User Panel
Posted: 12/17/2009 11:00:06 AM EDT
Sirs, prompted by mention of the subject in another thread, perhaps there are newer members here that would benefit from a description of how I use Imperial wax. I use Imperial wax because it's the best product I know for the purpose, it's very economical, easy to use and reduces the number of times I have to handle an individual case in the reloading process.
When seated at my reloading bench I normally do match cartridge case resizing on a single stage press. I also use a Dillon 550 for reloading match cartridges but that's a different subject. I use a Redding resizing die fitted with a carbide expander ball. The resizing die is adjusted to set back the case shoulder .003" as measured with an RCBS case mic. With my left hand I take a few cases from the bowl of cases to be resized and hold them in my palm with one case between my left thumb and forefinger. With my right hand I touch my fingers onto the open tin of Imperial wax which is on the bench to the right of the press. I twist the cartridge case in the fingers of my left hand between the thumb and fingers of my right hand and finish by scraping my right forefinger across the mouth of the case in my left hand thumb and finger. With my left thumb and fingers I insert the case into the press shell holder and operate the press with my right hand. At the end of the operating stroke of the press I remove the case from the press and toss it into the bowl of cases to be trimmed. I again touch the Imperial wax with the fingers of my right hand and repeat the process. You only need to touch the Imperial wax and then touch the body of the case with those fingers twisting the case in the process. Finish by scraping your finger across the case mouth to get a bit of the wax on the inside of the case neck. There is no need to apply the Imperial wax to the exterior of the case neck, only the interior. After resizing I trim all cases on a Giraud trimmer to 1.758" and then tumble for about an hour to remove the case lube from the cases as well as the inside of the case neck. I use corn cob media and I'm pleased how well it works to remove the lube. HTH, 7zero1 out. |
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7zero1: "High power competition is all about doing your best, everyone else is there for your entertainment".
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Thanks, I'll get this set up for the Gateway thread shortly.
7zero1 taught us the efficient method for using Imperial that eliminates steps handling the cases any more than necessary. This is much quicker than lubing cases in batches, although I'll admit I do that anyway some times. |
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It's true, Obama is the Leader of Fools deluded to believe, "Everything is going to change now".
As for me, I will embrace what is Right more tightly than ever. 1 lbf = 32.174 lbm-ft/sec^2 |
After reading your posts a while ago I tried Imperial wax.
I place my left index finger and thumb in the wax, grab a case, twist case to lube, and rub my index finger over the neck. Size case and repeat. Re lube fingers every third case. This is a great method, and takes very little lube. Thanks. |
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Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other. |
I know a guy that uses a teaspoon of imperial wax diluted into rubbing alcohol (the highest % he can get over 90%) and puts it into a spray bottle to make his own spray lube. I've been meaning to try this just have not had the time as of yet
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Originally Posted By tyromeo55:
I know a guy that uses a teaspoon of imperial wax diluted into rubbing alcohol (the highest % he can get over 90%) and puts it into a spray bottle to make his own spray lube. I've been meaning to try this just have not had the time as of yet View Quote I use anhydrous lanolin instead. Cheaper and a little goes a long way. BTW- you can get 99.9% IPA (isoporopyl alcohol) at a decent drugstore from the pharmacist. ETA: Good post on using Imperial wax, nonetheless. |
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"Dear God: Please let the Democrats lose badly in 2010. Thank You and Amen- FB41 and his dear Uncle Sam."
Home in Florida, Work in Alaska- Who sez there ain't a God? USMC 1977-1987 |
Originally Posted By tyromeo55:
I know a guy that uses a teaspoon of imperial wax diluted into rubbing alcohol (the highest % he can get over 90%) and puts it into a spray bottle to make his own spray lube. I've been meaning to try this just have not had the time as of yet Use Isso Heat red bottle found in the automotive section |
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Since switching to Imperial Die Wax I have not stuck a case. This was prompted by HOS! What a POS product. DCL work good, but I like Imperial Die Wax. A little goes a VERY LONG WAY!
