Pan or dip lubing using Lee Alox

[David LaPell]

I can't afford either a Lyman or RCBS Lubrisizer, but I am wondering if there is a way to pan or dip lube using Lee Alox lube, or is there another way to use the stuff to lube the bullets than by tumble lubing. It seems alot of good lube gets wasted this way. I tried using some RCBS lube like a pan or dip lube but wasn't too thrilled with the outcome.

 

[Rick Courtright]

using Lee Alox lube, or is there another way to use the stuff to lube the bullets than by tumble lubing. It seems alot of good lube gets wasted this way.

Hi,

Don't think I've ever talked to anyone who pan lubed w/ LLA. The guys I know who have tried pan lubing used the "regular" stick alox, from Lee or others (basically, the NRA 50-50 formula.) You need to come up w/ some kind of "cookie cutter" to get the bullets out of the pan w/ only the lube required for the bullet itself. Then you can remelt the remainder and go for the next batch...

As for waste of LLA by tumble lubing, I 'spose that's possible, but many people "thin" it one way or another when using it. That allows just a very thin film of lube, and, if one needs more, it can be repeated.

LLA can be thinned w/ mineral spirits, or it can be thinned by putting the container in a cup of boiling water. I've tried both, and like the hot water treatment better. Either way, the thinner coating dries much, much faster than using the LLA straight from the bottle at its "normal" consistency.

I've done many 100s, perhaps 1000 or more, bullets w/ one bottle of LLA, so I guess I'm not wasting TOO much! It only takes a half dozen drops or so for 50 or so...

Rick C

 

[Bucks Owin]

I use the "dip method" when I use LLA at all and set out on wax paper overnight. I expect there is no more waste than coating the areas where it's not needed and the end result is "purtier".... 8) (And doesn't gunk up the seat/crimp die as much)

The price of LLA isn't so much anyway... :wink:

 

[Rick Courtright]

I use the "dip method" when I use LLA at all and set out on wax paper overnight.

Hi, Bucks

Do you thin your LLA when you dip your bullets, or use it at "normal" (thicker) consistency?

Rick C

 

[Bucks Owin]

I use the "dip method" when I use LLA at all and set out on wax paper overnight.

Hi, Bucks

Do you thin your LLA when you dip your bullets, or use it at "normal" (thicker) consistency?

Rick C

:lol: :lol: You'll laugh, but I thin it in a plastic dish by nuking it, then dip bullet base in warm LLA. (Don't let mama catch ya!) I've tried both room temp "straight up" and thinned with water....

They all seem to work about the same, and none is as good as a quality lube in a sizer IMO....

Another thing I'm trying LLA for is as a long term storage protectant in the bore...Seems to be a fine "cosmoline" too... :wink:

 

[Olsherm]

It is the best stuff I have tried yet. David it is very simple to do. Thin with mineral spirits a little bit.Get yourself a heavy cotton work sock,put in 25 or 30 bullets ,dribble in some lube,(adjust til you get the hang of it)work the sock and bullets in your hand(rubber glove is good)dump them out on to wax paper and let dry several hours.You do not need as much as you think on them. Just enough to coat them like the old lead 22 bullets.That is all I use now.I shoot pure lead bullets and cowboy velocities(700 to 850FPS) and I get very little to no leading.They will remail just a little sticky but not a problem. You may have to clean your bullet seater stem now and then but not much rouble.Try it I think you will like it.The stuff is tough. You can't hardly burn it off.I have shot 100's of them with the Liquid alox on them.You can coat several hundred bullets in a short amount of time with sock. Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free tp PM me. olsherm

 

[Bucks Owin]

Yeah, a ziplock bag works too, as does thinng with plain old hot water...

But LBT Blue or Super Moly it's not once you're past cowboy velocity...

JMO...

 

[Flash]

I can't afford either a Lyman or RCBS Lubrisizer, but I am wondering if there is a way to pan or dip lube using Lee Alox lube, or is there another way to use the stuff to lube the bullets than by tumble lubing. It seems alot of good lube gets wasted this way. I tried using some RCBS lube like a pan or dip lube but wasn't too thrilled with the outcome.

Actually very little gets wasted since the lube coating is so thin. If you can see it on the bullet, you have too much. I have dipped them using a pair of needle nose pliers and thinning out the alox with mineral spirits but only for tube fed guns when i didn't want alox in the tube. I thin mine to a water like consistency and keep it warm.

 

[Chief_10Beers]

I use Recluse formula from Cast Boolits. a 45/45/10 mix of LEE Alox, Johnson floor paste wax and Minerial Spirits. I tumble Lube...................

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=67654

 

[Marcduper]

Nice formula Chief, kind of like the old "honey" stuff. Not sure of those proportions, but simular. Great stuff.

