Liberty1776
06-16-2021, 04:00 PM
Almost 40 years ago, I bought a plastic toothpaste-type tube of RCBS lube and a couple of lube pads, then stored them away.
Recently, I searched for a part in a large plastic storage bin that holds a bunch of old press parts, and found, to my horror, the ancient tube had split, releasing the stickiest, thickest, gunkiest goo ever, all over the bottom of the bin. Yuck. (Why I never learn to put that kind of stuff in doubled Zip-Lock bags I'll never know.)
My much-cleaner, and modern favorite, always-ready, fast-and-easy case lube is 1 ounce of lanolin dissolved into 12 ounces of 99% isopropyl alcohol, then dispensed from a pump spray bottle.
It's "shake and spray," roll the brass in the box, let them dry for a minute or so, then push the shells into the sizing die. Hands stay clean and I don't have to mess with lube pads that attract dirt.
My local health food store sold the thick lanolin for about $11. It is a very stiff consistency (like wheel bearing grease) and doesn't even self-level in its container.
284576
I also obtained a bottle of liquid lanolin oil (Amazon, I think) that should also work, but have not tried it yet because I didn't realize how long my first bottle would last. I've been working on this first batch for years. Lanolin goes a very, very long way.
Not sure why some lanolin is almost solid and some is liquid. I'm guessing the stiffer stuff is more like how lanolin comes off the wool in processing. It is really sticky and very slick.
The 99% alcohol is actually Iso-Heet gasoline treatment in the red bottle -- get it at Walmart or an auto parts store.
284578
To use, put the shells in a shallow cardboard box (the cardboard contains and absorbs excess overspray) and spritz a very small amount onto the brass, avoiding primer pockets, then roll them around in the box. You don't need to spray both sides. The lube will run around the case as you roll them about. Let them dry for about a minute. They should not be dripping wet; you're just wasting lube. They should have a fine coating of lanolin.
284577
The alcohol and lanolin mix seems to be very compatible with normal spray bottles. The nozzle has never clogged and the alcohol seems not to evaporate from the bottle.
284579
284580
After resizing, you can wipe the lanolin off with a paper towel or rag, or vibrate-tumble the finished round in corncob media.
And even though the RCBS sizing die for 500 S&W Mag is carbide, the instructions say to lube every 3rd or 4th round. This lanolin lube makes resizing really slick and is easy on the die.
I've used this lube for .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, 500 S&W Mag, .45-70, and even .458 SOCOM. No stuck cases yet.
I've heard this lube is very much like the formula Dillon uses for their spray case lube.
And lanolin makes your hands so very soft....:bigsmyl2:
Recently, I searched for a part in a large plastic storage bin that holds a bunch of old press parts, and found, to my horror, the ancient tube had split, releasing the stickiest, thickest, gunkiest goo ever, all over the bottom of the bin. Yuck. (Why I never learn to put that kind of stuff in doubled Zip-Lock bags I'll never know.)
My much-cleaner, and modern favorite, always-ready, fast-and-easy case lube is 1 ounce of lanolin dissolved into 12 ounces of 99% isopropyl alcohol, then dispensed from a pump spray bottle.
It's "shake and spray," roll the brass in the box, let them dry for a minute or so, then push the shells into the sizing die. Hands stay clean and I don't have to mess with lube pads that attract dirt.
My local health food store sold the thick lanolin for about $11. It is a very stiff consistency (like wheel bearing grease) and doesn't even self-level in its container.
284576
I also obtained a bottle of liquid lanolin oil (Amazon, I think) that should also work, but have not tried it yet because I didn't realize how long my first bottle would last. I've been working on this first batch for years. Lanolin goes a very, very long way.
Not sure why some lanolin is almost solid and some is liquid. I'm guessing the stiffer stuff is more like how lanolin comes off the wool in processing. It is really sticky and very slick.
The 99% alcohol is actually Iso-Heet gasoline treatment in the red bottle -- get it at Walmart or an auto parts store.
284578
To use, put the shells in a shallow cardboard box (the cardboard contains and absorbs excess overspray) and spritz a very small amount onto the brass, avoiding primer pockets, then roll them around in the box. You don't need to spray both sides. The lube will run around the case as you roll them about. Let them dry for about a minute. They should not be dripping wet; you're just wasting lube. They should have a fine coating of lanolin.
284577
The alcohol and lanolin mix seems to be very compatible with normal spray bottles. The nozzle has never clogged and the alcohol seems not to evaporate from the bottle.
284579
284580
After resizing, you can wipe the lanolin off with a paper towel or rag, or vibrate-tumble the finished round in corncob media.
And even though the RCBS sizing die for 500 S&W Mag is carbide, the instructions say to lube every 3rd or 4th round. This lanolin lube makes resizing really slick and is easy on the die.
I've used this lube for .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, 500 S&W Mag, .45-70, and even .458 SOCOM. No stuck cases yet.
I've heard this lube is very much like the formula Dillon uses for their spray case lube.
And lanolin makes your hands so very soft....:bigsmyl2: