizing wax. The Lee works about the same with the loading I do.
I never thought about diluting it. I will have to try that. It should make a tube last longer.
Leo

[Tonto]

I'd swear that the Lee Sizing Lube is the same thing as the Keene's Working Hands lotion.....anybody else think about that? I like it on occasion, easy, cheap but there are better formulations out there.

[Elkins45]

Diluted with 91% rubbing alcohol it makes a great spray lube. It's not sticky like lanolin-based lubes and you don't have to worry about it contaminating powder or primers.

[Skipper]

I gave up on it years ago in favor of Imperial Sizing Wax.
Never looked back.

[mdi]

I worked for a large city department of water and power. All the electrician's trouble trucks had a 5 gallon bucket of white cable pulling lube. I could not tell the difference between that and the Lee case lube I used. IIRC the MSDS was the same or really close for the two. I "borrowed" a cup of the cable pulling lube and used it for quite a while for sizing rifle brass. Never turned my brass green (or any other color)...

[Der Gebirgsjager]

I'm another who uses it straight from the tube. Apply sparingly with fingers. Can resize immediately, or let it dry. Never turned my brass green. When finished, I usually wipe it off with a soft cloth.

[tankgunner59]

The only thing I have ever noticed about it is that if I don't clean my full length sizing die once in a while it can build up slightly on the neck mandrel. But I just pull it, wipe it off with a rag and clean the inside of the die body and it's fine. The key is to follow the instructions and apply it very sparingly. I usually pick a day about once a year to clean my sizing dies all at the same time.

[richhodg66]

I used it quite a bit for a long time, straight from the tube, applied with fingertips. Never had a problem with it.

I use Mink Oil now, and lube inside case necks with graphite powder on a Q tip.

[Jniedbalski]

Did the cat pee in your bucket of brass? Hay just asking I have actually had that happen or I thank the cat did it . I had all prepped sized primed and ready to go and had the bucket in the closet. A lot on the bottom Turned all green. Only thing I could think of was the cat liked sleeping in there.

[3006guns]

I was given a tip by one of the member here........shoot a squirt of Lee case lube in an ammo can and add water. Mix well and use something like a French fry basket to dip a large number of cases at once. Drain and allow to dry.

Another idea.......one that I use mostly.........is a mixture of castor oil and alcohol. Spray, size then wipe clean. It works, but the wiping is tedious.

However, you learn something new on this forum all the time. I had NO idea that Lee lube was alcohol soluble! Since I have several "finger sprayers" I'm going to try the technique given above......mix with alcohol, shake and shoot. Let it dry and size.

[dkf]

You have to shake it a while to get it to mix with the alcohol but it mixes well. The closer to 100% alcohol the faster it will dry when sprayed on the brass.

I spray a little of the mix on shot I use to make .44mag shotshells. Its supposed to help prevent fouling from the lead going down the tube.

[454PB]

It also works well as a tapping lubricant.

[Heavy Metal 1]

"Am thinking of tossing it...cone to think of it l better check my dies for rust!" You should check your die as the lube is water soluable and may lead to rust if you don't clean your die. As a lube I have found it to be as good as Imperial and Hornady Unique and superior than the RCBS and Hornady sprays and for sure any mica case neck powder.

[ACC]

I remember that stuff from RCBS back in the late 70's. That stuff was bad. If the closed tube was any where near primers or powders it would ruin them. I like the LEE stuff.

ACC

[ACC]

I use the Lee sizing lube all the time.

I have a small spray bottle, maybe 4 ounces. I squirt about an inch long strip of Lee lube in there, and fill it with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

Shake shake shake. It dissolves, or at least goes in suspension.

Lay out the brass on an old cookie sheet. Spray three or four times, it dries in minutes. Size as usual. No need to clean it off.
Works like a champ.

The lube will settle out after a while, but a few shakes mixes it back up. Cheap, very cheap lube that works.

I tried this and man I like it! My brother and I long ago used to use the RCBS stuff and hated it. Just a little bit of it would ruin a whole box of primers. The LEE stuff is so much better, and now even better once you add the Alcohol. Thanks for the info!.

ACC

[1hole]

Electrical cable pulling lube and Lee's case lube is a soft liquid soap, that's why it's soluble in water and alcohol. No need to wipe it off, neither powder nor primers are affected by dry soap.

[gwpercle]

Electrical cable pulling lube and Lee's case lube is a soft liquid soap, that's why it's soluble in water and alcohol. No need to wipe it off, neither powder nor primers are affected by dry soap.

Hitting LIKE button .
Dissolved in denatured alcohol and put in a little spray bottle , spritz on cases , let dry , size and no need to remove from case . After its dry and cases are handled during reloading ...it's gone .
Gary

[ACC]

I wonder if it is Ivory soap? Wouldn't that be a trip. Make your own! With 99.9% pure!

ACC

[Martin Luber]

So actual use is much different from the label. Thanks

[1hole]

So actual use is much different from the label. Thanks

"Actual" use is different? Not really. What we're saying is there is more than one way it can be used.

[Good Cheer]

Question: What's a good homemade case lube formula that will afterwards wash off off of the brass with either warm or warm soapy water?

[dogmower]

i prefer the rcbs water soluble lube, unless i'm case forming, then i use imperial sizing wax. the RCBS is some kind of soap as well as a lubricant. because of that, it's water soluble, so i just wash the cases out in the sink after sizing, then spread them out on a towel in front of a floor fan. works great.