generic spray case lube

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Encoreman

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Spray case lube is fairly expensive. I have wondered if silicone spray could be used as a substitute? I am looking for something like spray case lube that you don't have to clean off after sizing. Any comments. Thanks Mac
Hope ya'll all have a safe, Happy and prosperous New Year!!
 
Pam?

Hey, that's GOOD! :evil:

I'll give that a try. I imagine maybe the guy starting this thread wasn't thinking that....

But, ya know, Wally World sells 'Pump-o-Matic' sprayers for a couple of bucks, that has its own little pump in the cap. This rig is made for spraying anything you want, so you fill it, pump it up, and you're all set. I've used mine to spray lube the stuff I buy as a liquid from Dillon. No reason it shouldn't work with vegetable oil. I also have one that I use for frying, so I KNOW it will spray relatively thick oil. Wally sells them in the cooking utensils area.

Wahoo! Another good idea from the handloaders.!
 
Pam and vegatable oil won't affect the powder or primer's? Just wanted an option to get something a little cheaper. The case lube I buy locally is $8.95 a can and it doesn't last that long. It sort of has the smell of silicone spray. Thanks for comments.
 
Silicone actually contains microscopic round balls of sliicone (sand?). You don't want it in your reloading dies.

However, with that said:

How dang much case lube are you using that cost becomes an issue?

I have a partial tube of RCBS lube-pad lube I've used on for so long I can't remember when I got it.

Another bottle of RCBS spray lube is at least 10 years old, and still is 1/4 full!

In the grand scheme of reloading costs, brand name case lube has gotta be a non-issue!

rcmodel
 
rcmodel,

A can of Hornady One-Shot (costs about $8.00 per can) will lube about 1500 cases if used sparingly. I can understand why they might want an alternative. I've been toying with using the generic store brand of cooking spray for a couple bucks a can myself. Not sure though if it will dissipate like One-Shot will and I don't like my dies all gummed-up.
 
I small base size most of my rifle cases. I have never had a spray lube that provided enough lubrication for small base sizing. So I don't use the stuff. I doubt any Ersatz spray lube will do better.

But I do use RCBS water soluble and Imperial Sizing wax.
 
Blaster spray teflon lube works good. Menards has it on sale at times for $1.00--$1.50.

RC I usually go along with what you say, but sand in silicone spray? Don't think so. Totally different form of silicone.

Check out under Wikipedia, google silicone and read all about it.

Anyway HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL
 
O.K. you got me!

All I know is, I worked in the plastic injection molding industry for many years before I retired.

We normally received warnings from our tool & die makers with every new die / mold not to use silicone grease on their high-dollar molds, because wear would be accelerated, and the life of the mold shortened a great deal.

Why?
I guess I couldn't say.
Probably not tiny balls of sand though, now that I think about it! :D

rcmodel
 
I should have stated/said that I never liked silicone as a lube except for rubber or rubber like plastics. I've used it already around the house as most of us have I'm sure. Never used it for reloading tho, about in the same league as WD-40.
 
Borg: where do you find liquid lanolin?

I use the RCBS pad lube..tiny bottle...mixed with about 95% alcohol in the Walmart sprayer. Works fine and leaves no excess. Makes for a heck of a lot of spray. You can add more or less to suit your needs. I squirt a little on my fingers and go by feel. Provides all the lube I want for loading pistol cases in my Dillon. Some folks say you don't need lube but I find it makes loading easier.

I also like the idea of the lanolin also. Prob very much the same stuff.
 
50% anhydrous lanolin / 50% Castor Oil. This is the old high pressure die lubricant and works everytime. I have used it to swage .30 jacketed bullets for a few decades without fail. The amount of force to operate the swaging press handle was the same as it was for reloading .308 and .300 Win. Mag. It is the only lube I ever used. Vegetable oil is not a high pressure lubricant.
 
