Imperial sizing wax? good or not?

[SteveOak]

Good!

The difficulties I have seen with Imperial are always the result of using more than necessary. Just enough is almost too much. If it is slathered on it will cause problems of a hydraulic nature.

Lubricity vs volume are the tradeoffs.

Next time I will give RCBS water base and STP a try. Royal Case and Die Lube sounds interesting too. Thanks for the info.

 

[Brians356]

I switched to Royal Case and Die Lube.

Does it come aerosol only? (That's all I can find.) I won't use spray-on anything - don't like overspray or waste.

I use Imperial, but you need to get the right amount on - too little and cases get hard to extract, too much you can get dents. I smear using thumb/forefinger, that gives the tactile feedback I need. Once I get a case sized with the right amount, I can then size the next one, maybe two, without using any lube on those cases. Cleaning it off anything is easy, wipes right off with a cotton rag.

 

[waldo1979]

For neck sizing and turning I dab my thumb in the lube and rub it across the neck like I'm scrapping gum off my shoe. For full length size I do the same but also apply some lube to the body as I pick up the brass. I kind of swirl around the brass between my thumb and pointing finger (which have moderate amounts of lube). Avoid the shoulder to prevent dimples.

It doesn't take much to prevent stuck cases, I.e. Use sparingly. I make sure to clean excess lube (or dirty lube if I'm sizing dirty brass) from the die every 50-100 pieces of brass.

To remove lube from the brass, 20-30 minutes ultrasonic cleaning with hornady brass cleaner followed by 2 hours in a food dehydrator. Since I size before cleaning this isn't a big deal.

 

[Brians356]

I just had a whimsical thought:

As a kid my dad showed me how to lube the metal ferrules of a two-piece fishing rod, to keep them from getting frozen together (he learned it from his dad): rub the male ferrule on the side of your nose or through your hair above the ear. That natural skin and hair oil was akin to the mystical whale oil of old, and it never failed. I bet it would work on cases, too, but you can't rub enough off yourself in one session for more than one or two cases.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Ive noticed on this forum and others as well there are reports and opinions on Imperial sizing wax that range from-"better than sliced bread"--to---wouldnt use it on a barn door. My question is whether there are "batches" of the lube that are better than others --or what? Ive only purchased one tin of the stuff several years ago and Id class it as something Id use if theres nothing else around. Others use it to lube case necks for neck turning. I couldnt do that even on a carbide mandrel. Are there that radical batch differences?

I think it breaks down with age.....

 

[Brians356]

I think it breaks down with age.....

Imperial or brain cell? ;-)

I have an old Imperial tin several decades old, still like new. What does broken down Imperial look and feel like?

 

[TimP]

Dont get it on the neck only the body

Dusty,
I have been using a small amount of Imperial sizing wax on my case necks for quite some time and am curious to why you recommend not getting it on the neck.

 

[Cold Bore]

It is my go-to lube when sizing necks up or down from original diameter.

As others have said, just rub your finger across the wax, then spin the case between your thumb and finger.

A little goes a long way.

 

[K22]

Outstanding, excellent, love it, best I've ever used!

I full length re size all my cases with a .002" shoulder bump.

I apply with fingers sparingly to the body of the case. I apply a very very slight amount to the necks.

With a little practice you'll quickly master the application.

Never had a stuck case with Imperial.

I remove excess after sizing with a paper towel - that's all I ever found necessary.

I brush out necks after sizing to remove any residual lube - never had an issue with powder sticking to the necks.

A tin lasts me several years. I size approx 1,000 rifle cases a year.

 

[XTR]

I've shot up 7000 rounds or so on my current tin, never had a stuck case.

I tumble mine for about 20 minutes after sizing.

 

[csandfort]

I switched to Royal Case and Die Lube.

Does it come aerosol only? (That's all I can find.) I won't use spray-on anything - don't like overspray or waste.

It is available in 2 and 4 ounce containers.

 

[snert]

Used RCBS and One Shot. I call One Shot "One Stick". More stuck cases with that. Never stuck one till I used it, never stuck one after I quit.

I use Imperial, except when running batches of 500 thru the progressive. Then I use I pad and roll.

I like the dry lube Redding sells too, just for neck sizing. As far as getting it out of my cases, i run it in the corncob for 20 minutes while I have a coffee, then move on.

 

[dkhunt14]

What I'd like to know is what is the best stuff to use to remove it from my cases, especially inside the neck. I've tried Acetone, Tolulene, and Acetone+ Tolulene and there always seems to be some left inside the necks (powder sticks inside). Any advice? dedogs

The only time I use it in my necks is when turning them. As soon as they are turned I anneal them. That takes care of the lube in the neck. Then I lube and size them and use a paper towel for the lube on the body. Matt

 

[noload]

I use Imperial and have just ordered a new tin ..WOW $8.69 for 2 oz. I think its pretty expensive for thick petrolium jelly. My wife has perfume cheaper than that.

 

[Barlow]

I have used it for years, and will continue to do so. Barlow

 

[Brians356]

Brownell's tends to get the more discriminating reloaders' business. The best selling case lube at Brownell's is Imperial. My guess is it outsells anything else five to one. Now ask yourself "Self, why would discriminating reloaders buy so much Imperial if it wasn't good?"

 

[dedogs]

Thanks for all the advice, I will try some of them. Some are not so practical for me. By the way I love Imperial and will continue using it. dedogs

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

Imperial Sizing Wax is a good product, i have used it for many years and never had a stuck case. About 5 years ago i discovered Royal Case Lube and gave it a shot. As mentioned in a previous post it does have better lubricity than Imperial in my opinion. Another added bonus is that its a natural product and not a petroleum product like Imperial.

I was told a few years ago Imperial is simply a purified form of pertroleum jelly, not sure if that's 100% correct but it came from a reliable source so i am sure its very close.

 

[Brians356]

Royal Case Lube ... its a natural product and not a petroleum product like Imperial.

Petroleum is "natural", it's just dead organisms. "Natural" is one of the most misused terms in common usage. Petroleum is a naturally occurring liquid found in geological formations when large quantities of dead organisms, usually zooplankton and algae, are buried underneath sedimentary rock and subjected to intense heat and pressure. What's "unnatural" about it?

I was told a few years ago Imperial is simply a purified form of pertroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly is about as purified as possible already, you can put it on wounds and baby's bottoms. In fact it probably does quite well as a case lube. If that's all Imperial lube is, where does the "wax" come from? I honestly don't know how either product is made, but I do suspect any implication that one is better because it's "natural" and presumably (you tell me) makes it better "for the planet" or something.

 

[jim_k]

I like solid Crisco.