As a preface, let me say "Yes, I know I have probably fallen out of my tree...!!!"

Yesterday I was in the shop reloading some more experimental stuff for my .225 Winchester. Used Imperial Sizing Die Wax to lube the cases.

This morning I had occasion to use some "Bag Balm" when working with the animals out in the barn. Noticed the similarity of their appearances. Also noted that Bag Balm is about 1/10th the cost of sizing die wax. So now I just have to try some of it to see if it works as a case lube....!

Having said that, my next thought was "I wonder just what kind of weird things other people have used for sizing die lube?"

Well?

Alberta Canuck

Weirdest? Pam, the cooking oil.

Imperial sizing wax I believe is beeswax. There are many products utilizing that, including waterproofing for shoes. Doesn't take much lubrication!

Yep - Sno-Seal, the boot waterproofing wax.

I use corn oil sometimes

I use Midaway Case lube pump liquid, but I think it's no more than beezwax and alcohol.

I need to make some up and try it.

What I like about it is a couple of pumps in a zip lock baggie then I tumble shake the brass. I know when to stop or add more when the perfect amount migrates in the case neck mouth. It never migrates into the case past the neck.

Fast lubing.

Anhydrous Lanolin' it's awesome, relatively easy to get off, and you will never, ever have a stuck case. A little, very little, dab will do you.

I used to use STP years ago.....and it got hard to find.

Pretty much use Lyman spray and am satisfied.

"Pretty much use Lyman spray and am satisfied.[/QUOTE]"

Vapodog U R 1 lucky fellow using that Lyman spray. I've had to dig out 2 stuck cases using that junk. I've been using BARDAHL for some time now and it is by far the best I've found. No excess lube wrinkles either.

I got four (4) cans of the Lyman (sweet stuff) that I will send you for only compensation of the postage. I kid U not. E-mail me ur address and it is yours. roger

Dupont used to make a Teflon spray. I would spray it on my fingers and then rub the cases between my fingers. I could do about 5 cases before I needed to respray my fingers. I also use Lyman now and have since it came out with no problems.

STP was a familiar lube years ago among reloaders. Haven't used any since the Imperial wax came along.
Bag Balm works great for a hand lotion in the winter.
Don

Crisco works in a pinch...Imperial Sizing Die Wax when I'm not pinched....Grant.

I am told that G&B(Gardner & Bender)Wire Aid which can be bought at Lowes,McCoy's etc for about $5 a qt is the same stuff as Lee case lube--same price or higher for 4 oz.

Butter...

the cats clean the cases.



HA HA - jes' kiddin'

Crisco actually.

I had a lot of trouble with a 10.75x68 with a sloppy chamber, and tight (rough?) Simplex dies. Stuck cases were a regular occurence. I switched from RCBS case lube to Copa-Slip, and have never looked back since. I dab some on my finger, and can resize at least 3 of any case you care to mention, before picking up another dab. No dimples, no stuck cases, no $hit

I like using 80W90 GL5 gear oil, a qt. lasts a life time.

Scout Master 54

quote:

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Originally posted by marlinlover:
I use Midaway Case lube pump liquid, but I think it's no more than beezwax and alcohol.

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My Dillon lube in the pump bottle says it's made from Alcohol & Lanolin. I suspect that the Midway stuff is the same, it sure looks like it is. Good lube (the Dillon) and I use it for when I have a lot of cases to size. If I'm just working up a few, I use Imperial. Never stuck a case with either as I have with the Lee crap.

Rick

Rick

Rick

Funny,

Sanman, as I was scrolling down I was thinking just that it could be Lanolin, after reading the post above. I need to get some for FWFL anyway.

I've never had a stuck case also, but the great thing is the zip loc baggie.I use one bag over and over- put in any kind or amount of brass I want, and it spreads lube evenly, perfectly, and in 30 seconds.

The weirdest one I read about (in the Cast Bullet Assoc. journal) was "Groom & Clean" hair cream: It's water soluble. I've used STP (very good, but hard to remove); 40 wt. motor oil; and the wire-pulling lube (water soluble) that Carpetman mentioned. However, I am a bit concerned with leaving it in my sizing dies. Bag Balm will also work well, but it's tenacious. Btw, if you suffer from razor burn or chapping (tender skin + tough beard), it is an excellent remedy, i.e., if you can stand its odor. ...Maven

I've used Mobil 1 synthetic oil for 10-15 years. You can use 10-30 which is quite thin and easy to wipe off, a qt. lasts years.

