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Thread: Lube Removal

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Lube Removal

    Does anyone know a simple way to remove lube from boolits for coating. I have some boolits that has been around a while with most of the lube off. I would like to remove the rest and try powder coating.

  2. #2
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    Well if the lube is beeswax based, you can pour them into boiling water
    to get the bulk of the wax off. Then you will need to soak them in gasoline for several days in a coffee can. After a few days, change out the gasoline and let them sit some more. After a few cycles, they will be clean enough to run them through some walnut media. Run them for about 5 mins, this will prep them for powder coating. This was the process I used to coat 2000 Remington 158 swc that I acquired. The media removes the remaining film of wax and roughens the surface so the powder sticks really good. I went from leading the barrel with mild loads to a clean barrel with stout loads.
    Last edited by freddyp; 06-07-2021 at 01:13 AM.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    Gasoline in a coffee can, just enough to cover the boolits. Soak in a safe place most of the day. Wash them with Dawn and rinse thoroughly, dry on a towel or a dehydrator. Rinse in a clean container with acetone for 5 minutes. If the acetone is clear (almost) you can pout it into another container for use again. Wear latex gloves when touching the bolts after that.

  4. #4
    Banned



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    Why not just shoot them like they are and try the nail polish on new bullets?

  5. #5
    Boolit Mold
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    Sounds like too big of a project for no more than I have. I think I will just send them down range. Thanks for the feed back everyone.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    Pot of hot water ... dry with hair dryer
    Regards
    John

  7. #7
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
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  8. #8
    Boolit Master

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    “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” Ronald Reagan


  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    Shooting them the way they are makes the most sense to me, unless they are so old that the lube has dried out so much, that it doesn’t prevent leading. In that case I would start by boiling them.

  10. #10
    Boolit Mold
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    Xylene......but you better do it with plenty of ventilation!

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
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    Alternate method, melt and recast.

  12. #12
    Boolit Man
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    There is another discussion on this subject in this thread

    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...55#post5094955

    Xylene is the solvent to use but do it outside

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by shootinfox2 View Post
    Alternate method, melt and recast.
    This.....

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy gnappi's Avatar
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    I guess it depends on how many you have, if you have a lot? I'd say melt and re-cast, but all that work down the drain. I had a lot of .45's and .40's which I HATED shooting, all that smoke coated my mouth. I boiled them and soaked in acetone a while, dried and PC'd them.

    Recently I brought a box of .40's that were already loaded to the range, and I couldn't stand the smoke and wondered how I did it for so many years. I've actually considered pulling a bunch of already finished ammo I have and doing the same.
    Regards,

    Gary

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    I just boiled mine twice, but wanted to just re-lube instead of powder coat. Old lube was coming off because it was old and had gotten hot.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    Dragonheart's Avatar
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    Yes, there is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to remove lube from bullets and that is soaK them overnight in gasoline to cover, obviously outdoors. Stir and drain off the gas and repeat. A final rinse in acetone will usually remove the last remnants of oil. The old gas can be absorbed and left to evaporate using cat litter. This method works, boiling in water does not. Obviously, take care in handling any flammable liquid.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy gnappi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dragonheart View Post

    >>SNIP<< . This method works, boiling in water does not. Obviously, take care in handling any flammable liquid.
    Well it worked for me and others.
    Regards,

    Gary

  18. #18
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
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    boiled w/ a drop of dish soap works just fine.
    They PC beautifully after that.

  19. #19
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    Its gonna sound odd. But old Coleman fuel has worked best for me hands down.

    Just a iver night soak and its almost completely gone. Tooth brush and water flush and dry then coat.

    Done this more than a few times.

    CW
    NRA Life member • REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE its being paid for in BLOOD.
    Come visit my RUMBLE & uTube page's !!

    https://www.RUMBLE.com/user/Cwlongshot
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  20. #20
    Boolit Master


    Finster101's Avatar
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    Boiling in water and skimming the melted lube floating on top is about easy as it gets.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check