OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
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- Sixgun
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OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Fellow Shootists,
First, I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination. I am self-taught in most everything in life and have learned by trial and error. If it works, I use it and this works. Others lube makers are much better than me and will have better formulas but I do see a need for anything better.
I use this lube in dozens of revolvers and leverguns from 700-2000 fps. Accuracy is as good as the gun and no leading is evident as long as other factors are followed, such as sizing, bore condition, etc.
Pay $5-6 bucks for a tube of lube? Not this factory worker. Pay 2 G's for a nice Winchester? You bet! I cut corners, financially, in every facet of my life so I can enjoy what the rich guys do and that is shooting fine classic guns. And I'm better at it than 99% of 'em Rednecks rule!
Anyway, the formula I use is 50% beeswax and 50% white lithium grease, (by weight) available at any auto parts store for about $4 a tube. A pound of grease and a pound of beeswax will make about 24 sticks of lube. I usually make about enough for 12 sticks. The consistency is perfect for all year use and needs no sizer heater and will not melt in hot weather.Here goes---------------Sixgun
1" inside diameter pvc pipe cut 4"
3/8" wooden dowel right in the middle --I use aluminum foil to keep the hot lube from running out the bottom
Lube all melted up--low heat--after its all mixed up, shut off heat and let her cool, but still fluid before pouring.
the lube poured in and has hardened a bit---pull the tubes out at this point and put the tubes in the freezer for about a half hour.--then push the lube out with a wooden dowel about the same size as the inside diameter of the pvc pipe.
,
Here she is, about .25 cents instead of $5
First, I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination. I am self-taught in most everything in life and have learned by trial and error. If it works, I use it and this works. Others lube makers are much better than me and will have better formulas but I do see a need for anything better.
I use this lube in dozens of revolvers and leverguns from 700-2000 fps. Accuracy is as good as the gun and no leading is evident as long as other factors are followed, such as sizing, bore condition, etc.
Pay $5-6 bucks for a tube of lube? Not this factory worker. Pay 2 G's for a nice Winchester? You bet! I cut corners, financially, in every facet of my life so I can enjoy what the rich guys do and that is shooting fine classic guns. And I'm better at it than 99% of 'em Rednecks rule!
Anyway, the formula I use is 50% beeswax and 50% white lithium grease, (by weight) available at any auto parts store for about $4 a tube. A pound of grease and a pound of beeswax will make about 24 sticks of lube. I usually make about enough for 12 sticks. The consistency is perfect for all year use and needs no sizer heater and will not melt in hot weather.Here goes---------------Sixgun
1" inside diameter pvc pipe cut 4"
3/8" wooden dowel right in the middle --I use aluminum foil to keep the hot lube from running out the bottom
Lube all melted up--low heat--after its all mixed up, shut off heat and let her cool, but still fluid before pouring.
the lube poured in and has hardened a bit---pull the tubes out at this point and put the tubes in the freezer for about a half hour.--then push the lube out with a wooden dowel about the same size as the inside diameter of the pvc pipe.
,
Here she is, about .25 cents instead of $5
-
- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Ya have a name for it?? "Sixgun lube"
- J Miller
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Not a bad recipe. I have about 15 pounds of that white lithium lube. Hmmmm, maybe I should cook me up some.
Joe
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
I use a double boiler to melt the lube , it don't change the viscosity of lube like the direct heat . I pour melt lube directly into sizer and I get no air pocket . I need to try making your lube stick , super great idea .
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
I've always wondered about the different colors of lube that you buy. I'm sure they are all made with a beeswax base and just vary the amount and type of grease. In our maintenance shop they use a grease made by Chevron for greasing 5th wheels and zerk fittings. It's a blue grease and using my imagination I'm thinking that if I cut the blue Chevron grease I'd have what would look like Apache Blue lube. I never had had time to experiment with it but I plan on it some day soon.
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
- 2ndovc
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Pretty Cool Jack!!!
Gonna have to try that!
jb
Gonna have to try that!
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Excellent thread - a keeper. Thanks for the instruction!
- Sixgun
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Hey, why didn't I think of that. I guess thats what I get for being half Italian.tn gun runner wrote: I pour melt lube directly into sizer and I get no air pocket .
Rusty, I bet your Chevron lube would work with the same 50/50 mix. Its probably how Paco makes all his money )For the velocities most of us use, any good grease would work.