+1 for lanolin and Isopropyl

A solution of 1 part liquid lanolin and 4 to 5 parts parts 99 percent isopropyl alcohol (4 oz of liquid lanolin to 16 - 20 oz of isopropyl) works well. This is the best lube I a have ever found in 30 year (beats imperial sizing wax hands down) and it is very reasonable. I have never had a dented or stuck case since I started using this solution. You can usually buy liquid lanolin at health or organic stores.
 
If you do a search on the net you can find some DIY case lubes. Some seem OK and some seem either messy or inappropriate.

My favorite is Mink oil. Not a spray but I have it down to where is works great. A little goes a long way. It tends to stay in very thin applications and is consistent. It is easy to remove. All reports are it is either the same or similar to imperial. It seems even better than lanolin. Lanolin is "Sheep Oil". I have lanolin also. I tried it before trying the mink oil.

One thing I would do is lube the case with whatever you think and just leave it sit. See what reaction it has on the brass. Do some & see how hard it is to remove the lube right away & after it sits.

There is still other issues to consider.

I'm with RCModel & others on case lube is not that expensive. I do like to have options. I probably need to drive over an hour to get case lube at a retail store. I can get a substitute many places within a 5 minute drive.
 
Lanolin?

Well, sure, okay. I'll give it a try. Nice of Matt Dardas to add input from the "professional sector," Thanks! :D

So.. You can usually buy liquid lanolin at health or organic stores.

Okay... where IS that - in the aisle that has organic soaps and hand lotions? Or in the grocery section next to the olive oil?
 
Last edited:
Hornady One-Shot
Click to expand...

Tried it but found it didn't last as long. I used the Dillon liquid but found the same thing at a much lower price under the Cabala name at a local store and bought five bottles. I find a few shots in a large zip lock bag full of rifle cases forks just fine. Less is better and I never had a stuck case. One bottle lasts a long time.
 
Yes Mink Oil is a good case lube. If memory serves me I believe it contains Lanolin or did at one time.

Regarding removing case lube, in the summer months I generally rinse my cases in lacquer thinner, or white gas then let them sit in the sun for 1/2 hour or more while I do something else. Then polish them in the tumbler, this keeps the oil/grease/lube off of the media, and it lasts longer.

Dish detergent also will work in an emergency, the slipperly kind. Course then cases need to be washed off in hot water.

I imagine most any lube would work in a pinch, but for what lubes cost I'm not going to make a big deal out of it.
 
you will usually have to go the the health and beauty specialty stores to find lanolin. if you have a "make-up" store then your wife or gf or sister or some female you know will tell you where it is. bigger drug stores may also carry it.

and please be careful using the liquid lanolin. just make sure its not too full of water or additives that can corrode brass and dies. (anhydrous = without water)

online also works. the stuff seems pretty pricey for a pound of it but the stuff lasts for friggin ever!
 
50% anhydrous lanolin / 50% Castor Oil.
Click to expand...
Straight Anhydrous Lanolin is super good stuff for case lube. YOu put it on with a case lube pad, or just your fingers.
You can get it at a pharmacy.
Looks like yellow Vaseline.

The bonus is, it keeps your hands soft like a baby!

The down side is, it makes you smell like a Wet Sheep!

rcmodel
 
The smell of the lanolin is not too bad. If I get One-shot on my hands the smell won't come off. When I was wondering what the heck is lanolin I found some info that said it is wax like in its structure. The Kiwi Mink oil is wax like also. The whole wax like seems to be a trend. Imperail "Wax"

I would definitely not use anything that would turn, go bad or attract flies. I'm not a big fan or using anything too flamable as a lube or cleaner. I pretty much hate getting cases wet. I get a lot of range brass which is usually wet or at the very least ended up has some dried mud on it. It's nice stuff & free so I just have to deal with it. It just takes more handling once it is wet.
 
Well, I would certainly not call Anhydrous Lanolin wax-like.

I have a baby-food jar of it I bought from a druggist years ago.

It is a yellow/brownish color, thick, viscous, sticky grease.

It might well work like wax for sizing, but it sure ain't wax-like itself!

rcmodel
 
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