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Thread: Does boolit lube go bad?

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    Does boolit lube go bad?

    I just ran across some Carnuba Red that was still in the original baggie that it came to me in. Probably been packed away for 8 or 10 years. Still feels a little sticky.
    do yall thank it is still good?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Can you take a small piece and mash it between your fingers? If it is soft enough to do that, and still sticky, you are good to go. If your lube requires a heater, that is a different sort of test.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master


    stubshaft's Avatar
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    Yes, it can go bad. I had some Lyman NRA lube that turned into a mushy, moldy, mess. However, I also have some Carnauba Red older than yours that I still use.
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

    Men who don't understand women fall into two categories: bachelors and husbands!

  4. #4
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    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
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    I have never seen a boolit lube go bad, if it was properly stored. I have a few fairly old "collectable" packages of Lube, one is Ideal...not sure how old that could be? I'd be curious to know when Lyman started labeling their lubes with the Lyman name. I also have a RCBS tube from the 1980s...as well as a partial case of Tamarack (NRA 50-50) lube from same time (1980s).
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I’ve had some Emmert’s lube dry out and begin cracking and falling off Minie balls that had been stored 3-5 years in basically open air… but they still worked OK, just the fouling was a little drier than I would have liked. I’ve also had a batch of that same lube seem to “lose something” when remelted too many times for pan lubing.

    As for Carnauba Red (like from Lars) I have several pounds in both sticks and bricks I just bought from my friend Dale53. He’s had it for many years (at least 20+) and I bought it with perfect confidence. Also, I’ve never seen any of the old black Ideal lube go bad, even when on bullets for decades. Then again, everyone’s storage history will be different and may affect the lube they “store”.

    Froggie
    "It aint easy being green!"

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    carnauba red is all ive used for at least 10 years I got several very large packages of sticks of it from them and what is left is still good and bullets ive lubesized and boxed up are all still good. no difference in performance since it was new.

  7. #7
    Boolit Bub
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    Thanks guys, it looks good and feels tacky so it appears to be ok.

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy Gobeyond's Avatar
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    Maybe just the lubes with tallow or olive oil or some kind of organic oil go bad.

  9. #9
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    lar45's Avatar
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    Your Carnauba Red should be good for a long time.
    I have not heard of any going bad.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I have had some dry out on bullets in storage. Dry and hard, still worked, it leaded barrel some, is all.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master


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    Whats it taste like? Rancid? sweet?

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by Geezer in NH View Post
    Whats it taste like? Rancid? sweet?

    Tastes a little oily.

    Bee's wax, lanolin, tallow, whale oil, crisco, olive oil - Although I've never seen moldy bee's wax I'm sure it happens. The others are all apt to turn rancid after a time.

    I have an empty antique bottle of Sperm Whale Sewing Machine Oil Manufactured in Saint Louis that I keep around for kicks.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master


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    When you do not puke it should work fine

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    GONRA'a gallon can of ALOX 2138F just sits there, doesn't rot or decompose.....

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Bees wax will develop a powder like covering over long periods of time and is called "bloom". Harmless to the product, just melt and use as normal.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master brassrat's Avatar
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    Never saw the bloom and happy. I bought a bunch of high quality ingots maybe 12 yrs after starting casting and keep them well sealed. I can spot a BW candle a mile away and grab those in between pewter at the thrift store. Nothing in a few years on candles.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master


    Soundguy's Avatar
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    I have rcbs stick pistol and rifle lube that must be a couple decades old.. Still good.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    I've used forty year old Mirror Lube and Perfect Lube. Both worked fine and neither had dried out.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master facetious's Avatar
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    In the early 90's I bought a box of LBT Blue and firnshed the last of it last year and it looked and worked the same over that time. Still trying to deside on a replasment .
    We go through life trying to make the best decisions we can based on the best infomation we can find, that turns out to be wrong.

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy Gobeyond's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    I have never seen a boolit lube go bad, if it was properly stored. I have a few fairly old "collectable" packages of Lube, one is Ideal...not sure how old that could be? I'd be curious to know when Lyman started labeling their lubes with the Lyman name. I also have a RCBS tube from the 1980s...as well as a partial case of Tamarack (NRA 50-50) lube from same time (1980s).
    Lyman took over ideal in 1927

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