Does Lyman alox bullet lube go bad?

[Ohen Cepel]

I have 5 or 6 tubes of the Lyman alox lube, new, in the tube;
https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/bullet-casting/bullet-lubes/alox-lube

I figure it is 10yrs old. Looks great but has been in a barn so exposed to heat and cold over the years. Should I buy new or give it a try? Just got the sizer cleaned up and would hate to try it if its just going to give me problems.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MEHavey]

In my experience, it's "forever" lube.

 

[whughett]

It’s a semi soft lube. Not soft like axel grease or hard like wax but firm enough to stand alone. Try some between your fingers. If you can press it into the lube grooves the sizer can too. Very little pressure is required with the sizer.

 

[PapaG]

My dad passed in '79 and I'm still using some he bought.

 

[Thomasss]

I have some old sticks and a Lyman sizer and lube. The last time I added a stick, I also added a tablespoon of Bore Butter. I resize .38 Special and 9mm and 9mm powder coated. The tablespoon might have been a bit to much, however, it's working just fine. I need to heat it up for 10 minutes in the winter time with a heat gun in the back of the press, though. Bullets come out good. I sometimes let the .38s sit a month or so and the sticky-ness goes away.

 

[kelbro]

No, it just smells that way.

Badda-bing! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Even if it dries up a little, it can be rejuvenated.

 

[whughett]

No, it just smells that way.

Badda-bing! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Even if it dries up a little, it can be rejuvenated.

Like Ballistol, some like some no like the smell.

 

[243winxb]

The old may be better then the new 50/50 Beeswax/Alox. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?403516-Alox-350-has-been-Discontinued

I used the one with Alox 2138F for years. Till it was replaced with Alox 350. The 2138F was better. Softer, not requiring heat at 70 degrees and the muzzle showed a lube star. Plenty of lube to spare.

The Alox 350 needs heat in my Lyman 450. Gone is the lube star on the muzzle.

Now that Alox 350 is discontinued, the 50/50 may be gone also?

Have some RCBS Pistol lube now, not liking it. The RCBS rifle lube is different. Going to try it next, if i ever use up 10 tubes of the pistol lube.

 

[Col. Cornelius]

Yup, as mentioned above, old Alox should be just fine. I have some older Alox (quite a bit more than 10 years old) that I use every now and then. Works just fine.

 

[whughett]

I’ve switched to Liquid Alox, a little off the thread, for center fire bullets. Stick for my 45C in black powder or Trailboss cartridges.
The liquid will in time thicken in the container but rejuvenated with a little mineral spirts or even heating the bottle in a hot water bath. Off thread again but one use to get a bottle of liquid Alox with any Lee bullet sizer. Now thanks to someone trying to blow up airliners no longer included. Have to order and ship land only.

 

[Col. Cornelius]

I've used liquid Alox too, works good but a little messy.