 

[Cracker-American]

How do you come up with your quantities 45/45/10. Math was never my strong suite

 

[tek4260]

Here is a post I made on this and another local forum about trying pan lubing. If you can't swing the RCBS/Lyman/Star, try a Lee push thru.

"Tried Pan Lubing"

Decided to give it a whirl. Seems like too much sugar for a dime to me! I made my own lube. It is basically Darr with a bit of Lithium grease and JPW added. I really like the looks of it. It is a bit softer than Super Moly and slick as owl.....

Here are the boolits in the pan after I poured the mix to just above the grease groove

After it hardened I cut them with a modified 45-70 case. Drilled out the primer pocket and used a nail to hold the boolits in place as I lifted the hull. It cut clean and they lifted out fine

Here they are after a pass through the trusty Lee push thru sizer.

A few rounds ready to test. I am thinking the standby of 22gr of 110.

If it does well, this will be what I melt and fill the lubrisizer with.


Next will be straight TL Alox on these 300 gr 44's, then seat the gc and size thru a Lee, followed by one more tumble. Then loaded over 22gr of 110 for the OMSBH

 

[tek4260]

And since those 44's were pictured, here is the finished test product drying after the "lube, let dry, size/seat check, lube again"

 

[tek4260]

But they are purddier done right with some good ol black Super Moly

 

[M'BOGO]

How do you come up with your quantities 45/45/10. Math was never my strong suite

Personally, I had a bottle of liquid allox that was less than half full. Melted some JPW, filled the bottle to 90% full, and topped it off with mineral spirits, and shook it well.

 

[volshooter]

Lee in a butter bowl. Easy to tell if it needs to be thinned.

 

[keyston44]

How do you come up with your quantities 45/45/10. Math was never my strong suite

I use the 45/45/10 method too. Johnson Paste Wax is 16oz, LLA is 4oz. I pour one bottle of warm LLA into an old sauce pan. Add a little mineral spirits to clean out the LLA bottle, pour that into the sauce pan. Then cut the JPW into 1/4 and add one 1/4 to the sauce pan. Heat them up together to mix well. Let cool for about a half hour then pour the mix into a ketchup bottle that will handle about 12 oz.
I will heat up that bottle as I need it for either tumble lubing or dipping.

Key

 

[Bucks Owin]

Cast bullet wizard Veral Smith speaking on pan lubing and use of his bullet lubes:

"Pan lubing is a sloppy mess and entirely out of the field of tumble lube, which needs to be a fast high production thing.

I don't recommed blue soft for tumble lubing because it is quite tacky and as you stated, doesn't turn liquid as easy, though it does at about 212 deg F or so. Use it if you have some. If you have to order lube, get commercial as it's the least tacky and performs just as well. One solid stick can lube up to 10,000 38 caliber revolver bulelts, so it is the epitome of cheap!

Put your bullets in an aluminum cake pan with only one layer and that quite loose. Heat in a kitchen oven to about 220 deg F. Remove the pan and touch a stick of lube in the bottom till a little melts off. Roll the bullets around gently till the bearing surfaces are completely wetted. Don't use more lube than just enough to wet the surfaces. Reheat if and add more lube as needed then let them cool. They are ready to load and shoot".






FWIW, I've messed with many different lubes and am now an LBT user for life .... LLA isn't even on the same page with LBT lube IMO...:wink:

BTW, if someone is tired of farting around with the mediocre performance of LLA at anything much over "cowboy velocity", there's a dandy looking RCBS lube/sizer up for bids at Gunbroker, currently at $30! Do a search...

(I won't give the link as I may just scoop it up myself to keep my old Lyman 450 company! :lol: )

 

[bigboredad]

which lbt blue are you using the soft hard or commercial

 

[Bucks Owin]

which lbt blue are you using the soft hard or commercial

Soft and I love it! Goes through my 450 fine in summer temps...(and fine in winter with the Lyman heater on) I thought about getting some of the commercial blue for bullets shipped to my amigos. Supposed to stick well even in the flat rate box torture test... :lol:

 

[Olsherm]

Plwase don't use so many abreviations as some of us old dumb coots(I for one) do not know just what LBT lube is?

Can"t spell good either or my fingers are "clumsy"

 

[bigboredad]

lbt is the abbreviation for lead bullet technologies owned and operated by Veral Smith who make fine bullet molds for casting a lead hardness tester and bullet lubes. a quick google search will bring up lots of info

 

[Bucks Owin]

Plwase don't use so many abreviations as some of us old dumb coots(I for one) do not know just what LBT lube is?

Can"t spell good either or my fingers are "clumsy"

LBT here: http://lbtmoulds.com/

Some VERY interesting savvy by Veral Smith here: http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?board=114.0

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