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jme and I am a NRA Endowment Member
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. R W Emerson |
Originally Posted By rn22723:
Since switching to Imperial Die Wax I have not stuck a case. .........................! Same here. |
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The Democrats have had "Full" control of both the House of and Senate since the 2006 election, that means we've had almost 3 years of Democrat Party mismanagement of this country.
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I use a single stage press. When I do 5.56, I touch the tin with the imperial wax with the index finger of the hand I place the brass with and roll the case below the shoulder with my index finger and thumb ON EVERY OTHER CASE. I avoid the neck and shoulder as it is my experience with 5.56 NATO that I have a higher incidence of the shoulder getting rippled when I get wax on the neck. I have never used case lube spray.
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I have a very old tube of Johnsons Machinist Wax, about the size of a tube of caulk ( Johnsons industrials were sold to Castrol I think) I've never used anything else.
Stick Wax I once stuck a .270 case because I was being lazy and didn't lube it, 3rd or 4th without lube was a bridge to far.... Very rare with wax. |
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The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.
George Will Eagle Scout Vet NRA Life Member |
Originally Posted By SteelTalon:
Use Isso Heat red bottle found in the automotive section View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By SteelTalon:
Originally Posted By tyromeo55:
I know a guy that uses a teaspoon of imperial wax diluted into rubbing alcohol (the highest % he can get over 90%) and puts it into a spray bottle to make his own spray lube. I've been meaning to try this just have not had the time as of yet Use Isso Heat red bottle found in the automotive section Make sure it's not the type with methanol... You can absorb it through your skin and it's toxic. |
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If you're good at something, never do it for free.
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would be great if someone could figure out how to make your own imperial sizing wax. sorta like the lanolin+alcohol lube for cheap bastards.
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Originally Posted By bani:
would be great if someone could figure out how to make your own imperial sizing wax. sorta like the lanolin+alcohol lube for cheap bastards. View Quote Cast bullet shooters have a fetish about making lubes, and sure enough: https://www.google.com/search?q=sizing+die+wax+formula&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb The first link at Cast Boolits discusses homemade spray lube with lanolin, and then a couple of posters state they use mink oil. Poke around enough and you'll probably find someone with a mixture of mink oil, bee's wax, olive oil, maybe paraffin, and no telling what else. |
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It is not easy to explain Liberty to those that are not familiar with Liberty. Kevin Jamison, on explaining firearm regulation to a Massachusetts lawyer. Jeff City, Mo 18 Apr 13.
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I've just started reloading and ve been using Hornady One Shot. Is this stuff ok to use? I would definitely like to find something more economical, I'll have to try some Imperial Wax.
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area7precision.us
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Originally Posted By Hydra-shokz:
I've just started reloading and ve been using Hornady One Shot. Is this stuff ok to use? I would definitely like to find something more economical, I'll have to try some Imperial Wax. View Quote One Shot works if you follow the directions to the letter. It's also the lube in use during most stuck case incidents. Plus as you found, it's expensive. If you like a spray lube, then the home made version is just about impossible to beat; so far, no one has. |
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It is not easy to explain Liberty to those that are not familiar with Liberty. Kevin Jamison, on explaining firearm regulation to a Massachusetts lawyer. Jeff City, Mo 18 Apr 13.
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Spray lubes, including One Shot work great on handgun brass. I know carbide dies don't need any lube, however a light coat of spray lube makes the operation smooth as silk. Bottle necked rifle brass needs something thicker. I've used Imperial for over decade now and am very satisfied with the product. I formerly used RCBS's lube with a pad.
