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Best lubricant for neck turning

kev77 said:
Just run out of "sinclair neck turning lube" What else can I use ??? that works as good or better??

IF you have a carbide turning mandrel, "Imperial Sizing Die Wax" works very well for me.. If you have a Stainless mandrel, neck turning lube would better serve you..
 
Neck turning is a metal-cutting operation. I started using regular hardware-store cutting oil (like you put on taps & dies for cutting threads) a few years ago & never looked for something else again.
 
Well I got bored and went to my shop in search of Neck turning oil!!! Came home with oil the i use in my Hiway trucks 18 speed eaton transmissions!!! LOL It is a 50 weight synthetic. It works really well,probably better than the sinclair stuff I run out of. Mandrel stays cool and doesn't bind at all
 
CatShooter said:
I use Castrol 50 wt motorcycle oil - I turn necks on a steel mandrel at 1,440 rpm and they do not heat up and the cuts are glass smooth.

CatShooter

I now have this vision of you wearing a dirty denim jacket with Hells Angels written across the back and riding a Harley. :o

And I use Hornady Unique resizing lube to neck turn, its thicker and helps the neck float on its film.
 
I have been using a bottle of Permatex Engine Assembly Lube for the past 20 years & it has served me well. Don "Pumpkin" Neilson recommended a mix of STP & synthetic motor oil, so there are two more options.
 
I have not started neck turning myself yet, but based on some of the comments above I believe that there may be two different applications or purposes being addressed, and from what I have learned in general machining, each is better served by a different lubricant.

One purpose is to lubricate the mandrel and the inside of the neck to reduce friction between the two, and I believe that this was the original subject of the thread.

The other is to lubricate the cutting tool and outside of the neck, which helps to keep the tool and the case cool, and reduces cutting tip welding. For cutting, the best would be to flood the cutting as it is being done with a cutting fluid.

Please, correct me if I am mistaken.

Nando
 
spclark said:
Neck turning is a metal-cutting operation. I started using regular hardware-store cutting oil (like you put on taps & dies for cutting threads) a few years ago & never looked for something else again.

Spot on. I use a light oil and then ultrasonic clean to clean the cases. A liquid is essential for efficient cooling and lubrication.
Regards JCS
 
White lithium grease in the spray can from the local auto parts store works great, i just spray it in a disposible cup and dip the necks in it and start turning. Erik and i were talking one day and he got me using it.
 
Looking around on the internet, I ran across an industrial process product category, evaporating oil, that is used for some forming applications. It is applied immediately before it is needed, and evaporates shortly after, leaving a surface that is ready for paint, without any additional cleaning. As far as I know, this has never been tested for neck turning, or case sizing, so I ordered a quart, which is smaller than the threshold that would require a hazmat charge, and I plan on giving it a try. If it works, it will eliminate the need to remove the lubricant used to expand and then turn case necks, and possibly do the same thing for FL sizing. I will be writing this up when I have some results to report.

Added Later: After reading the MSDS for this material, It will sit on a shelf in the garage until the city has one of those hazardous waste disposal opportunities. I should have known.

Just about anything will work for turning necks as long as the expanding mandrel is correct for the turning mandrel. Unfortunately, many times this is not the case and the fit is tighter than it has to be. This is why there is a demand for magic turning lubes. With the proper technique, a wring on fit is not required for top level results.
 

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