Joe, I took those pics of the catalog. If you want them drop me an e-mail at Levergun4590@Msn.Com
- J Miller
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Sixgun, you got email.Sixgun wrote:Hey, why didn't I think of that. I guess thats what I get for being half Italian.tn gun runner wrote: I pour melt lube directly into sizer and I get no air pocket .
Rusty, I bet your Chevron lube would work with the same 50/50 mix. Its probably how Paco makes all his money )For the velocities most of us use, any good grease would work.
Joe, I took those pics of the catalog. If you want them drop me an e-mail at Levergun4590@Msn.Com
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Folks have been mixing 'this and that" with beeswax for generations to make good bullet lube. I have used a 60/40 (beeswax to Vaseline) mix for almost 50 years with the same results you get. Other use 50/50 Moly automotive grease and beeswax. One old receipe was 50/50 beeswax and water pump grease. Just about any kind of automotive grease works well. I have used the old Texaco Marfac and beeswax with good results. I don't see why your mix should not be as good as any of the above including mine.
There is way to much hype and nonsense about various bullet lubes. There are just two kinds of lube. Those that work and those that don't work. In the 700 to 2,000 fps range you mentioned it is not hard to find a good lube. ONe exception is this wax based stuff that comes in most commercial cast bullets that is just about worthless as a bullet lube.
Folks will have leading in their firearms and the first thing they think of is "bad lube". Most often the cause is something other than the lube, such as wrong bullet hardness, wrong bullet size, wrong bullet shape, rough barrel etc. etc.
When cast bullet velocities exceed 2,000 fps, you will need a more complex lube liked Felix World Famous.
You are making too much work out of this deal. I used a two quart Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave to melt and mix the lube. Just go slow and when there is a button of beeswax left, stir by hand until everything goes into solution. You will avoid over heating the mix that way. Then just pour the lube into your machine and let it harden. Cover the remainder in the pyrex cut with foil and you will be good to go until next time. The measuring marks on the cup are very helpful with mixing the lube.
YOu are very correct about the economy of making your own lube. It makes zero sense to buy bullet lube. I have almost a hundred pounds of beeswax put up, so I am set for the rest of my life.
There is way to much hype and nonsense about various bullet lubes. There are just two kinds of lube. Those that work and those that don't work. In the 700 to 2,000 fps range you mentioned it is not hard to find a good lube. ONe exception is this wax based stuff that comes in most commercial cast bullets that is just about worthless as a bullet lube.
Folks will have leading in their firearms and the first thing they think of is "bad lube". Most often the cause is something other than the lube, such as wrong bullet hardness, wrong bullet size, wrong bullet shape, rough barrel etc. etc.
When cast bullet velocities exceed 2,000 fps, you will need a more complex lube liked Felix World Famous.
You are making too much work out of this deal. I used a two quart Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave to melt and mix the lube. Just go slow and when there is a button of beeswax left, stir by hand until everything goes into solution. You will avoid over heating the mix that way. Then just pour the lube into your machine and let it harden. Cover the remainder in the pyrex cut with foil and you will be good to go until next time. The measuring marks on the cup are very helpful with mixing the lube.
YOu are very correct about the economy of making your own lube. It makes zero sense to buy bullet lube. I have almost a hundred pounds of beeswax put up, so I am set for the rest of my life.
- O.S.O.K.
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
How do you make Lee Liquid Alox? That's what I use - I like their bottom push sizer dies.
I made some black powder lube with beeswax, olive oil and lard with a few drops of mint oil. Don't recall the % of each but it was something like 1/2 beeswax, and 1/4 of each of the other.
I made some black powder lube with beeswax, olive oil and lard with a few drops of mint oil. Don't recall the % of each but it was something like 1/2 beeswax, and 1/4 of each of the other.
NRA Endowment Life
Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Phi 83 "Skulls"
OCS, 120th MP Battalion, MSSG
MOLON LABE!
Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Phi 83 "Skulls"
OCS, 120th MP Battalion, MSSG
MOLON LABE!
Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Very impressive and if you swap the grease for olive oil you have a perfect BP lube
Nath.
Nath.
Psalm ch8.
Because I wish I could!
Because I wish I could!
Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Where do you go to get beeswax locally? I'm new to this ,not sure where to get it.
