Does boolit lube go bad?

[KYRick]

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?

[Dusty Bannister]

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.

[stubshaft]

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.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

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).

[Green Frog]

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

[farmbif]

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.

[KYRick]

Thanks guys, it looks good and feels tacky so it appears to be ok.