For those that use lanolin/alcohol to lube cases?

[jonbearman]

Is there a soap that will easily cut through lanolin to wash off a large quantity of cases without resorting to using harsh chemicals? I would like to find a soap to cut it but nothing I have seems to work very quickly. I will use hot water to accelerate the cleaning but in your knowledge what works best? Secondly if I mix my own lanolin and Isopropyl alcohol what is the rate of mix?

 

[dickn52]

"A solution of 1 part liquid lanolin and 4 to 5 parts parts 99 percent isopropyl alcohol (4 oz of liquid lanolin to16 - 20 oz of isopropyl) works well. When mixing you may find that the lanolin mixes better if you warm both the alcohol and lanolin in a bath of warm water to about 105 - 110 degrees F before mixing. DO NOT WARM EITHER OF THEM OVER AN OPEN FLAME! Once the solutions are warm, pour together, mix thoroughly, allow the mix to cool (mix occasionally as it cools) and store in an air tight container to prevent water from being absorbed by the isopropyl."

This from another web site. This was my mix ratio. BUT I use it very sparingly as it goes a long long way. I bought some of those round plastic cake/cookie pans at Walmart. I put the brass in one, one spritz and then cap it. Shake or roll it around for a second and then hit the resizer. Each round is inspected after sizing and then I rub it with a rag. Clean, sized and dry again. BUT I can't stress enough to use it very sparingly as it stays tacky for quite a while. Oh, and I bought a glass bottle 1qt spray bottle and so far after 8 months or so there is no evaporation on the etoh side of the mix. You will have to shake it as it settles over time.

 

[savagedasher]

"A solution of 1 part liquid lanolin and 4 to 5 parts parts 99 percent isopropyl alcohol (4 oz of liquid lanolin to16 - 20 oz of isopropyl) works well. When mixing you may find that the lanolin mixes better if you warm both the alcohol and lanolin in a bath of warm water to about 105 - 110 degrees F before mixing. DO NOT WARM EITHER OF THEM OVER AN OPEN FLAME! Once the solutions are warm, pour together, mix thoroughly, allow the mix to cool (mix occasionally as it cools) and store in an air tight container to prevent water from being absorbed by the isopropyl."

This from another web site. This was my mix ratio. BUT I use it very sparingly as it goes a long long way. I bought some of those round plastic cake/cookie pans at Walmart. I put the brass in one, one spritz and then cap it. Shake or roll it around for a second and then hit the resizer. Each round is inspected after sizing and then I rub it with a rag. Clean, sized and dry again. BUT I can't stress enough to use it very sparingly as it stays tacky for quite a while. Oh, and I bought a glass bottle 1qt spray bottle and so far after 8 months or so there is no evaporation on the etoh side of the mix. You will have to shake it as it settles over time.

Good information but i will stick to lube I use and in the last 3 years and thousand of rounds it has costs $3.85 . And I still have enough for another 20 years. Larry

 

[Milo 2.0]

Try a towel soaked in denatured alcohol, rub thoroughly.

 

[Rustystud]

Unsented mineral spirits and walnut hills.

 

[FatBoy]

I just toss them in corn cob and vibrate for 30 minutes.

 

[rardoin]

I rinse in mineral spirits briefly. Other than wiping each case down with a towel dampened with it, or another solvent, I have not found that standard soaps will remove it (even while pin tumbling residual lanolin will remain and your pins then will have to be solvent washed).

Edit- one other solution I have considered is using d-lemonine, which will emulsify fats/waxes, as a case wipedown after sizing. This is the main ingredient in 'Orange Solvent' and gives many products their citrus smell. Your question reminded me that I needed to order some to test and I was able to find a quart size bottle of pure lemonine on Amazon Prime. If it doesn't work I'll have one of the best smelling reloading rooms this side of the Pecos. I'll post my findings next week.

 

[DRNewcomb]

Try a towel soaked in denatured alcohol, rub thoroughly.