Synthetic ATF
Tri-Flow
Pam
WD-40

Saw a guy selling some "best lube ever" at a gun show 20+ yrs ago. I got a "sample" for a quarter. Opened the bottle and smelled it , recognised it right off as -------- baby oil(with a little red color added - maybe ATF). Have used baby oil since when in a pinch. Don't FL size very much, usually when using cases fired in another rifle.

KY

but you can clean the lube off with hot water.

Thought I was the only one who'd gotten in a pinch and tried KY jelly. Quit because of comments from visitors to my reloading bench.

Albolene, almost as good as Imperial die wax.
Lyle

Bag Balm works because it is mostly Lanolin. Lanolin works as a good, high pressure extrusion lubricant and, hence, a good case lube. It is good for dry, cracked hands, nipples, feet, and so on, too. The Bag Balm odor comes from the extra ingredients, most of which are present in small quantities.

Well after reading this, maybe what I use and how I do it is a little weirder than I thought it was. When I started reloading I thought Case Lube was a royal pain and expensive.

I started out with WD 40 next on an old cookie sheet my wife threw out.

That migrated into using an camping frying pan, one of those old blue ones from Walmart Etc for $7.00 or so. I put an Eyehook on the side of my reload bench, to hang the frying pan on. On the Floor below it is an old orange shop rag, to catch all the excess runoff from it.

When my cases start getting stiff in the die, I will take the frying pan and squirt a shot or two of WD 40 in it, and then hang it up for 10 minutes or so. Any excess, thicker than a coating in the frying pan drains off onto the rag. Hanging it like that keeps it free from gathering dust.

I only need to re apply some more WD 40 about every 150 to 200 rounds. I now have a habit of just giving the pan a squirt after each time I use it and it is ready to go the next time I am resizing.

After that, the cases go in the tumbler to clean the lube off and polish the brass. I use Walnut media. Ten minutes cleans all the lube off. I usually tumble my brass overnight tho.

I have developed so many short cut patterns over the years, that I really wonder how differently other people reload now. I have a warped point of reference it seems. Different from the norm, but people I have taught to reload seem to really like the way I do it thinking it is logical and eliminates a bunch of other headaches they see others get into.

WD 40 is cheap and available anywhere. My next economy idea. Kitty litter for tumbling media?

cheers
seafire

Palmolive dish soap works great. Just a dab on the lube pad every 10-15 cases. It has a great spring time fresh scent, and it washes off easily in hot water.

carpetman...

After reading your post, I went out and bought a quart of G&B lube at Lowe's, $4.49.

Just for fun, I tried making an 8x57 out of a 30-06 with it. Works like a charm! It is the same basic stuff as Lee's, but the consistency is a little different. I think it actually works a little better.

Now I'm going to have to find a lot of friends to share with.... I think I have a 950 year supply of the stuff.

Thanks!! Great suggestion!

Fresh moose milk. Unfortunately, by the time I get released from the hospital it is all dried up.

Permatex engine assembly oil... kinda like STP.

Saddle soap..... Works, but only in a pinch.

For the person trying to save money by finding something cheaper than Imperial, I have only one question....... I'm still on my first can after 5 years? How much are you saving? Dutch.

Dutch,
Good point. My can is so old the top looks worse than my kid's bedroom.
And, I don't know how many more years it will last.
Just a little dab will do ya,
Don

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For the person trying to save money by finding something cheaper than Imperial, I have only one question....... I'm still on my first can after 5 years? How much are you saving? Dutch.

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I try other things as lubes out of curiosity, and for the convenience of always having something handy which will work if I run out of my usual stuff, not to save money.

Will say this, though, if you don't go through a can of Imperial per year, you are NOT shooting enough <BIG G>.

Alberta Canuck

quote:

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Originally posted by DigitalDan:
Fresh moose milk. Unfortunately, by the time I get released from the hospital it is all dried up.

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Dan,

Are you sure it was a female moose? If not, that may explain why he got so mad.

Kory

I tried some Preparation H one time. It worked okay, but it was kind of a pain in the ass to use.

quote:

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Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:

Will say this, though, if you don't go through a can of Imperial per year, you are NOT shooting enough <BIG G>.

Alberta Canuck

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Well, I NEVER get to shoot enough, but in all honesty, it's a good thing you don't need it to lube shotshells. I'd need the stuff by the drum.... LOL! Dutch.