Home made case lube

[KEVWYO]

I found a "recipe" for making your own case lube that I made and tried last night and it works great.

1 part 99% rubbing alcohol to 4 parts pure lanolin. I bought the alcohol at my local grocery store and the lanolin at the health food/vitamin store. The lanolin comes in a 4 oz bottle and it seems to be about 2-3 times thicker than honey. I measured it out into a shot glass and it is tough to clean up due to it's thick consistency. The alcohol needs to be the 99% kind so that it won't absorb water from the atmosphere. This probably won't be too big a deal if kept in a airtight container but just the same the recipe called for the 99% kind.

I made about 14 ounces of lube and could still make probably another 4-6 ounces yet. Total cost was just under $9.00.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I'll have to give that a shot. I'm almost out of Lee lube. I like stuff I can pickup locally and use I hate ordering and having to wait for something as simple as a tube of case lube.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by KEVWYO

I made about 14 ounces of lube and could still make probably another 4-6 ounces yet. Total cost was just under $9.00.

Well Kev, I applaud your self reliance but RCBS case lube ($3) lasts along time & I don't have to make it.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by fredj338

Well Kev, I applaud your self reliance but RCBS case lube ($3) lasts along time & I don't have to make it.

But the RCBS lube comes in only a 2oz bottle for $3. Here you get 14oz for under $9. You do the math.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

But the RCBS lube comes in only a 2oz bottle for $3. Here you get 14oz for under $9. You do the math.

I can do the math but 2oz bottle lasts me something like 4yrs, not worth the trouble IMO, but to each his own. FWIW, I don;t make my own bullet lube either, & I use gun oil for my guns not engine oil, again to each his own. If you don't want to make lube carnuba car wax is a suitable alt. if you are out of store bought or home made.

[agalindo]

I've been making my own lube for quite some time. Lanolin 4oz $3.77, 16oz 99% alcohol $1.25.
1 part lanolin 4 parts alcohol.
4oz 16oz

I make 20oz of lube a pop last forever.

[KEVWYO]

Quote:
Originally Posted by fredj338
Well Kev, I applaud your self reliance but RCBS case lube ($3) lasts along time & I don't have to make it.

Originally Posted by Lazarus

But the RCBS lube comes in only a 2oz bottle for $3. Here you get 14oz for under $9. You do the math.

Well, that case lube that you mention is the kind (if I'm not mistaken) that you wipe the shell on the pad and then do the de-capping. It appears that it would be good from a clean up perspective (water soluble) and good for low volume reloading. However, I'll resize 500 or so of 5.56 brass so the spray is much easier for bulk reloading.

Lazarus .... had I mixed up all the lanolin and alcohol I would've made about 18-20 ounces or so of lube at just under $9. A quick check of Midway showed an 8 oz. spray lube goes for $7.39 plus there is the shipping.

[KEVWYO]

Just ran across this "recipe" for case lube which might be even less expensive and easier yet to clean up.

I can't remember the exact reason ... had something to do with water but I might suggest the 99% alcohol. The Lee case lube is only $2.49 for a 2oz tube. Mixed up with the alcohol and a guy could have about 20 oz of lube for less than a four dollar bill.

Simply add two 2 ounce tubes of Lee Case Sizing Lubricant to the spray bottle, and one 16 ounce bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol.

ETA: I found the reason for the alcohol concentration ... (BTW, I found I still have to shake my 99% alcohol formula anyway)

. You can make your own spray case sizing lube in bulk by mixing liquid lanolin and 99% isopropyl alcohol. (While you can (kind of) use 91% isopropyl alcohol, its higher water content causes the lanolin to settle out and it must be shaken frequently during use. The more common 70% isopropyl "rubbing alcohol" will not work at all as its water content is much too high.)

[rodnocker1]

I have a bottle of Dillon case lube and although I don't have a clue as to what the actual make up is, I would venture to guess it is also the alcohol/lanolin formula (+ possibly some "trade secret" ingredient). 8 oz is $8.95+shipping.