The bulk industrial wax tube displayed in the previous post looks interesting. That tube would last an entire lifetime if you bought it when 20 years old and is much cheaper per once than Imperial. |
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Originally Posted By dryflash3:
After reading your posts a while ago I tried Imperial wax. I place my left index finger and thumb in the wax, grab a case, twist case to lube, and rub my index finger over the neck. Size case and repeat. Re lube fingers every third case. This is a great method, and takes very little lube. Thanks. View Quote Yep, I've been using Imperial for many years. It works so well that I can't imagine why anyone would use anything else. And a small can will last many years. |
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"I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it." - Capt. W. F. Call, Texas Ranger
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Two thirds of the way to being fat, dumb and lazy.
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Originally Posted By bani:
would be great if someone could figure out how to make your own imperial sizing wax. sorta like the lanolin+alcohol lube for cheap bastards. View Quote This would have helped: Case Lube for Cheap Bastards |
The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. --Eleanor Roosevelt
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I have tried many different lubes, once I tried imperial wax I don't use anything else.
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I have bought one tin of Imperial wax and barely made a dent in it after 3-4 thousand rifle cases. Ya, I'm never using spray lube again.
I have a single stage rock chucker with case kicker mod. Lube is to the left of the press; left index finger and thumb get waxed and grab a case that is lubed and seated into shell holder simultaneously. Right hand runs ram to full length size/deprime while left hand grabs/lubes another case. Sized case is kicked out on the down stroke and process is repeated. Every now and then a case is a little larger and needs a little more force to push into and out of shell holder (mostly .mil brass). |
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I tried every case lube known when resizing M2 brass, and Imperial Wax resulted in the least effort. Mobil 1 was not even in the running when I did my tests. There's a lot of snake oil being promulgated on the net, but Imperial Wax is the real deal.
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Imperial is just too good not to use.
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Nigh 40 years reloading and I've never stuck a case yet. I'm currently using Imperial or Hornady's Unique. Back in the day when I was using a lube pad, I used STP.
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+100 on the imperial Wax. When I reload rifle cases this the only lube I use. One stuck case lead to my conversion. So now in my deep storage items I never want to run out of.....are two tins of imperial wax. I use it for lots of things in the reloading room.
Great product that goes a long way and works very well. |
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I use Imperial with the Larry Willis belted magnum collet die and it works great.
I've been using the DIY lanolin for several years and have not had a single stuck case. Before this I used both Dillon and Frankford Arsenal spray lube which are both lanolin based. When using the lanolin based lube, I am sure to clean the inside of the die first with Hoppe's and then I apply a very light coat of the lanolin lube to the inside of the die. Then I dump my rifle brass in a gallon ziploc and give it 2-3 pumps with the lanolin spray lube and wait for the alcohol to evaporate. It's super smooth and cases don't stick. Had I not discovered the lanolin spray type lube I would probably use Imperial for everything. But the spray is very quick and convenient for me. |
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I thought I'd kick this out of the basement for now.
Originally Posted By bani:
would be great if someone could figure out how to make your own imperial sizing wax. sorta like the lanolin+alcohol lube for cheap bastards. View Quote About a buck for more lube than you'll ever use. |
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Team Ranstad
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Imperial wax is the bomb! Been using the same two tins for the last ten years on all my rifle rounds. Wish all products worked this well.
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Pretty much what I do, ISW has never failed me. Dillon and homemade spray lube have never failed me. I have used RCBS and other lubes on pads...Hornady One Shot is the only lube to ever fail me, that speaks volumes.
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Imperial works very well when doing a lot of 'brass work' to alter shells.
I have been forming shells (and even making some from scratch for BP antiques) and Imperial has worked every time. |
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I have been necking cases down and other work lately, and I have really cut back on the amount of Imperial I apply. Maybe just a little too far last night for sizing the necks of some cases that I had neck turned, but I had no issues.
Forming .25-20 cases requires just the right amount of lube, and it has to be absolutely free of any stray foreign matter to avoid crimping the necks. |
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It is not easy to explain Liberty to those that are not familiar with Liberty. Kevin Jamison, on explaining firearm regulation to a Massachusetts lawyer. Jeff City, Mo 18 Apr 13.
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