Lubrimatic multipurpose lithium grease for Lithibee?

[FergusonTO35]

I'm gonna need to refill my lubesizer soon and I'm planning to try Lithibee. I have Lubrimatic multipurpose lithium grease on hand already since I use it on all my machinery, it's just a basic no.2 grease with a 350 F melting point:

https://www.shophighlinewarren.com/p...g00000BwB3CIAV

Anybody every try it for Lithibee? What ratio would you suggest I use? The most intense cartridges I load for are mid-range 9mm and .357 Magnum. Also, would the generic beeswax sold at hobby shops likely be good enough? Thanks!

[15meter]

I'd try the grocery store or online for beeswax. Hobby stores are probably going to be the most expensive.

Or a beekeeper's supply house, there are a couple here in SE Michigan, as far as I know they sell wax and honey as well as the frames, hives and smokers.

I'd be surprised if there aren't a beekeeper's supply house near you.

[Chikinfishin]

Call the source. Might suprise you but a google seach may reveal a bee keeping operation near you.

Local high schools can have a beekeeping club to. Ours sets up hives in local orchards, uses harvested goods to fund the club.

I've got 3 bee keepers within an hour of me. One, is a nice old lady up the road sells honey off her porch. Usually has enough for 1 batch of bens red about.

Any of these is usually cheaper than online options ive found.

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks, I will look for those. What ratio of beeswax to grease would be ideal? Should I add a few teaspoons of two stroke engine oil as many people do? The Lubrimatic grease is pretty soft, flows well through my grease gun, and doesn't tend to solidify, which is why I use it on machines.

[gwpercle]

Thanks, I will look for those. What ratio of beeswax to grease would be ideal? Should I add a few teaspoons of two stroke engine oil as many people do? The Lubrimatic grease is pretty soft, flows well through my grease gun, and doesn't tend to solidify, which is why I use it on machines.

1 part ... Lithium Multi - Purpose Grease ( LubriMatic brand is fine )

3 parts ... Beeswax

Parts are by weight ... 1 pound - Lithium Grease
To 3 pounds - Beeswax .

This makes a soft lube ,you can stiffen it up with an ounce or two of GulfWax Parrifin wax ... no need to add two stroke oils.

I like the soft Lithi-Bee as is , .never had to add GulfWax but my Beeswax is well refined and hard .
Lucas Red-N-Tacky Gen Purpose Grease is what I have used when making .

Good Lube ... No Leading in any cast boolt handgun loads from 32 auto to 41 Magnum and 30-30 rifle ... A darn good soft boolit lube !

Warning ... the lithium grease does Not Melt ... it softens with heat and must be blended into the melted beeswax with a large heavy Wire Whisk .
The flash point of beeswax is about 400 degrees F. ... keep the heat below 400 F. and a fire extinguisher handy .
I use an old Crock Pot to heat ... blend with whisk as soon as beeswax begins melting ...blend as well as you can , watch heat stay under 400 degrees ... shut off heat and let cool overnight .
Do That two more times to fully blend the ingredients and you don't want to scorch ... burn the lube .
The 3 repeated heating , blending and cooling works much better than trying to do it in one step ... Don't want to scorch or flash fire the lube .
Good Luck,
Gary

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks so much, will do! Is there any harm in mixing it 1:1?

[gwpercle]

Thanks so much, will do! Is there any harm in mixing it 1:1?

The Lube will be much Too Soft and Too Sticky ...

I tried 1 part Lithium Grease to ... .
2 parts Beeswax and even this was too soft and too sticky ...

My advice ... the 1 part Lithim Grease to 3 parts Beeswax is best !

The commerical maker I used to buy it from , Garth Choate , told me they made it with 8 lbs grease and 24 lbs beeswax ... that is still a ... 1 to 3 ratio .

The 1:3 ratio Lithi - Bee works very well but if you want softer lube ...
experiment with the ratio ... You can always re-melt and add additional Wax to adjust hardness ... no loss !
Gary

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks bro!

[gwpercle]

Thanks bro!

Keep us posted on your Lithi-Bee lube outcome !

Gary

[FergusonTO35]

I sure will! I find a 250 watt brooder lamp will easily melt Randy Rat's Tac-X, which is a pretty hard lube with a beeswax base. So, it stands to reason that it would melt beeswax and probably soften the litium grease enough to blend. The Lubrimatic is already pretty soft as far as automotive grease goes. The harder grease usually says suitable for disc brake wheel bearings and has a higher melting point.