Is 2 parts Lanolin and 1 part Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly) by volume best, or is 3 parts Lanolin and 1 part Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly) by volume even better? Aiming at winding up with something close to an Imperial Sizing Die Wax.
Best Lanolin and Vaseline Ratio For Homemade Case Sizing Die Wax
- Thread starter Silver_Is_Money
- Start date
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
ive heard of the outlaw case lube made of lanolin and alcohol but havent heard of making the case wax you talk about. i do want to know about it even though i use imperial for important stuff and pob always will. i use outlaw for things like pistol and bulk 223 ect
This subject has been beat to death. Hundreds of replies.
Longtrain
Gold $$ Contributor
Loading a few cases, Imperial works well, just takes a little time to be consistent.
At the end of my season I’ve got many hundreds of cases in three calibers all needing full processing. Once it’s time for resizing, I went to the home mixed 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and Lanolin, mixed 10:1. Laid a couple hundred 223 cases on an old cookie sheet, gave them a light spray, a little shake, another light spray and let them dry. Key here is light, a little goes a long way.
Sizing was neat, slick and consistent. I was able to easily fly through resizing.
The only issue is cleaning off the lube, lanolin isn’t soluble in water, but I found a 1/2 hour tumble w/o pins or chips in very hot water, a squirt of Dawn and a bit of Lemishine did the job.
I’m sure other lubes work, but this one does a nice job.
At the end of my season I’ve got many hundreds of cases in three calibers all needing full processing. Once it’s time for resizing, I went to the home mixed 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and Lanolin, mixed 10:1. Laid a couple hundred 223 cases on an old cookie sheet, gave them a light spray, a little shake, another light spray and let them dry. Key here is light, a little goes a long way.
Sizing was neat, slick and consistent. I was able to easily fly through resizing.
The only issue is cleaning off the lube, lanolin isn’t soluble in water, but I found a 1/2 hour tumble w/o pins or chips in very hot water, a squirt of Dawn and a bit of Lemishine did the job.
I’m sure other lubes work, but this one does a nice job.
Natural lanolin is insoluble. However, someone figured out the chemistry to make it water-soluble lanolin, called PEG-75 Lanolin.
Mix PEG-75 Lanolin with the 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and use it same way. After finished sizing the cases just run them under hot water to rinse off the lube.
I'm after a wax and not a spray on.
I once heard Preparation H was great and would shrink your groups. As a case lube, I have not tried Preparation H, but unsalted butter is exceptional! WH
One Eye Pete
Gold $$ Contributor
Polish the interior of your sizing die to a mirror finish with a good metal polish (takes about 15 minutes). As you handle your cases to put them in your press moisten your fingers with Ballistol and just get a little film on the case, that’s all you need. Very easy to wipe off or just throw them into a tumbler for 15 min. A polished die makes a big difference and requires much less lube. The Ballistol is also great for removing the carbon from the necks of fired cases. Die wax is still the best for heavy case forming.
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
Depending on what I am doing and how many if I use spray lube or Imperial. I used Hornady spray to begin with, a few cans later I had problems. Buddy said dillons, been using their spray since.
Imperial why make it, I am on my second tin since about 1980 something. It does t take much, if you can see it you have 10 times to much.
I have stuck cases with spray,but never Imperial.
Key to spray, be some what liberal and stand up at least half so some gets in the mouth. If you’re using a standard die drawing over decap pin, things are sooo much smoother.
I tumble sized brass for a bit when done sizing to remove lube. I just a few I hand wipe.
Imperial why make it, I am on my second tin since about 1980 something. It does t take much, if you can see it you have 10 times to much.
I have stuck cases with spray,but never Imperial.
Key to spray, be some what liberal and stand up at least half so some gets in the mouth. If you’re using a standard die drawing over decap pin, things are sooo much smoother.
I tumble sized brass for a bit when done sizing to remove lube. I just a few I hand wipe.
All I ever use anymore. I like it better then Imperial. Sportsmen's
Warehouse had 4 tubs on the shelf for under $5 bucks each. Grabbed
all 4. I'm set for a good many years.....Yeah skip the Vaseline. Just
not worth the added clean off. With the Unique, I just wipe off with
blue towels and good to go. Needs no wet washing. And alcohol will
clean it up if making a mess.
Last edited:
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
Imperial. The ONLY way to go.
I'll stick to my 12/1 alcohol/lanolin mixture for sizing and case forming.
A 5-10 minute spin in the tumbler cleans it off.
0ne bottle of pure lanolin off Fleabay lasts for years. It's the best I've used over 51 years.
When I get home from a PD shoot and am staring at 1000's of cases last thing I would want to do is individually lube them.
A 5-10 minute spin in the tumbler cleans it off.
0ne bottle of pure lanolin off Fleabay lasts for years. It's the best I've used over 51 years.
When I get home from a PD shoot and am staring at 1000's of cases last thing I would want to do is individually lube them.
Last edited:
TRSR8
Silver $$ Contributor
Royal case lube{sharp shooter] requires about 1/2 the sizing effort.....wipes clean with simple microfiber towel. Better in every way.
Given this, why anybody would screw with home-brew is hilarious.
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