By the way Sixgun , seeing you smelting operation thread a few weeks got me start smelting my wheel weights this last weekend. Melted 50 lbs of WW and got 40 1lb ingots. I can't beleive how many clips you have to scoop out of the pan. I have another 150 lbs to go and then need to get an electric melting furnace for when it's time to make bullets.
By the way Sixgun , seeing you smelting operation thread a few weeks got me start smelting my wheel weights this last weekend. Melted 50 lbs of WW and got 40 1lb ingots. I can't beleive how many clips you have to scoop out of the pan. I have another 150 lbs to go and then need to get an electric melting furnace for when it's time to make bullets.
- O.S.O.K.
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Do you have a big craft superstore nearby? That's where I got mine. I think it was in the candle making area?BenT wrote:Where do you go to get beeswax locally? I'm new to this ,not sure where to get it.
By the way Sixgun , seeing you smelting operation thread a few weeks got me start smelting my wheel weights this last weekend. Melted 50 lbs of WW and got 40 1lb ingots. I can't beleive how many clips you have to scoop out of the pan. I have another 150 lbs to go and then need to get an electric melting furnace for when it's time to make bullets.
You can also buy a toilette seating ring - I believe that they are 100% beeswax. Ace Hardware, Home Depot, etc.
NRA Endowment Life
Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Phi 83 "Skulls"
OCS, 120th MP Battalion, MSSG
MOLON LABE!
Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Phi 83 "Skulls"
OCS, 120th MP Battalion, MSSG
MOLON LABE!
- Old Time Hunter
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Down near Oostburg and Belgium there are a bunch of honey farms, they all sell the beeswax cheap.BenT wrote:Where do you go to get beeswax locally? I'm new to this ,not sure where to get it.
- Sixgun
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Charles, You are right, I can do without some of the intricacies. I have been buying it for so long in the sticks, I, well, just continued
Like OSOK says, beeswax is available in craft & hardware stores in pure form on in toilet seat rings which I believe are about 95% beeswax, as pure beeswax would be too hard to work on sealing a toilet. Still though, its good enough as I have used it this way. (redneck thinking ) I live only 30 miles or so from Pennsylvania Dutch and the next time I go up that way, I'm gonna stop at one of their farms and buy me a mess of it as most of them sell honey.
Even so, a pound will go a long way and will keep me in business for a couple of years and I do a lot of casting.
Ben T------smelt that lead! Nothing like independence from the bullet makers!----------Sixgun
Like OSOK says, beeswax is available in craft & hardware stores in pure form on in toilet seat rings which I believe are about 95% beeswax, as pure beeswax would be too hard to work on sealing a toilet. Still though, its good enough as I have used it this way. (redneck thinking ) I live only 30 miles or so from Pennsylvania Dutch and the next time I go up that way, I'm gonna stop at one of their farms and buy me a mess of it as most of them sell honey.
Even so, a pound will go a long way and will keep me in business for a couple of years and I do a lot of casting.
Ben T------smelt that lead! Nothing like independence from the bullet makers!----------Sixgun
Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Good info . There is an Amish organic food store nearby. I need to stop in and check to see if I can get a lead on beeswax. If not craft store or hardware store.
Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
How could this be "Off Topic". I love the do-it-yourself tips that pop-up from time to time. I'm looking foreword to trying this out.
Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Jack that is great work. I also make my owne lubes and I tried making sticks and had no luck. They stuck to the PVC and it was messy. Your molds look like the right stuff. What do you use for a release agent? J.Michael
- Sixgun
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Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
Mike, You don't need nothin' for a release agent. Just put the tube and all in the freezer for about a half hour. The cold shrinks the lube and they just pop right on out-----easy------------Sixgununcowboy wrote:Jack that is great work. I also make my owne lubes and I tried making sticks and had no luck. They stuck to the PVC and it was messy. Your molds look like the right stuff. What do you use for a release agent? J.Michael
Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
I've also seen bags of grease for sale in truck stoops that have graphite mixed in with it. they use them for lubing the top of the 5th wheel. You just throw the little bag on the 5th wheel and back under trailer. When you go under the trailer the bag breaks and the grease spreads out.
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Re: OT-Make Your Own Bullet Lube
I asked my plumber several years ago about the toilet rings being beeswax, he said they had gone to some synthetic stuff a few years before I asked him. It may lube bullets, but it isnt beeswax any longer.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-
Isnt it amazing how many people post without reading the thread?
Isnt it amazing how many people post without reading the thread?