I've used solvent alcohol (denatured ethanol) to wash brass lubed with lanolin and it just turns the lube white. The 92% isopropyl works much better.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I've used solvent alcohol (denatured ethanol) to wash brass lubed with lanolin and it just turns the lube white. The 92% isopropyl works much better.

Not to start an argument here, but I think your lanolin content high, like the guy who posted a 5 to 1 ratio, I run 10:1, and am thinking about going 12:1.
My method works for me, but towel dry first before the soaked towel.

 

[jepp2]

but in your knowledge what works best?

Like others mentioned, I just tumble mine in fine corn cob (20/40 sieve size). 30 minutes removes all the lube and this size media doesn't stick in the flash hole. The lanolin absorbs into the corn cob. I am able to wash the lanolin off my hands with soap and water, so maybe dish soap and hot water would remove it. But I would rather use media than get my cases wet.

Secondly if I mix my own lanolin and Isopropyl alcohol what is the rate of mix?

As you can tell, lots of opinions on how to mix. I use Iso Heet (red bottle) because it is easier to find than 99% isopropyl alcohol. If you use a lower % alcohol you will have more water and it will take longer to evaporate off. I mix 2 - 12 ounce bottles of Red Iso Heet to 4 ounces of liquid lanolin. Or a 1 part lanolin to 6 parts alcohol. Works well for me. The higher percentage of alcohol you use like 1 to 10 or 1 to 12, you will have move alcohol fumes to deal with. What is important is how much lanolin you are putting on your cases. I use a very light spritz on them.

Adding a link for home made case lube ratio of 1 to 4 or 1 to 5: http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm#Sizing

 

[dickn52]

I just pulled my notes. Mine was a 10:1 ratio of ETOH to Lanolin.

 

[averh2o]

Is there a soap that will easily cut through lanolin to wash off a large quantity of cases without resorting to using harsh chemicals? I would like to find a soap to cut it but nothing I have seems to work very quickly. I will use hot water to accelerate the cleaning but in your knowledge what works best? Secondly if I mix my own lanolin and Isopropyl alcohol what is the rate of mix?

I use Dillon lube and have found that Simple Green cleanser available at Home Depot works well for cleaning cases. 1/4 cup in a bucket with enough hot tap water to cover the brass swirl around let sit for 1/2 hour swirl again and rinse. I use an old kitchen colander to drain the cases. Don't let the brass soak overnight or it will discolar

 

[jonbearman]

Averh2o that is what I was thinking but heard it turns the brass black so was uneasy about trying it out, but I will do a small batch as I have well over a thousand cases already sized using Dillon lube which I will replicate with lanolin(pure) oil and Iso alcohol. at 10:1 ration. Thank you everyone who gave great ideas.

 

[foxguy]

Good information but i will stick to lube I use and in the last 3 years and thousand of rounds it has costs $3.85 . And I still have enough for another 20 years. Larry

Larry,

What are you using?

 

[savagedasher]

Larry,

What are you using?

Mobile 1 0 to 5 weight .
Larry .

 

[WSnyder]

the etoh side of the mix.

I just pulled my notes. Mine was a 10:1 ratio of ETOH to Lanolin.

FWIW EtOH=ethanol, i-PrOH=isopropyl alcohol

For clarity are you using ethanol or isopropyl?

 

[jonbearman]

Dillon uses Isopropyl and that is what I intend to use.

 

[GrocMax]

I quit using sheep sweat based stuff because of the sticky hard to clean mess. Now use CMD #3 in heptane (brake clean) about 1:50. Easy to clean and works better.

 

[people]

Dawn is what I use.

 

[dickn52]

FWIW EtOH=ethanol, i-PrOH=isopropyl alcohol

For clarity are you using ethanol or isopropyl?

ETOH

Acronym Definition
ETOH Ethyl Alcohol
Related to ethyl alcohol: denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol