Home made bullet mold lube.....?

[MB3]

Don't have any 50/50 beeswax alox and cant find any except online...Trying to cast today, and the thought entered my mind that, "Hey maybe I can just simply use a toilet bowl wax ring?" Whats your guys' take on using a wax ring from home depot to lube up a 6 cavity lee 230gr .452 mold... Thanks.. And if thought that this isn't a good idea, please give an alternate suggestion..

[ireload]

"Not a very good idea". You can probably use it for a black powder rifle to lube the patch or even a black powder revolver but not in a modern smokless cartridge. I believe those wax rings melts at a very low temp. Even the sun can wreck havoc on them. You can possibly contiminate your powder in the case.

Unfortunately I do not have a homemade alternative for you. But someone might. The only thing I can think offhand is the Lee Liquid Alox that is used for their tumble lubed cast bullets. The other would be with the lube die with heater and hard type lube.

[MB3]

misunderstood..... I'm not applying the wax ring as a bullet lube, but as a bullet MOLD lube. In order to function properly one must prep LEE molds by first "smoking" with a match, not candle, and secondly by lubricating contact/moving points on the mold with a 50/50 alox beeswax type BULLET lube. Many hand loaders, both BP and smokeless, use a wax ring mix as a bullet lube....Im simply wondering what calgunners have to say about using only a wax ring by itself to lube up a lee bullet MOLD prior to casting....thanks all

[pepsi2451]

I never lube my lee molds, I know you are supposed to but mine still work fine. I haven't taken the best care of them but they still cast good. Mine are only 2 cavity molds.

[MB3]

side note---------I have spoken with a few people who have actually used just the wax rings from home depot by themselves as a successful BULLET lube...and they aren't even sure what ratios of beeswax, if any, are present in todays wax rings...I myself have no experience with this...I myself have only tumble lubed (LLA).....

[ireload]

misunderstood..... I'm not applying the wax ring as a bullet lube, but as a bullet MOLD lube. In order to function properly one must prep LEE molds by first "smoking" with a match, not candle, and secondly by lubricating contact/moving points on the mold with a 50/50 alox beeswax type BULLET lube. Many hand loaders, both BP and smokeless, use a wax ring mix as a bullet lube....Im simply wondering what calgunners have to say about using only a wax ring by itself to lube up a lee bullet MOLD prior to casting....thanks all

My humble appology for misunderstanding.

It's worth a try. I use Permatex brand "Super Lube" that's synthetic based with Teflon. It's a gray colored spray can. I cannot remember if I purchased it from Home Depot or Lowes. Works for my mold. I cast round balls for buckshots. According to the can it can withstand temps from -45 deg f. to 450 deg f. H

[MB3]

interesting....how long have you been casting the same mold you never lube...It sounds convenient, but Id rather follow manufacture guidelines, pertaining to molds, just to be safe...I have an old 44 cal one cavity lee mold that a friend passed on to me..I think ill try casting a few and see how your no lube method works out... back to topic, I do think using a wax ring to lube a mold would be suffice....others opinions..???

[MB3]

That Permatex....is it similar to the Mold release spray from midway?...When you apply the Permatex do you use it as a lube AND as a releasing agent within the cavities, or just as a mold lube, or just as a bullet releasing agent..?? Maybe Ill try that if its cheaper... I think the wax rings are around $1 or so...ah well, can't wait any longer..off to the store.... Ill post my results after I cast a hundred or so...thanks all

[ireload]

That Permatex....is it similar to the Mold release spray from midway?...When you apply the Permatex do you use it as a lube AND as a releasing agent within the cavities, or just as a mold lube, or just as a bullet releasing agent..?? Maybe Ill try that if its cheaper... I think the wax rings are around $1 or so...ah well, can't wait any longer..off to the store.... Ill post my results after I cast a hundred or so...thanks all

I use just a mold lube. Never a relaease agent since it will contaminate the mold walls. The tricky part is when I spray the sprue plate and pivot points of the mold. Taking care of not getting inside the mold walls. I never use a release agent with my mold since I'm only casting .308" and .320" round balls.

[mif_slim]

I've casted 20,000 rounds with my 6 cavity mold and the only time I've ever carbon the mold is when I first got it....many many moons ago.

[sargenv]

MB3, a lot of people on the cast boolit forum reccommend what's called Bull plate sprue lube.. Inexpensive and the 2 oz bottle lasts forever.. I bought 3 or 4 and then realized my folly.. check out the cast boolit forum and look for the sprue lube.. good stuff!

[bruce381]

try 2 cycle oil

[gunboat]

It is my understanding that "wax" bowl rings are no longer wax but a petroleum based product. This may or may not be suitable for bullet lube.
As mentioned before, check out cast boolits for more info.

[SKSer]

I just used a crayon, and it seems to work fine for me. The guy at the gun store told me it didnt really matter what kind of wax it was. I got the mold hot, and just barely touched the crayon to the sprue plate screw, alignment pins and alignment shoulder things.